By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — The city has awarded a contract to the Friends of the Lambertville Library that will allow the group to enhance its weekly film program at the Justice Center.
The program has been offered for three years under an informal agreement. The Friends have long sought to make the arrangement a formal one, granting it a set schedule, among other benefits.
”It will help us grow the program and enhance the cultural community of Lambertville,” said Jane Wesby, vice president of the Friends board and owner of River Queen Artisans gallery.
The group was the only one to submit a formal proposal, known as an RFP, when the city solicited bids earlier this year.
There is no other movie venue in the city.
The Friends’ contract calls for a monthly contribution of 30 percent of actual costs, or $271.85 monthly.
The RFP the Friends submitted to the city included a $1,000 check to be held in a trust account, and it also included a financial plan that reflects a profit of $3,078 annually.
”The contract, we assume, based on the RFP, will give us a guaranteed set schedule for using the Acme building for our film program, and this, in turn, will allow us to sell memberships with benefits since we know we have a home for the program over a set period of time,” Ms. Wesby said. “The contract, we assume, based on the RFP, will also grant us the ability to make capital improvements to the space, pending City Council approval — things such as comfortable seating, signage and bringing first-run film equipment.”
The Acme Screening Room takes its name from the last occupant of the building that now houses the Justice Center, an Acme grocery. The building was purchased and upgraded by the city. Municipal meetings are held in the main meeting room as well as some community events.
The new contract comes just in time for the presentation of the Friends’ second annual Artist Visions Film Festival this summer. The outdoor festival is a free film and live music series at locations throughout the city.
According to the Friends, “The festival will impact the film program as it will help us raise needed funds to keep the program going once we are under contract.”
The Friends is required to contribute to the cost of utilities and cleaning.
The festival will be presented on First Friday and Second Saturday events, June through August.
”By placing these events outdoors throughout the summer, we hope to increase community and visitors’ exposure to our rich Hunterdon-Bucks County arts scene and bring the Friends’ programs out into to the community,” said Sara Scully, program producer.
Visitors to the festival can see a video installation of short films projected on the side of the Wells Fargo Bank, Bridge and Union streets, on First Friday and Second Saturday at sundown. Feature films will be projected in Cavallo Park, South Union Street.
Live music concerts will be held in the Lambertville Station parking lot, Bridge Street, before the scheduled weekend summer fireworks displays over the Delaware River.
Concerts will be held First Fridays at 8:30 p.m. Feature films will be shown Second Saturdays at sundown.
Films by students from Bucks and Hunterdon counties also will be presented in partnership with the Princeton Student Film and Video Festival at the Acme Screening Room, indoors, July 22 and 23.

