Mississippi Arts Commission Awards Grant to Film Production Chair

October 11, 2023 (Jackson, Miss.) - The Mississippi Arts Commission’s (MAC) Artist Fellowship awarded Rick Negron, chair of Belhaven University's Film Production Department, a grant in the area of media arts (film and video). Negron plans to use the grant to make a short film this year, and he plans to utilize the talent of his students for the crew.

“Having a budget allows students the potential to work with professional crews, actors, and equipment,” said Negron. “That type of experience is another opportunity to grow in their own knowledge and wisdom.”

MAC’s Artist Fellowship program is focused on honoring Mississippi artists who demonstrate the ability to create exemplary work in their chosen field. The agency awards fellowships of up to $5,000 in several categories each year. Artist Fellowships are reviewed through a “blind” panel process. The panel’s discussion and feedback is focused solely on the artistic excellence of the submitted work samples. 

The review panels determine an applicant’s artistic excellence by reviewing originality and vision of the work, technical skill and mastery of the artistic discipline, and technique or process used to create the work.

Negron is currently in the planning stage for the film and will begin filming in Spring of 2024.