The Independent Review

In 2020 complaints were made against the previous management and board of Tyneside Cinema about the culture and behaviours in the organisation, and that serious issues had not been picked up and dealt with appropriately. A comprehensive independent review was commissioned from Turning Moment. The resulting report found that there were serious failings in management, governance, procedures and behaviours. The report contained 74 recommendations.

The Trustees accepted all the recommendations, committed to their implementation and apologised for their failings in governance. The then Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer resigned and other trustees also stood down. None of the people implicated in allegations or the mishandling of them now work for the cinema. A new Chair and Trustees were recruited, alongside a new Interim CEO – the cinema now has a strong new Board working hard to secure the long-term future of Tyneside Cinema as a vital cultural asset for Newcastle and the North East.

We took the recommendations very seriously and committed to implementing them all. We worked hard to understand what went wrong and to create a properly managed and governed organisation with good practice at the heart of all we do, focusing on putting people first through inclusivity, collaboration and communication. This has been a collective effort and we have delivered on our commitment to change.

We have created a new structure, new ways of doing things and a new organisational culture. Our efforts now are focused on continuing to embed good practice and pushing forward to be an exemplary employer and exceptional cultural institution. We owe this to everyone who has been part of our history, whether as a guest, artist or a member of staff. The place of Tyneside Cinema in the community of Newcastle is unique – the cinema has been a part of many peoples’ lives in many different ways. We aim to honour that legacy by ensuring Tyneside Cinema is fit for the future and continues to serve the city and the region.