Project Development Officer Appointed

We are delighted to announce the appointment of a Project Development Officer, the Broadway Cinema's first employee in 48 years, Kyle Macfarlane!

Kyle is the longest serving volunteer currently in the project, and has been instrumental in the group's progress to-date. Originally joining to offer support with graphic design, social media marketing, and web management skills, Kyle has since pioneered key aspects of the project that have shaped the organisation today, and will continue to shape the Broadway Cinema of the future.

The Museum of Scottish Cinemas project was founded by Kyle to preserve not only the Broadway's incredible heritage but the history of cinema-going across the nation, ensuring an integral part of our cultural and built heritage will live on for future generations, and that our own heritage collections continue to expand. Our current website was also designed by Kyle, together with the creation of our members' monthly magazine the Broadway Bugle, of which Kyle remains as the chief editor. Kyle is also leading our Gaelic language plan, has acted as spokesperson for the Broadway across national media, identified our chosen Stage One architects, managed our social media accounts, and played a part in several successful funding applications to-date.

We are incredibly excited for this next chapter in the Broadway's history!

Press Release:

The charity responsible for restoring an iconic Prestwick cinema has appointed a full-time Project Development Officer, following a successful funding award from the Scottish Land Fund to purchase the building. This key appointment will play a pivotal part in driving the project forward to the next stages of renovation. Kyle Macfarlane has successfully taken up this post and begins immediately. Prestwick born Kyle has over five years’ experience of working with Friends of the Broadway and brings a wealth of passion and enthusiasm for the project.

The Art Deco gem sits on Prestwick’s Main Street and is fondly remembered by generations of Ayrshire cinemagoers. It will now be brought into community ownership and redeveloped into a cinema, multi-purpose entertainment venue, and inclusive space that will benefit the whole community.

Professor Guy Walker, Chair of Friends of the Broadway Prestwick said:

"As Chair of Friends of the Broadway, it is my great pleasure to introduce you to the Broadway Cinema’s first employee in almost 50 years.

As part of our funding to acquire the Broadway cinema we also received funding for a Project Development Officer. An open recruitment process was run to find the ideal candidate, with shortlisting and interviews completed by local Human Resources consultants, and I am delighted to welcome Kyle into the role.

In the language of Human Resources this post had to be ‘passion led’: and no one is more passionate about the Broadway than Kyle. Kyle resigned as Director prior to applying for this role, but has acquired considerable experience in marketing, events, heritage preservation, media, and community and stakeholder engagement. All of this combined with his experience in customer service and tourism makes him the ideal person to help us bring the Broadway back.

Kyle is now working full time on securing the funding required to restore the Broadway and is currently based at the offices of Regency FM at Prestwick Airport. Friends of the Broadway are an accredited Living Wage Employer and an incredible personal and professional journey now awaits our ‘employee number one’."

Kyle Macfarlane, Project Development Officer, said of his appointment:

 "It's impossible to summarise what this appointment means to me and I am beyond excited to get started. Becoming the Broadway Cinema's first employee in almost half a century is an incredible honour. Since joining the project five years ago I have completely fallen in love with the building, the ethereally evocative atmosphere it still holds today, and the unlimited potential it holds for our community. It's amazing how passionate you can become about something that, to many, may simply appear to be a derelict building. We all know it's so much more than that!

The Broadway is a remarkable survivor and preserving the rich cultural heritage and historical significance it brings to our town is the greatest driving force behind my own energy and enthusiasm for the project. Seeing others fall in love with the Broadway as I have will never grow old, and what we can create together will have a lasting impact on our community for generations to come. Thank you all for sharing the same passion and for your everlasting support.

I can't wait to welcome you to your newly re-opened Broadway Cinema in the not so distant future."