Historic cinema warns of closure

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A cinema which has been open for nearly 100 years is in danger of closing, its owners in Powys have warned.

Wyeside Arts Centre in Builth Wells said its running costs had risen by about £100,000 since 2000, and added that it needed more money to stay open.

The centre, a registered charity, is also a music venue and gallery and is funded with help from Powys Council and the Arts Council of Wales.

The council said it had agreed to give the centre £37,025 so far this year.

A spokesman added that the centre had a chance of an extra £10,000, providing it made changes to its bilingual and youth and community activities policies.

But centre director Guy Roderick said that may not be enough to save the centre from closure.

Financial problems

The cinema at Wyeside Arts Centre opened in 1911, and screenings have doubled over the last few years, explained Mr Roderick.

He added that the centre had up to 40,000 visitors per year, while the number of live acts appearing there each year had risen from 50 to 70 in recent years.

"We have been fighting to save Wyeside for a long time", said Mr Roderick.

Since 2000, he added, Powys Council had increased its funding by just £2,295, in which time the cost of running Wyeside's increased programme had gone up by about £100,000.

But the council said it was facing its own financial problems.

A spokesman said that while the overall budget to fund groups such as Wyeside had fallen, the level of support for the centre had risen to £37,025.