"Reel Reflections"
"Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund"
We are thrilled to announce the launch of Reel Reflections: Going to the Pictures in Inverclyde, a film heritage project dedicated to preserving and celebrating the cinematic history of Inverclyde. This exciting initiative, which will run until November 2025, is made possible through a generous grant of £99,894 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Reel Reflections aims to gather and showcase memories, stories, and memorabilia related to Inverclyde’s film heritage. With a focus on personal experiences and community involvement, the project will create a comprehensive documentary that explores the social history of going to the pictures in Inverclyde. This will be screened at a community film festival that will celebrate Inverclyde’s links to the film industry. Inverclyde Community Development Trust will also work with a local school to help produce a storyboard graphic novel.
“We are incredibly grateful to National Lottery players who make the Heritage Fund’s support possible,” said Niall Ptolomey, Heritage Coordinator. “The project presents a fantastic opportunity to connect communities and to illustrate the importance of heritage preservation and cultural conservation. We are really looking forward to involving the community in researching the history of our picture houses and cinemas. Inverclyde Community Development Trust encourage people to get involved and submit their picture going memories. Inverclyde has unique links to the film industry, and we are excited to uncover and share those stories.”
Primarily, this will be an opportunity for sharing heritage among communities and teaching heritage interpretation skills – utilising Inverclyde’s cinematic history to help volunteers and community groups gain a diverse range of skills and to reduce social isolation.
Get Involved!
We invite community members to participate in this exciting project. Here’s how you can get involved:
- Share Your Memories: We encourage anyone to submit their stories, photos, and memorabilia related to Inverclyde’s film history.
- Join Our Film Heritage Research Group: Participate in research at the Moving Image Archive at the National Library of Scotland and help uncover our cinematic past.
- Volunteer for Filming: Contribute your skills and enthusiasm to the creation of our community documentary.
- Curate the Exhibition: Assist in curating the end-of-project exhibition in 2025, showcasing our collective heritage.
To sign up as a volunteer or submit your memories, please visit www.thetrustheritage.community/projects/reelreflections
Or contact our Heritage Coordinator at niall.ptolomey@the-trust.org.uk.
We will be holding a research group launch event on August 5th at the Dutch Gable House in Greenock. This event marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in preserving Inverclyde’s film heritage, and we encourage everyone to join us.