SAVE
THE
TOWER
FOR THE COMMUNITY
Welcome
So glad you made it.
This website is home to The Save The Tower Steering Group. A small but determined group of former staff, volunteers and patrons of the Tower Arts Centre and Cinema in Helensburgh. We decided to come together and explore the option of bringing the facility under community ownership after it closed for good in the first quarter of 2024.
The Steering group
What's the story?
A much loved venue...
The Tower Arts Centre and Cinema, situated in the heart of Helensburgh, was a beloved and popular destination for local movie goers and live entertainment fans since it opened in 2007. It offered the latest and greatest movies, live streaming event cinema, and the very best in filmed entertainment during its lifetime. It truly catered for all ages, groups and tastes.
As an independent charitable venture, opening a first run cinema and arts centre was not an easy task. There were many daunting hurdles to jump before finally being permitted to show the latest movies and live content, but with perseverance and a lot of hard work, a cinema and entertainment licence was granted. Proper Cinema had returned to Helensburgh.
Not Just Cinema...
Over the years, The Tower was host to many great and wonderful live events that saw the likes of Jarvis Cocker, Clare Rogan, Alistair Gray and all types of Fantastic Performances that were enthusiastically received by the local population. It was a much needed hub and meeting point for many groups, clubs and associations.
So what's the twist?
With Covid came a very long and difficult time for all places of entertainment worldwide. Many closed for good. But the Tower managed to reopen, thanks to YOU, the local community, who supported it in its smaller form factor and welcomed the opportunity to once again welcome Cinema back to Helensburgh...
Here's the 'but'...
But, sadly, after much deliberation, it was eventually decided by the current owner, that The Tower Arts Centre would cease trading. And that, as they say, was that...
TO BE CONTINUED...
The Steering Group
Here comes the cavalry...
The Save The Tower Steering Group
Within Community lies UNITY. And the idea of losing this cherished facility was not an option for a small, determined group of patrons, volunteers and staff of the Tower, who decided to come together and explore the option of bringing the Tower under community ownership. Could this be done? Would the support be there? There was only one way to find out. Flash forward to present day...
There are a lot of positive reasons for forging ahead. The current owner is willing to sell. The infrastructure for the business and building are already in place, so we are not starting from scratch, and we believe the support of the community is there for us to proceed.