Founded in 2020 by Angus and Michie MacDonald, Highland Cinema was established as a welcoming destination for film, arts and culture in the heart of Lochaber. Reflecting on the milestone, Angus MacDonald said: “The cinema was always built to be a community asset, and completing this transfer to a Charity Trust formalises that vision and secures it for the future.”
General Manager Will Marshall added: “We are thrilled to have completed this transition. Our vibrant programme of film, food and culture will continue exactly as audiences expect, with all existing gift vouchers and pre-purchased tickets honoured. There will be some visible changes as we begin operating as a registered charity, but the cinema our customers know and love – our films, events and welcoming atmosphere – remains the same. At the same time, charity status gives us access to new funding and partnerships, helping us invest in our future.”
With the closure of Oban Phoenix Cinema in 2024, Highland Cinema’s role as a cultural hub for the wider West Highlands has become more vital than ever. Charity status safeguards the cinema’s future and ensures continued access to film and the arts for local communities and visitors.
Under its new charitable structure, the cinema has appointed five Trustees with experience spanning film, hospitality, business and marketing, who will support Highland Cinema’s long-term sustainability and development. The Trustees will continue to champion the cinema’s established programme of film, theatre, music, ballet, visual arts, talks and community events, building on its strengths to widen access to the arts and enrich cultural life across Lochaber.
The organisation would like to thank its staff, visitors and the wider community for their continued encouragement and support. Achieving charity status marks not only a recognition of the work accomplished to date, but also provides a strong and sustainable foundation for future growth, ensuring Highland Cinema can continue to serve its audiences and community for years to come.
Customers don’t need to take any action following the transition to charity status – tickets, vouchers and bookings all continue as normal.
Highland Cinema will remain as the trading name of The Highland Community Cinema Trust, a registered charity in Scotland (SC054602), and Highland Cinema Trading Limited, a company registered in Scotland (SC870453).
