THE Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has announced the latest round of Culture Recovery funding, which will benefit Ilkley Cinema.

The cinema has been awarded almost £150,000 from the fund, which will help the cinema build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Culture Recovery Fund was established to help cultural organisations and heritage sites weather the pandemic, at a time when they were forced to close their doors.

Cinemas play an important social role in their local communities, bringing people together and providing them with a focal point and space where they can enjoy culture and engage with others.

The funding for Ilkley Cinema builds on previous funding announced earlier this year. In April, the government announced almost £1 million in funding to support local iconic cultural organisations, including the Ilkley Literature Festival.

Robbie Moore, MP for Ilkley said: “The past eighteen months have had a devastating impact on our cultural and heritage organisations, so this additional funding boost of almost £150,000 for the Ilkley Cinema will make a huge difference.

"This additional funding will help make sure we build back better from the pandemic, and ensure our key cultural organisations are protected long into the future.”