A great success in bringing residents of the Ceiriog Valley together over the winter months came in the form of an affordable community film screening project, which saw over £1,000 donated to the Oliver Jones Memorial Hall.
The pilot project, co-financed by the Glyntraian Community Council and the Oliver Jones Memorial Hall management committee, in partnership with Arts Alive/Flicks in the Sticks, saw over 160 people aged from 11-90 years enjoy three big screen movies between December – March. Ticket prices ranged from just £3 – £5 per movie.
The project was part of the Council’s efforts to tackle rural isolation and loneliness over the winter months and develop a strong cohesive community as part of our commitment to the Welsh government’s Wellbeing agenda. It was led by Cllr Jools Payne and enthusiastically supported by a young journalist from Dolywern, the Double.LL Magazine editor, Holly Payne. Holly devoted over 40 volunteering hours in organising and promoting all three screening events.
The feedback from those who came was overwhelmingly excellent. Good attendance figures over the three screenings, and solid support from several local volunteers who ran the bar and catering, provided ample evidence of a clear appetite for a sustainable film club at this venue going forward.
Thanks also go to our Community Agent, Davena Davies, who along with Cllr Graham Barrow put on a superb Welsh Cawl Supper for the final St David’s Day screening on 1st March, which attracted 40 diners before the movie and 70 film goers.
It is hoped the hall’s management committee will use the profits donated to the OJMH to support a potential bid to Arts Council Wales for the hall to purchase its own digital screening and projection equipment. The item will be included on the Agenda at the management committee’s meeting on Monday 13th May after the AGM.
Members of the public can attend the meeting and voice their opinion on whether the Oliver Jones Film Club has a future. Updates can be found on the Oliver Jones Film Club Facebook page.