Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Arkansas Cinema Society
Legal Name (if Different): Arkansas Cinema Society, Inc
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7644
City: Little Rock
State: AR
Postal Code: 72217
Main Phone: 501-503-0856
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.arkansascinemasociety.org
Employer ID Number: 81-5477755
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/29/2024
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Filmmaking Lab for Teen Girls
Project Description:

The Arkansas Cinema Society (ACS) is building a film community in Arkansas where film lovers can watch films, share ideas, connect with each other, and nurture the new and existing film talent within our state through increased exposure to filmmakers and their art. We respectfully request $10,000 from the Hermanowski Family Foundation to help fund our annual Filmmaking Lab for Teen Girls, to be held at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in summer 2025. This program provides training for up to 20 teen girls from across the state in all aspects of filmmaking, from screenwriting and costume design to cinematography and editing. The primary goal is to provide a safe space for teen girls to build the confidence, skills, and relationships needed to succeed in careers in film and the visual arts. Guided by seasoned filmmakers, participants work together to develop a short film with a female protagonist and an overall theme of female empowerment. The finished short film will screen during ACS’s annual Filmland festival in fall 2025, which attracts statewide and nationwide film talent. Previous films have featured women fighting to receive credit for their scientific discovery, blind auditions for musical ensembles at the collegiate level, and sexist superhero costumes.

To ensure inclusion of girls from all backgrounds, ACS provides the program at no cost to participants. Over the past five years, our Lab has served girls from 18 high schools across Arkansas, seven of which were low-income Title I public schools. In 2023, we met our goal of ensuring 50% of participants were Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Giving these teen girls a space to tell stories helps validate the female voice and gives them the chance to witness the impact visual art has on our lives.

Total Project Budget: $35,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Potential: $10K from the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas; $15K from the Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust

Project Duration: 4 weeks, in summer 2025
Geographical Area Served: The Lab is held in central Arkansas and open to high school girls from across the state.
Age Group To Be Served: Teen girls ages 16-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Kathryn
Contact Last Name: Tucker
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 501-503-0856
Contact Email: kathryn@arkansascinemasociety.org