In the process of preparing for the 19th edition of the Oxford Film Festival, taking place in Oxford, Mississippi, March 23-27, 2022, OxFilm has announced that the film festival has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts as part of its Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) – Media Arts for this year, a $16,000 Operating Grant for 2022 from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC), and an additional $11,500 Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) Grant via the National Endowment of the Arts.
Oxford Film Festival Interim Executive Director Jim Brunzell, said, “OxFilm and the Oxford Film Festival could not express how thrilled and appreciative we are to receive these grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mississippi Arts Commission. This organization and film festival have managed to weather incredibly difficult challenges and hurdles planning our events since the pandemic – and prior, thanks to the incredible support of grants like these.” Brunzell added, “It’s also important to note what a wonderful validation it is from the NEA and MAC as to the cultural importance of the Oxford Film Festival/OxFilm both here locally, as well as throughout the state of Mississippi. There are good reasons we are at the national forefront in regional film festivals in North America and as we continue our preparations for this year’s edition, it’s wonderful to know the hard work by our board and staff and the enthusiasm of our film fans has been recognized in this way.”
The National Endowment for the Arts’ Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) awards reach communities in all parts of the country, large and small, and with diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. There are 1,248 organizations recommended to receive cost share/matching grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for a total of $28,840,000. These awards represent 15 artistic disciplines/fields: Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater, and Visual Arts. Applications were received in February 2021 from 1,879 eligible organizations requesting more than $92 million in support.
“These National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants underscore the resilience of our nation’s artists and arts organizations, will support efforts to provide access to the arts, and rebuild the creative economy,” said NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers. “The supported projects demonstrate how the arts are a source of strength and well-being for communities and individuals, and can open doors to conversations that address complex issues of our time.”
The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) Grant is provided through special funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, via the American Rescue Plan, also known as ARP.
