The Cinema Museum opened to the public in 1998. Today, it boasts a collection of film history that is unrivalled in the UK. The narrow hallways are decked out with classic movie props, original posters and artwork, portraits of stars, antique projectors, and film reels dating back to the dawn of cinema.
The Cinema Museum now faces a fight for survival. The building is part of a complex owned by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), that has been put up for sale on the open market. The museum has operated on rolling one-year leases, and the current contract expires on March 9.
The museum has received an outpouring of support since SLaM’s plans were announced last August. An emergency public meeting in October drew hundreds of supporters and a petition to protect the museum is fast approaching 30,000 signatures.