Since it opened its doors in Temple Bar in 1992, the Irish Film Institute (IFI) has welcomed over four million visitors who have enjoyed the very best in Irish and international cinema. This summer the much loved cinema will reveal a new look in the main cinema spaces. Cinemas 1 and 2 will be fully renovated with bigger seats, more legroom, new carpets, acoustic panelling and the roofs throughout the cinemas and foyer will be fixed. Much of the funds are already in place, but the IFI desperately needs further support to complete the works. The age of the building also means that ongoing maintenance and structural costs are, and will be, substantial.

Seat naming is a fantastic way to demonstrate your own passion for film or celebrate the memory of someone who appreciated the IFI during their lifetime. It also makes for an unusual wedding or birthday gift, and is a very unique way to announce a new arrival into the world. We very much welcome support from our corporate community too. The plaques have been designed by local artists Fiona Snow and Michael Mohler of SNOW Studio.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, IFI Director Ross Keane said, ‘As the Home of Film in Ireland, we pride ourselves in delivering programmes of excellence, but we now need our facilities to match these high standards. As a registered charity and not-for-profit, we are looking to the public and our loyal audience to assist us in undertaking these critical works, and to support the work that we do as Ireland’s national cultural institution for film across our broad remit of film exhibition, education and preservation. We hope that these improvements will help drive our box office income which, in turn, gets reinvested back into our various education programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds, and helps us to preserve Ireland’s National Film Collection.’

Donations can be given via www.ifi.ie/donate, by texting IFI to 50300 to give €4*, or through https://shop.ifi.ie/ nameyourseat/.