The Trust

Being owned by the Phoenix Cinema Trust means that the cinema is truly run by the local community. Like many arts and community organisations, the Trust is composed of local volunteers who serve on the Board and committees.

The Board of Trustees serve for one or more terms of three years. It is the Trustees who are legally responsible for the organisation and in charge of its management. All strategic planning is led by the Board together with management.

What do the trustees do?

Trustees meet staff regularly to keep informed about cinema business and to contribute actively to its management and development. The full board meets every other month with the board breaking into three working committees who meet monthly; i The House Committee with responsibility for finance, staff, operations and legal issues.  ii The Marketing and Fundraising Committee who oversee programming, special events, marketing and fundraising elements. iii The Heritage Education Committee which deals with Heritage and Film education activities.

Who are The Trustees

Stephen Barr, Chair of Board

Stephen is the managing director of Sage Publications London, a leading international publisher of books, journals, and electronic media.

Favourite film: Blue velvet

Gerry Turvey, Deputy Chair of Board & Chair of Heritage Education

Recently retired from Kingston University as a lecturer in film, Gerry is currently writing a book about early British film studios. Gerry has researched and written a complete history of The Phoenix which was published in September 2010.

Favourite film: The Leopard

Rachel Kolsky, Company Secretary

Following her career as a librarian in the financial services industry, Rachel now freelances as a registered London Blue Badge Tourist Guide. She has strong knowledge of quality customer experience and the local community. Favourite film: Hue and Cry

James Kessler QC, Chair of House

A practising barrister, James is an expert in taxation and charity law. Favourite film: Ten Canoes (Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr, 2006)

Steve Hutton

Steve is an economist, a strategist and a sculptor.  Having worked for a number of local authorities advising on business development in cultural industries, including setting up a cinema and arts centre.  Steve managed the business plan for Liverpool’s City of Culture bid, before taking a degree in sculpture at Wimbledon schools of art.

Alison Moore

Trained as an academic biologist, before working for the Zoological Society of London.  Alison is currently a councillor and leader of the Labour Group at London Borough of Barnet.

Alan Richardson

Lecturer in industrial relations (semi-retired), former Haringey Borough Councillor.

Anthony Tasgal

Worked for 17 years as an Account Planner in London ad agencies before starting POV, a Strategic Consultancy for a combined approach to marketing strategy and implementation.

How do I get involved?

Anyone who is passionate about the Phoenix and feels they have something to contribute can get involved with the cinema through the Trust, should contact the General Manager at info@phoenixcinema.co.uk. The Trust is always looking for intelligent, passionate people who can lend their skills to help the Trust continue its work.

Phoenix Cinema Trust Mission Statement

  1. The Phoenix Cinema is an independent cinema which is uniquely operated by a charitable trust on behalf of the people of North London. The Phoenix Cinema Trust is committed to promoting film culture by developing a broad programme of quality films.
  2. The Trust is committed to preserving the building as Britain’s longest operating purpose built cinema and to developing the Phoenix as a popular centre for moving images on film, video and new media into the 21st Century.
  3. In addition the Trust seeks to use its resources for the benefit of a wider population by encouraging the greatest possible access to film related activities for our diverse local communities.

Ethical Operations Policy

The Phoenix Cinema Trust recognises that it has a role in not only meeting our mission statement but doing so in an ethical way. To that we have developed an ethical operations policy to guide our work. This policy covers such issues as Human Rights, Environmental practices and global trade.

The document sets out the broad intentions and commitments of the Phoenix Cinema Trust in pursuing practices that take into account their impact on other people’s lives. The company seeks to support the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Many of our intentions will be achieved in a short time period, whilst others will be longer term commitments, due to resources, time, finance or technology.

This policy covers all activities of the Phoenix Cinema Trust. By far the largest part of our activities occur in the Phoenix Cinema, East Finchley and this is the area where we have a great deal of control. We also recognise that we should endeavour to implement this policy where our work takes us into other locations.

For more details and to read a copy of this policy please contact us via management@phoenixcinema.co.uk