• Boosting arts, economy
ADDIS ABABA – The Addis Ababa Cinema Houses Administration Enterprise has announced that the construction of a new skyscraper cinema building will be completed by the end of this Ethiopian fiscal year.
According to the Enterprise’s Marketing Sector Chief Executive Officer, Abraham Tamir, the project has been funded with an investment of over 930 million Birr, and the civil works are nearing completion.
As a diplomatic city, Addis Ababa required a standard cinema or theater house to serve both its local population and international visitors. The new skyscraper cinema will feature a variety of facilities, including studios, galleries, a children’s cinema house, and more. The project is designed not only to expand the city’s recreational spaces but also to enhance the economic capacity of cinema houses, promote the arts, and raise public awareness about their cultural value.
The building will house restaurants, shops, cosmetics centers, galleries, two large theaters with 800 and 1,200 seats, additional theater houses, cinema rooms, offices, and cafes, all equipped with the latest technologies. Once completed, it will offer Addis residents a wide and modern recreational alternative.
The new cinema complex will also create over 300 jobs upon its completion, contributing to local employment. Although the construction was delayed due to issues with the importation of soundproofing, lighting, elevators, and other essential equipment, the necessary materials have now arrived at Djibouti Port and will soon be installed.
One of the most significant features of the new building is the 800-seat children’s theater, a first for the city. This dedicated space aims to inspire creativity in young audiences from an early age, filling a gap in the city’s cultural infrastructure.
Additionally, the Enterprise is renovating three other cinema houses, including the first cinema hall in East Africa, further boosting the city’s cinematic offerings and cultural vitality.
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2024
