Dear Friends,
We have some bittersweet news to share with you.
Our fearless leader, founding Executive Director Carol Johnson,
has announced her retirement
.
Carol has given so much to the Cinema during her thirteen-year tenure. Quite simply, Amherst Cinema wouldn't be the well-respected arts organization and beloved community gathering place it is today without Carol's visionary leadership.
Her careful attention to all aspects of Cinema life from film programming and community engagement to financial stewardship and marketing efforts has allowed Amherst Cinema to thrive, making it a true jewel in the crown of our region's vibrant arts scene.
Carol's creative vision was the force behind so many of our popular film series including
Science on Screen
,
Bellwether
, and
Sound & Vision
. Her fundraising prowess and business acumen brought us the addition of the Studio Theater in 2013. Our education program, See-Hear-Feel-Film, now serves 1,600 schoolchildren each year thanks to Carol's support and advocacy. Amherst Cinema is considered a leader within the national art house cinema community because of Carol's exemplary governance. We could go on and on listing Carol's many achievements as executive director.
In honor of her significant contributions, we'll be naming the main auditorium (Theater 1) the Carol M. Johnson Theater. You can make a lasting tribute in honor of Carol
here
.
Feel free to include a message to Carol or a memorable anecdote about her
—
we'll read excerpts at a forthcoming retirement celebration once we can safely gather again.
We are so grateful to have had Carol here to guide and shape the Cinema from the very beginning. We wish her all the best in her retirement.
Sincerely,
Your friends at Amherst Cinema
