28/11/2012 - Network of Hubs coming up

With an investment of up to £2.5m each year, the UK Audience Network is the core of the British Film Institute’s (BFI) new £22m Audience Fund. The UK-wide Network will consist of up to ten Hubs – bringing together varied groups of organisations across different areas of the country to work together. Each Hub will be led by a Hub Lead Organisation – an organisation with strength and experience in growing and developing audiences for specialised film. The BFI has launched an open call for applications from organisations across the UK.

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Amanda Nevill, Chief Executive of the BFI, said, “This announcement marks the first exciting move towards increasing opportunities for film lovers right across the UK. We want to encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong relationship with film, regardless of where they live. But the reality for so many in the UK is that they simply cannot access and enjoy the full richness and breadth of film and film culture on their doorstep – we want to change this.”

“Our ambitious UK Audience Network, intrinsically linked to our comprehensive new film education offer for 5-19 year olds and our plans to bring film experiences to 1000 community venues, marks the beginning of a new joined up strategy to help put film at the centre of UK cultural life. By fostering partnership and collaboration from a range of experts who really understand how to connect films with audiences, and who appreciate the power that film can have in people’s lives, we hope the UK Audience Network will help unlock thought-provoking and inspiring films and film culture across all platforms, for the benefit of audiences everywhere,” Nevill added.