Gilford silent cinema is latest attraction at museum

Museums Minister Edwin Poots MLA has highlighted the importance of lessons from the past in understanding the present and influencing our approach to the future.

The Minister was speaking before cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the Gilford Silent Cinema at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra.

Edwin Poots said: “This exhibition is more than just an exercise in nostalgia. The cinema, or as it was once called, the Picture House, helps to make us think about the way in which people lived, the important role of rural towns and communities and how our approach to leisure has changed over the years.

“Last year over 170,000 visitors came to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, many of them school children. The future of any community rests with its children and an appreciation of the past at an early age will help understanding of the present and influence our approach to the future.

“In today’s world children instantly understand the technology behind DVD’s, television and film. The learning spaces in the cinema will play a key role in helping them understand film production in days gone by. This can only benefit everyone and contribute to a better and more tolerant society,” he said.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The main sources of funding for the Gildford Silent Cinema Complex were:

Gilford Silent Cinema Complex Costs

EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (NITB) £541,441

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure £432,269

Heritage Lottery Fund £177,900

Foundation for Sport and the Arts £34,500

Total £1,186,110

Replica Bus

EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (NITB) £52,651

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure £17,550

Total £70,201

Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office. Tel: 028 9025 8901 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk