It’s Monday and we’re back with our roundup of the week’s events. Here are this week’s town government meetings, and cultural, recreational, and athletics events that caught our eye.

Rappaport Lecture on Contemporary Art – Monday

Artist Michael Rakowitz will deliver this year’s Rapaport Lecture at Amherst College on Monday, an annual talk on contemporary art presented by the Department of Art and the History of Art. Michael Rakowitz is an Iraqi-American conceptual artist who operates within art spaces and beyond them, creating objects, environments and events that provoke dialogue about the history of objects through recontextualization. By his own account, he works at the intersection of problem-solving and troublemaking. The recipient of numerous honors and awards, he has exhibited internationally–from dOCUMENTA to Trafalgar Square; his works are featured in museum collections around the globe. Free and open to the public. Monday, 5:30 pm in Johnson Chapel at Amherst College. MORE

Town Council Meeting & Public Forum – Monday

At its meeting on Monday, the Town Council will host a public forum about appropriating capital funds to support the renovation of the Bangs Community Center. The Council later will discuss and consider voting on this appropriation of funds. The Council also will consider refiling or reaffirming three petitions to the state legislature related to the town’s charter, real estate transfer fees, and extending local voting rights to lawful permanent residents in Amherst. Monday, 6:30-10:30 pm in Town Hall and on Zoom. MORE 

Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee – Monday

The CDBG Advisory Committee meets on Monday to begin its review of proposals for funding through the town’s Community Development Block Grant. Monday, 7:00-9:00 pm on Zoom.  MORE

Amherst School Committee – Tuesday

The Amherst (elementary) School Committee meets on Tuesday to get an update on and discuss the reporting system for bullying and harassment (BRIM) that was implemented at the start of this school year. The SC also will host its annual hearing on school choice. Tuesday, 6:30 pm in the library at ARHS and on Amherst Media. MORE

Energy & Climate Action Committee – Wednesday

The ECAC meets Wednesday to review and discuss multiple topics. The committee will continue its review of a draft letter to UMass-Amherst regarding the impact on the town of its Carbon Zero plan, specifically the possible future use of renewable diesel as part of its decarbonization plan. They’ll also discuss the planning for the 2025 Sustainability Festival as well as several other topics. Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

Regional School Committee Budget Hearing – Wednesday

The Regional (secondary) School Committee holds its annual budget presentation and public hearing on Wednesday. The district is facing a deficit of $1.4 million and is proposing cutting 18.5 staff positions to balance the FY26 budget. Wednesday, 6:30 pm in the library at ARHS and on Zoom. MORE

Judy Brooks Series: DEI Deconstructed – Wednesday

The League of Women Voters Amherst will host a public discussion of DEI on Wednesday to explore the questions of what does DEI really mean and how is Amherst implementing and supporting DEI in today’s political climate?

Philip Avila, Assistant Director, and Pamela Young, Director of the Town of Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), will discuss challenges in the Trump era in an online program. Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 pm on Zoom. MORE

James Earl Jones Remembered: Star Wars IV~A New Hope – Wednesday

Amherst Cinema continues its series showcasing the work and art of James Earl Jones with a screening on Wednesday of Star Wars Episode IV-A New Hope. The series explores the breadth of Jones’s remarkable career and celebrates the life of one of cinema’s most beloved actors. Wednesday, 7:00 pm at Amherst Cinema. MORE

Jones Library Board of Trustees – Thursday

The Trustees of the Jones Library meet on Thursday and will review updates on the renovation and expansion building project, annual fundraising and the capital campaign, and more. Thursday, 4:00-6:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

Amherst School Committee Budget Hearing – Thursday

The Amherst School Committee holds its annual budget presentation and public hearing on Thursday. The elementary district is facing a deficit of nearly $1.6 million and is proposing cutting 18.3 staff positions to balance the FY26 budget. Thursday, 6:30 pm in the library at ARHS and on Zoom. MORE

Liberatory Visioning Project Dialogue Session – Thursday

The Town of Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is proud to announce the launch of the Liberatory Visioning Project, an initiative aimed at creating a more inclusive and welcoming community for all residents. This process is designed to bring members of the Town together to develop a shared vision through dialogue sessions and a community survey. The Town is hosting three hybrid community dialogue sessions, where residents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts, experiences, and ideas about creating a more equitable community. The first session is Thursday, 6:00-7:30 pm in the Glass Room at the Bangs Community Center and on Zoom. MORE

History Bites – Friday

The Amherst Historical Society kicks off its Spring History Bites lunchtime lecture series on Friday. The popular series, now in its 12th year, explores a variety of topics presented by local scholars and history enthusiasts. On Friday, hear a talk by Emma John “Interning at the Historical Society.” John, a PhD candidate in History at the University of California Santa Barbara will talk about her time as an intern at the AHS which led to a career in public history, and share some of her favorite objects from the collection. Friday, 12:30-1:30 pm in room 101 at the Bangs Community Center. MORE

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Want more? We’ve gathered the event and program calendars from the many organizations and committees in Amherst onto Community Calendars. Check it out to find even more upcoming events.

Have an event you’d like us to spotlight? Email us TheAmherstCurrent@gmail.com.