Homes England has awarded Northstowe Arts CIC £7,500 from a community activation fund to provide a free outdoor community cinema screening this summer. The event will take place alongside the annual Northstowe Running Festival on Saturday 31 August 2024 at 7:30pm.
The decision on which film to screen at Western Park was handed back to the public via a social media poll, with The Greatest Showman chosen as the winning option.
The screening of the feature-length film will be preceded by a public showing of Northstowe Neighbours, a first-of-a-kind film about living in Northstowe.
The film celebrates the community spirit that exists in Northstowe and documents some of the real lives of people who are making Northstowe their home, produced in partnership with and funded by Homes England.
The Community Activation Fund is designed to support projects that help organisations to promote community cohesion and enhance the vibrancy of life in Northstowe. South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) is administering the fund on behalf of Homes England.
The funding awarded to Northstowe Arts will support the success of the outdoor cinema event by covering costs including equipment hire, technical delivery, safety measures, and promotional activities.
Northstowe Arts will work closely with the volunteer team from previous community cinema events and contract a local supplier for equipment hire and technical delivery, supporting the local economy.
Dean Harris, Senior Planning and Enabling Manager at Homes England, said: “We’re committed to supporting community-led initiatives in Northstowe, and this outdoor cinema event is a fantastic opportunity for residents to come together and enjoy a free family event.”
Mari O’Neill, director of Northstowe Arts CIC, added: “This funding will go some way to support our collaboration with the Northstowe Running Festival, enabling us to deliver a memorable event that helps strengthen community bonds and promote the use of the local facilities we already have here in Northstowe.
“We look forward to seeing families and friends gather for this special summer cinema experience.”
The Community Activation Fund application portal is accepting submissions and will continue to be open year-round.
More information and full details of the submission criteria can be found on SCDC’s website, which can be navigated via: https://www.northstowe.com/community-activation-fund.
