That the Parliament congratulates Allison Gardner on what it sees as her remarkable 32-year career at Glasgow Film; recognises her outstanding leadership as both the chief executive of Glasgow Film and the director of the Glasgow Film Festival; notes Allison's tireless dedication to ensuring the sustainability and growth of the Glasgow Film Theatre and her transformative role in developing a diverse and inclusive audience, supporting independent filmmakers and strengthening the cultural life of Glasgow; recognises her commitment during challenging periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to maintain full staff employment, adapt the organisation to meet changing circumstances and safeguard the cinema for future generations; notes her instrumental role in establishing initiatives such as Cinema Three and the Glasgow Film Festival and youth engagement programmes, including Take Two, school screenings, Film Fans, which is aimed at 11- to 14-year-olds, youth programmers and ambassadors, free monthly youth screenings, dementia-friendly and neurodivergent-friendly screenings and other audience-focused innovations; recognises Allison's efforts in diversifying audiences and listening to young people to ensure that programming meets the needs of all communities; acknowledges her work in transforming Glasgow Film Theatre into Scotland’s best-attended independent cinema; believes that it has an international outlook while remaining a neighbourhood cinema, and commends her legacy in securing the future of Glasgow Film Theatre as a vibrant cultural institution for generations to come.
Supported by:
Alasdair Allan, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Neil Bibby, Miles Briggs, Sharon Dowey, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Tim Eagle, Annabelle Ewing, Russell Findlay, Meghan Gallacher, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Bill Kidd, Douglas Lumsden, Fulton MacGregor, Roz McCall, Stuart McMillan, Douglas Ross, Alexander Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Evelyn Tweed, Tess White, Brian Whittle