The Curzon Collection began with the Heritage Open Day in September 2000, featuring mainly 16mm vintage projection equipment which had been donated to the Curzon Community Cinema for use and preservation.

During 2001, the Projected Picture Trust (www.ppttrust.org), based at Bletchley Park (the home of the famous Enigma WW2 coding machines and the Colossus computer) needed to relocate equipment due to pressure of space. Through negotiation the Curzon was able to assist, and in April 2001 many of the 35mm and 16mm projectors were delivered to the Collection. For those involved in Media studies the Collection offers a wealth of information. Students and Course developers are invited to use the Collection for research. The Curzon is also the SW Regional base for the Projected Picture Trust and information about the Trust can be obtained from the Curzon.

The Collection will have a new demonstration screen this season where special events will be screened, in the main exhibition area.
We plan to have the Powers No.6 (1909) projector restored in the next few months to illustrate projection in a Bioscope circa 1909 alongside our Butchers Empire projector.
New this season is a 'Kiddie Kinema' where some of our hand-turned toy projectors will be operational. Everyone welcome.

Curzon Collection Open Days for 2010 Opening times 1100 till 1500 (last admissions 1400) Free entry Curzon Birthday Celebration in April (date tba) Sat/Sun May 29/30 special event: 9.5mm Classics - Projectors and films Sat/Sun June 26/27 special event: The World of Glass Slides Sat/Sun July 24/25 special event : FELIX & FRIENDS Heritage cartoons Sat/Sun Sept 25/26 special event: 16mm Classics - Projectors and films Sat/Sun Oct 23/24 special event: tba Note dates and times may alter due to cinema operational conditions. Check before visit. Other visits to the Curzon Collection are available on Mondays by private arrangement. Time at 1100 also at 1330 (not school or Bank holidays) A visit would take around 2 hours and include the Curzon Collection of heritage cinema and home cinema artefacts, a short tour of the cinema including the Balcony and first cinema (1912) site and a brief history of this heritage working cinema. There is a small charge. Visits at other times may be possible, please enquire. For bookings please contact the cinema.

The Collection has been set out Museum style in two main locations in the Curzon cinema. The primary location is at the top of the building in the old projection room built at the rear of the Balcony and used between 1945 and 1972 since when it became unused. It was decided to use it as a small preservation site for the artefacts that had been donated to the Curzon. The old projection room still had the metal drop shutters over the portholes and it was decided that these could be a feature to show how the projection room would have looked when in use substituting 16mm projectors for 35mm.

With the eventual arrival of some 35mm projectors to the Collection it was possible to place these in the operating positions and with other artefacts a replica of a front projection wall has been created. The remaining 16mm projectors and other exhibits have been displayed in the rear portion of the old projection room including artefacts from the Curzon's past and other cinemas long gone.

The secondary location is beneath the Auditorium of the Cinema in the remains of the original cinema built in 1912. It is a fitting environment for the 'heavy brigade' of 35mm projectors we have and adds to the atmosphere with the original décor of the first cinema still apparent on the walls. This is known as the Curzon Collection Annexe.