NEA Terminates Grant Supporting Amherst Cinema’s Bellwether Series

The Amherst Cinema announced on May 7 that it had received notification from the National Endowment for the Arts, that a $20,000 grant awarded to the Cinema to support the Bellwether series has been terminated due to shifting priorities under the Trump administration. The Bellweather Series, now five years old, features creative, thoughtful and inventive approaches to non-fiction cinema. The monthly series pairs brave, bold films with appearances by and conversations with visiting artists from around the country and around the world. It represents the possibilities of cinema when we widen the boundaries of exhibition.   

This is the fifth year that NEA has supported the Bellwether series. The grant covers roughly two thirds of series’ budget and the loss of the grant leaves that substantial portion of the budget unfunded. The cinema pledged to appeal the NEA decision and also noted that it will be looking to the Amherst community to help keep the series afloat for the remainder of the year.

In a statement released on May 7, the Cinema stated that, “For five successive years, Bellwether has merited funding from the NEA through a rigorous and competitive grant process. We have consistently met and exceeded expectations, demonstrating the merits of our programming, supporting the work of independent filmmakers, and bringing artists and audiences together in person and in conversation.” Read the full Amherst Cinema statement here.

Patrons of the cinema can show their support in the following ways.

• Attend the next Bellwether program on Sunday, May 11.  
• Write and call your elected officials. Make your voice heard.  
• Support Amherst Cinema. 

To learn more about the Bellwether series, visit:  
http://amherstcinema.org/series/bellwether   

To view past programs, visit: 
https://amherstcinema.org/sites/default/files/Bellwether_2022-2025_Program.pdf

About Amherst Cinema 
Amherst Cinema is an independent, nonprofit arts and education center brimming with world-class programs. The comfortable, fully accessible theater offers state-of-the-art projection and sound and is a welcoming crossroads for all. Amherst Cinema presents over 250 programs a year on multiple screens in more than 35 languages. For more information, visit: https://amherstcinema.org