Have a Great Christmas everyone! Who would've thought this time last year that The Film Council would be disbanded and rolled into The BFI? Do we really care anyway...
Here's the lowdown from Amanda Nevill:
Today we announced a number of measures to help prepare the BFI for a new era for film in the UK. Our proposals include an ambitious digital modernisation strategy, making the delivery of our services more efficient, a plan to grow income and increased free public access to the BFI Collections.
This is a critical first step as the BFI adapts to a changed financial environment and becomes the lead body for film in the UK. In this first phase we are prioritising those core activities that only the BFI can do and that audiences most value.
We have started working with the UK Film Council to prepare for the transition of responsibilities. Early in the New Year we will advertise to recruit new Governing Board members and we will also be publishing an outline timetable for a smooth handover.
Attached you will find the press announcement we made today. Do contact me if you wish to discuss any aspect of the proposals.
I look forward to giving you more news on the transition process in the New Year.
Yours sincerely
Amanda Nevill
BFI announces the first stage of preparing
for a new era in film
- Digital strategy for modernisation
- New focus on income growth and increased efficiencies
- Increased public access to BFI Collections
The BFI today announced measures to help it prepare for a new era for film in the UK. The proposals include an ambitious digital modernisation strategy, making the delivery of its services more efficient, a plan to grow income and increased free public access to the BFI Collections.
This is the critical first step for the BFI as it adapts to a changed financial environment and becomes the lead body for film in the UK. In this first phase the BFI is prioritising those activities that are core to the BFI, that are unique and that audiences most value.
Central to the strategy is continued investment in digital capability that will provide greater public access to the BFI’s film and knowledge collections and improved reach of its public programmes.
The BFI will build on its revenue-earning successes3 with a package of initiatives that includes a new Membership drive, introducing advertising opportunities onscreen and online, as well as an ambitious sponsorship and fundraising campaign. Additionally, brand new business opportunities are being developed to take advantage of the BFI’s expertise, skills and knowledge, through international partnerships and new digital business models.
The BFI’s long standing ambitious and successful drive to engage with more and different people is at the heart of a decision to relocate the BFI Library to BFI Southbank where it can be tied more closely to growing audiences, the delivery of the cultural and education programmes and to the BFI Mediatheque. For dedicated researchers, a bespoke facility will be created at the BFI National Archive where the collections are physically held. A pioneering digital-on-demand service is also planned at BFI Southbank that will allow desktop delivery of the Collections. Over time, the ambition is to offer similar services at BFI Mediatheques around the UK.
These changes are being proposed against a backdrop of a 15% cut in its grant in aid over the next four years, successive years of zero increases in grant-in-aid funding and rising utilities and pension costs which have created a widening gap in the BFI’s budget. These new measures allow efficiencies, stimulate additional revenue and help the BFI further reduce its reliance on public funding. Nevertheless, the BFI anticipates the proposals will lead to a net reduction in its workforce of around 37 posts.
Amanda Nevill, Director of the BFI, said: ‘It is imperative the BFI builds on its successes and remains commercially astute in this tough new environment. We have an incredible opportunity in the months and years ahead to create something very special for film in the UK and these proposals are both bold and necessary.’
In tandem, the BFI is also making itself ready for the transition of responsibilities from the UK Film Council and further structural changes may be made following the due diligence period. Early in the New Year the BFI will advertise to recruit new Governing Board members to guide it through the transition period and beyond. At the same time, an outline transition timetable will be published.
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