Popular cinema celebrates in style

The South Kesteven District Council-run venue has been bringing the latest releases to audiences during that time and goes from strength to strength with new facilities and a wider range of movies.

A special pre-release showing of Conclave, protected by top security and showing one day before its release in the USA, is already a sell-out.

It shows the dramatic events surrounding one of the world’s most mysterious and ancient processes – the selection of a new pope.

Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini star in Oscar-winning director Edward Berger’s latest work.

Cabinet Member for Arts and Culture, Cllr Paul Stokes, who is Deputy Leader of SKDC, said: “It’s been 30 years since we launched with a preview showing of the big film of the time – Four Weddings and a Funeral, complete with a talk from director Mike Newell.

“This took place on 24^th October, 1994, and we are marking that anniversary with our screening of Conclave on Thursday, 24^th October 2024.

“It’s such a coup for Stamford Art Centre, the film itself will arrive with the distributor’s own security as it will be showing a whole month before general release in this country.

“It is a very special preview screening and has proved very popular. It’s the perfect way to celebrate 30 wonderful years.”

As part of the celebrations, local artist Karen Neale is holding a drop-in art workshop for families between 12noon and 5pm in the Gallery area.

The 170-seat Stamford Arts Centre cinema now offers films sooner after their release than ever before, as well as live streaming music and musical theatre events, plus audio description for films where available. Other improvements following a £40,000 investment by the Council include a new lift customers with limited mobility.

Stamford Arts Centre works with the Independent Cinema Office in support of programming, film selecting and marketing. The venue offers a range of accessible screenings, including relaxed, captioned and subtitled screenings.

For up-to-date programming information, visit www.stamfordartscentre.com or call 01780 763203.