This renovation project was made possible thanks to the joint commitment of volunteers and the municipality of Arudy. The mobilization was exceptional to prepare, organize, dismantle, sort, reorganize, and reopen, all while maintaining demanding programming. The sale of the old seats was also a unexpected success.
The work improved the aesthetic and safety of the room by replacing the seats, renovating the floors, walls, and ceilings, installing a more ecological heat pump, insulating the ceiling, modernizing the lighting, and refreshing the reception hall.
The cinema has been looking for solutions with the installer of the new seats, deemed too high, to perfect the overall ergonomics; transactions should soon be finalized.
Partners (the town hall, the Community of Communes of the Ossau Valley, the French Association of Art and Testing Cinemas, the merchants) and supporters of the cinema continue to subsidize it despite the reductions in budgets allocated to cultural organizations. This dynamic association has many new volunteers this year, who are training for various positions to gradually take over.
New schedules were tested in winter, the “heartfelt surprises” screenings were confirmed, and a film marathon was organized. Reflections to better balance events or improve the program’s readability were also launched.
The moral and financial assessments were unanimously adopted, and the old board, partially resigned, was replaced. The new board, unanimously elected, consists of President Josiane Mourterot, Treasurer Francis Listre, Deputy Treasurers Sophie Mauroy and Geoffrey Bostock, and Secretary Claire Brocas.
Regarding the most attractive films in Arudy, children’s works are widely represented in the top 5 best entries with “Zootopia”, “Panic at Christmas,” “The story of Souleymane” (which moved Cannes), “Paddington in Peru,” and “Mufasa.”
This cinema remains a lively, dynamic, and friendly place, deeply rooted in the territory thanks to its volunteers and the support of all actors in the valley.
Delegates from the departmental association of Youth, Sports, and Associative Engagement Medals, Jean-Baptiste Lamotte, specially presented medals to the board members for their action and dedication. They all considered these medals a tribute to the commitment of all volunteers.
List of medalists: – Bronze: Edith Mante, Sophie Mauroy, Didier Pineau, Marianne Dommain, Francis Listre; – Silver: Christian Delille, Alain Tournadre; – Gold: outgoing president Bérangère Lenglart, whose commitment and perseverance were praised by all.
