Norwich groups press ahead with Screen Heritage Centre plans as HLF gives backing

A century of classic cinema and glorious picture palaces in Norfolk could become part of a major public attraction in a 13th century merchant’s house after organisers won £80,000 to create a big screen heritage centre.

Norfolk and Norwich Film Theatre, the charity which has spent almost 50 years tending to all things cinematic in the region, aims to introduce a Screen Heritage Centre for Norwich at Cinema City, the film venue which became the country’s first Regional Film Theatre when the charity founded it in 1978.

Film fans across the county are being invited to chip in with their memories of bygone local cinemas in a partnership with the national independent group, Picturehouses, and other organisations including the Norfolk Record Office, the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People.

“Norfolk at the Pictures will help people to understand and appreciate how important film and the cinema going experience have been in the lives of all of us,” said Guy Martin, of Cinema Plus.

“Digital delivery is becoming the norm in cinemas. More and more of the craft and technology of traditional film projection is becoming obsolete.”

The project will use initial financial backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund to begin a nine-month development phase. If it succeeds, it will open at Cinema City’s Suckling House home within three years.