The Lawrence Arts Center announced last week that after a more modest celebration in 2017, next year the Free State Festival will once again expand to include art installations and offer film education programming to the community organization El Centro Hispano.
The dates for the 2018 festival are Sept. 25-30, and it is a six-day celebration of film, music, art and ideas in Lawrence.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to put film education and curated art into the lineup for 2018,” said Marlo Angell, the director of New Media at the arts center.
Last year’s festival focused on film and music, thematically organizing events to best coincide with each other. Angell explained that, because the cost of filmmaking can be prohibitive, a goal for this festival is for filmmakers to “find their voice,” and to develop storytelling skills and start to understand film as a language.
“Lawrence has such a thriving and inspiring visual art scene that featuring art installations during the festival helps speaks to the heart of our community. In the past, we’ve had some beautiful interactive art that helps people connect as they come together to experience the pieces,” Angell said.
This year, art curator Ben Ahlvers will be involved with the festival. Angell said the artist has a great eye for finding cutting-edge work that enhances the festival experience.
Film submissions open in January 2018 on freestatefestival.org, and entry fees will be waived for all Kansas filmmakers.
“I believe the interdisciplinary aspects of the Free State Festival speak to the trailblazing heart of our little piece of Kansas, so I am overjoyed to bring both art and education back into the fold for 2018,” Angell said.
