Phoenix confirms further £570,000 support for 2020 cinema expansion
Garfield Weston Foundation and Foyle Foundation pledge support
The BFI awards £220,000 of National Lottery Funding
Phoenix cinema and art centre in Leicester is encouraged to have received pledges of support worth £350,000 from two national funding organisations towards Phoenix 2020 – the charity’s plans to expand its current venue and become a four screen independent cinema by 2020.
£250,000 has been pledged by The Garfield Weston Foundation, a charitable grant-making foundation, and £100,000 from The Foyle Foundation, an independent grantmaking trust.
As a result, Phoenix now has 80% of the funds it requires to begin building in early 2020.
Phoenix is working hard to raise at least £500,000 more in the coming months and will be launching a public fundraising campaign in July.
BFI Audience Fund awards £220,000 of National Lottery money
During the re-development works, a BFI Audience Fund award will enable Phoenix to continue serving audiences in the East Midlands and continue to deliver its much valued cultural programme.
The award will also support the continued development of its access programme and its new Access Advisory Group in order to better support disabled audiences in venue and across its programme.
About Phoenix 2020
The Phoenix 2020 expansion plans will see a 1,200 square metre extension added to the existing building. This will make space for two further cinema screens; a larger and more prominent digital art gallery with an atrium; a bigger café bar; and new spaces for making and learning.
“It is hugely encouraging to have the support of both the Garfield Weston and Foyle foundations – two of the UK’s most respected charitable institutions investing money into Leicester,” said John Rance, CEO of Phoenix.
“We are making strong progress towards our fundraising target and confident in our ability to raise the remaining funds we need. We would welcome any support to get us over the finish line.”
About Garfield Weston
Established over 60 years ago in 1958, the Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded, grant-making charity which supports causes across the UK with grants around £70 million annually. It has donated over £1 billion to charities since it was established.
One of the most respected charitable institutions in the UK, the Weston Family Trustees are descendants of the founder and take a highly active and hands-on approach. the Foundation’s funding comes from an endowment of shares in the family business which includes Twinings, Primark, Kingsmill (all part of Associated British Foods Plc) and Fortnum & Mason, amongst others – a successful model that still endures today; as the businesses have grown so too have the charitable donations.
From small community organisations to large national institutions, the Foundation supports a broad range of charities and activities that make a positive impact in the communities in which they work. More than 1,800 charities across the UK benefit each year from the Foundation’s grants.
About the BFI
The BFI is the UK’s lead organisation for film, television and the moving image. It is a cultural charity that:
Curates and presents the greatest international public programme of world cinema for audiences; in cinemas, at festivals and online
- Cares for the BFI National Archive – the most significant film and television archive in the world
- Actively seeks out and supports the next generation of filmmakers
- Works with Government and industry to make the UK the most creatively exciting and prosperous place to make film internationally.
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Josh Berger CBE.
About The Foyle Foundation
The Foyle Foundation is an independent grant making Trust supporting UK charities which, since its formation in 2001, has become a major funder of the Arts and Learning. The Foundation also operates a community small grants programme and a national school library improvement scheme.