{{Short description|Cinema in Belfast, Northern Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{coord|54.601|-5.880|display=title|region:GB_scale:5000}} thumb|right|200px|The Strand Arts Centre The '''Strand Arts Centre''', also known as '''Strand Cinema''' is an independent four-screen cinema in Strandtown on Holywood Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is one of the two remaining independent cinemas in Belfast, alongside the Queen's Film Theatre. It is the only operational picture house in Northern Ireland down from a total of 40 during the genre's peak popularity.<ref name="Leebody">{{Cite news |last=Leebody |first=Christopher |date=2023-11-02 |title=Iconic Belfast cinema building set to undergo £6.5m redevelopment |language=en-GB |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/theatre-arts/iconic-belfast-cinema-building-set-to-undergo-65m-redevelopment/a1947551204.html |access-date=2023-12-16 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref name="sherwood">{{Cite news |last=Sherwood |first=Harriet |date=2023-09-26 |title=Ice house and art deco cinema among buildings to get £12.2m in lottery grants |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/26/great-yarmouth-ice-house-stand-arts-cardiff-market-heritage-lottery-grants |access-date=2023-12-16 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
==History== The Strand originally built for an English Unions Cinema chain, and consisted of a single screen. The cinema's streamlined moderne design, it is said, was influenced by its proximity to the nearby shipyard of Harland & Wolff, featuring curved walls and portholed foyer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-07 |title=The Strand: NI's oldest cinema celebrates 85th birthday |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55213798 |access-date=2023-12-16}}</ref> The first film to be shown in the theatre when it opened in 1935 was Bright Eyes featuring Shirley Temple.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="sloan">{{Cite news |last=Sloan |first=Matthew |date=2023-11-02 |title=Northern Ireland's oldest cinema set for £6.5 million refurbishment |language=en-GB |url=https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/ni-oldest-cinema-set-for-refurbishment/ |access-date=2023-12-16}}</ref> From 1984 to 1987, The Strand was re-opened as a live concert venue by local businessman, Ronnie Rutherford.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=History {{!}} Strand Cinema Belfast|url=https://www.strandartscentre.com/about_us/history/|access-date=2020-09-02|website=www.strandartscentre.com}}</ref> In 1999, the original red brickwork of the building was rendered and painted and Art Deco flourishes added over its entrance. The original steel windows were replaced in aluminum framed windows at that time. Following its remodeling, the Strand won a RIBA Architecture Award.<ref name=":0" /> The building is landmark in east Belfast due to its prominent location at a busy junction.
The Strand is one of the venues for the Belfast Film Festival, during which it screens classic films.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://belfastfilmfestival.org/programme/2014-archive |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-10-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729230201/http://belfastfilmfestival.org/programme/2014-archive |archive-date=2014-07-29 }}</ref> During the 2005 festival the cinema celebrated its 70th birthday by screening ''A Night to Remember'', the 1958 film about the sinking of RMS ''Titanic'', built by Harland & Wolff.
In 2012, The Strand once again offered live theatre as it did in the past, beginning with The Strand Star search, a talent show to find new acts for its new variety nights. After several years of an uncertain future due to maintenance costs,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-05-11 |title=Fears over future of Northern Ireland's oldest cinema |language=en-GB |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/fears-over-future-of-northern-irelands-oldest-cinema/36893944.html |access-date=2023-12-16 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> a restoration and expansion to include a museum was announced in November 2023 with funding provided by a UK lottery for the preservation of historic buildings.<ref name="Leebody"/><ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-09-26 |title=National Lottery Heritage Fund provides cash injection for east Belfast Strand Arts Centre }}</ref>
It was featured prominently in the first episode of the 2020 BBC Three comedy ''My Left Nut''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-49437474|title=Belfast teen has star role in men's health film|first=Robbie|last=Meredith|work=BBC News|date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.strandartscentre.com/ Official website]
Category:Buildings and structures in Belfast Category:Culture in Belfast Category:Cinemas in Northern Ireland Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1935 Category:Streamline Moderne architecture in the United Kingdom
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