Curzon cinema launches search for new chief executive

The Curzon cinema at Clevedon wants to move into the 21st century as an arts and community centre with the help of a chief executive.

The top job as chief executive at the Curzon cinema has been advertised nationally and it is paying £35,000 pa.

The new role is needed to help it drive forward future development plans, say the trustees of one of the world's oldest cinema.

The cinema's board of trustees say although the cinema celebrated a successful centenary year in 2012 and saw ticket sales soar, focus now needs to be on further restoration of the Grade II listed building.

Work has already been carried out at the cinema in 2010, thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund grant but repairs still need to be done on the building's leaky roof.

Curzon board of trustees chairman Hilary Neal said: "With our 100th birthday celebrations behind us, the board has been thinking about how  the Curzon can  move on to the next stage of development, restoration and the expansion of our education and learning programme.

"The work we have done so far means that we have been able to share the history of this amazing building with our visitors, but they consistently ask us when we will be able to reopen the balcony and restore the auditorium to its full glory. 

"Though the cinema business makes a small surplus  each year, it is not enough to complete the necessary roof repairs that would make further restoration possible – that can only be done with major fundraising."

The board has decided to appoint a new post that will combine strategic leadership of the organisation with fundraising and delivering the restoration and development project. 

Adverts for the chief executive role have been running on specialised websites this week.

The job spec says the Old Church Road cinema is looking for: 'An enthusiastic and creative chief executive to lead the independent Curzon Community Cinema through its next phase of development. We want a strategic leader to strengthen and develop the Curzon's film and cinema, education and heritage goals, raise funds and deliver a major restoration project'.

The Curzon bills itself as 'a thriving single-screen independent cinema at the heart of the community with a diverse mainstream and specialised programme and a strong learning, education and outreach offer' which is run by a charitable trust.

The chief executive will be only one of two full-time paid posts leading a small team of part time and sessional staff and more than 100 volunteers.

As a result of the new post's creation, Gareth Negus, director of the Curzon since June 2007, will leave the cinema at the end of February. 

Mr Negus has been retained as programmer and will continue to book the cinema's films. 

The Curzon is supported by some talented and famous patrons.

These include  independent producer Sir Charles Elton, of Clevedon Court; mulit-skilled Monty Python cartoonist Terry Gilliam; international stage and screen actor Alan Rickman; actor and television presenter Tony Robinson and Aardman founders David Sproxton and Peter Lord and director Nick Park.