1974 - 1983 | Film and Art in the 1970s
- 1974–1975: EMA and IFA-EM founded.
- 1977–1979: Contextual programming begins.
- Midland Group becomes a contemporary arts centre.
- New Cinema Workshop and New Cinema emerge.
The 1970s saw Nottingham’s creative spirit flourish. In 1974, East Midlands Arts appointed its first Film Officer, Alan Fountain, sparking a wave of innovation. A year later, the Independent Film Makers Association (IFA-EM) formed, championing accessible filmmaking from script to screen.
The BFI began promoting “contextual programming”, films shown within themed events, supported by talks and documentation. Nottingham Film Theatre embraced this, launching “Challenge to Imperialism,” a Friday night series accompanied by 100-page booklets. This approach would shape Broadway’s future programming ethos.
Meanwhile, the Midland Group transformed into a contemporary arts centre on Carlton Street. It became home to the New Cinema Workshop, which absorbed IFA-EM, and launched the New Cinema - a 75-seat basement venue dedicated to experimental film.
These developments attracted international attention. In 1981, Frank Abbott and Steve Neale published a seminal paper in Framework: The Journal of Cinema and Media, exploring the intersection of film production and exhibition. Their questions - about audience engagement, cinematic norms, and cultural impact - still resonate in Broadway’s mission today.
Adapted from an original by Fred Brookes. Edited and expanded by Laurie Moran in 2025, with valuable contributions from Malcolm Allen. © Broadway 2025
