DES MOINES, Iowa — The Varsity Cinema is reaching out to the community for help after the Trump administration announced it would cut funding to the National Endowment for the Arts grants, an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens community arts initiatives.

Annually, the Varsity Cinema received $20,000 from NEA grants, and used the money to create programming for the local community to enjoy.

“For us that [money] represents two percent of our yearly budget, and those are funds that really go towards our community partnership programming, our special events where we might do things like have a filmmaker in person and events with local filmmakers, etc. It’s that kind of support that allows us to do those kinds of things,” said Ben Godar, Executive Director of The Varsity Cinema and Des Moines Film.

Now, without the money, the cinema is looking for the community’s help in making up the lost funds. The cinema created an online fundraiser where community members can donate to help the future of community events for the space.

“In reaching out to our audience, we’re reaching out to, in many cases folks who could already be members, they could already be donors or maybe they’re just someone who likes to come and see films here. And we’re just saying hey, if you like what we’re doing, if you like the community partnership events, special events, these kind of things that are supported by this contributed revenue, please consider making a contribution here to help us make up that deficit and continuing the programming as expected,” said Godar.

The Varsity Cinema has a long history in the Drake neighborhood. It originally opened in 1938, and recently underwent a massive $5 million renovation and reopened its doors in 2022.

Recently, Des Moines Film, who owns and operated the cinema, purchased the building beside it for future expansions. Now, with cuts to their yearly budget, Godar says all arts groups will feel the effect.

“I think it’s going to hurt no matter who it is. This isn’t a situation where the federal government said they were changing the parameters for this down the road. These are existing grants that have been awarded that are being terminated. So, that really puts organizations like us behind the 8-Ball,” said Godar.

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