Community cinemas in urban regeneration: a case study of cinema Úsmev in Košice

Abstract

The paper is focused on the role of cinemas in culture-led urban regeneration, their potential in the process of place-making and community building. Existing research has shown that there is a link between social and spatial identities based on small town cinemas and that community needs to be at the centre of the regeneration process for it to be sustainable. The paper follows the debate with its objective being to explore this link using a mixed method approach based on a case study. The case study deals with a local community cinema project located in the centre of Košice, Slovakia. It started the process of cinema restoration in 2015 and reflected the collective aspirations of urban inhabitants for the cinema’s survival. The findings conclude that the cinema is an active social actor and cultural asset in the neighbourhood and contributes to the development of a vital and inclusive community. On the other hand, it opens up the debate on the Slovak Audiovisual policies and cinema situation across Slovak districts as potential for further research.