00:00It's been a standing ovation at Walton Picture House, but it wasn't for the latest blockbuster the audience were applauding
00:07for.
00:07Campaigners behind the effort to preserve the Picture House say the project has entered a new phase after an anonymous
00:14donor purchased the building and agreed a 100-year lease arrangement with Walton Cinema CIC.
00:20The organisation confirmed that public fundraising since October has reached more than half a million pounds, exceeding an earlier target
00:29of £450,000.
00:32Wow, absolutely amazing. I knew it would come together in the end, definitely, just what Liverpool people are like when
00:41we get together.
00:42So, yeah, I knew it was happening and it's amazing.
00:45Absolutely delighted. Well, we both got quite emotional, really.
00:49Yeah. It's just something we've wished for because we used to bring our children here, so it's something that we've
00:56wished for.
00:56I am not from Walton originally, and just seeing what it means to the people that have grown with the
01:03cinema in their village and how this could be replicated across Liverpool.
01:08It's an extra lifeline, really.
01:10It's just amazing. It's just amazing. It just means that we are many more steps ahead to keeping it going
01:18for the community.
01:19Supporters organise seasonal film screenings, family events and commercial partnerships to raise the money and maintain awareness of the campaign.
01:27Organisers say the latest agreement means all public donations can now be directed towards refurbishment and future operations rather than
01:36a property purchase.
01:37Volunteers, businesses and residents contributed time, practical support and financial backing throughout the fundraising effort, which attracted attention right across
01:46the region.
01:47It's taken volunteers, donors, people supplying their trades to us for nothing.
01:54It's taken everybody to make this work and to get here to raise.
02:00If you add in the money we've got from the donor who's bought the building, we've raised over a million
02:05pounds from a standing star nine months ago,
02:09which is incredible and just shows you how much love there is for this building.
02:13The cinema is Liverpool's oldest surviving picture house and campaign representatives say they intend to expand its role as a
02:22venue for films, live performances and wider community activity.
02:26Film is going to be the main part of what we do, but we're going to create a stage area
02:30in the future in front of the screen.
02:32So we can do some small theatre shows, comedy, music, we can do entertainment in a way that fits with
02:41this building.
02:42But then also we're levelling the front of the auditorium so that we can do community-led activities during the
02:48day and some evenings as well.
02:50Refurbishment plans are expected to include facilities and flexible spaces for educational programmes, independent screenings and organised events.
02:58Refurbishment plans are expected to include facilities in the future in the future in the future in the future in
02:59the future.
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