National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is a Challenge America grant of $10,000 to Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Inc. for the 17th Annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest in Batesville.
The Challenge America category supports projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations — those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
“It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to the Ozark Foothills FilmFest, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the quality of our lives,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities, and connections the arts bring.”
The 17th Annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest will take place April 19-21 and April 27-28 at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. Highlights include “Reel Rural: Rural America in Independent Film,” a series of screenings and filmmaker panel discussion exploring depictions of small town and rural communities in independently-produced narrative films. The festival will also continue its tradition of incorporating a live performance element into the festival line-up with a special opening night event that will take place at the Melba Theater on Thursday, April 20.
The complete line-up for the 17th Annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest will be available at ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org on or before March 7. Announcements leading up to the festival will be posted at facebook.org/OzarkFoothillsFilmFest.
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