A BOOKSHOP in Kenilworth is looking forward to a new chapter when it launches a cinema room.
The Tree House Bookshop in The Square is crowdfunding for equipment to screen films at least twice a month.
The non profit secondhand bookshop regularly hosts live music, art lectures, wellbeing and craft activities and now hopes to add cinema to its repertoire.
Aside from a weekly children’s film at the Kenilworth Centre and occasional showings at the Talisman Theatre, the shop aims to be the town’s go-to venue for film fans.
Around £1,800 will fund a projector and screen fixed to the ceiling, new speakers and a wiring system.
The screenings, which it hoped will start in October, will focus on classic Hollywood and British films, world cinema, and less mainstream films. Film-goers are also encouraged to make suggestions for movies.
Owner Victoria Mier said she was frequently asked whether the shop also showed films and now was the time to make it a reality.
She told the Observer: “I have wanted to show films for a while, as the main purpose of the shop is to bring the arts to the centre of town and encourage community through the arts.
“So the secondhand books are a way of recycling books but also encouraging people to read and to keep books available on the high street and live music and open mics are integral to what we do to bring people together, and film is, for me, part of that cultural package. And in terms of our business at the Tree House, it’s another way of enriching the sense of community through cultural events.
“I also do art history lectures, and we have a weekly craft group, so it means we will have books, live music, art and films all in one space, making a tiny cultural hub in the centre of town.”
So far the crowdfunder has raised more than £1,200 and those donating funds will be treated to different levels of free membership depending on the amount.
Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/treehousebookshop to donate further.
