M.A.C. – Actively supporting local artists and integrating art throughout the community of Media
The Media Arts Council (M.A.C.) was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2005 by a group of people who love art and were already supportive of the local arts community in different ways. In 2010, the Media Arts Council hired an executive director, Judy Fowler, one of the original founding members and also the first board president of M.A.C. The Media Arts Council (M.A.C.) is a non profit organization that supports local artists and displays work in the M.A.C. Gallery located at 609-B W. State Street (in Media’s West End behind Sterling Pig). Additionally, M.A.C has partnered with the Media-Upper Providence Free Library to create the ongoing “MAC at the Library” exhibit series giving local artists another venue to display their artwork.
The M.A.C. Gallery is open on weekends (Friday and Saturday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 to 3:00 pm) and hosts events throughout the year such as the M.A.C. Music Series, Second Saturdays, and art workshops. The gallery was established in 2014 and exhibits beautiful art from local artists. The exhibits within the gallery are rotated every month and feature 2 or 3 different artists per month. In addition, there are two juried shows each year, one for photography and one for painting, that feature work from many local and regional artists. Most of the pieces displayed in the gallery and the library are available for purchase. In addition to all the events hosted at the gallery, M.A.C. also produces the yearly Media Film Festival. This year’s festival is just a few months away!
Liz McClearn, the Managing Director of M.A.C., has been working for the Media Arts Council since July of 2017 and enjoys working with all the volunteers who give their time tirelessly to promote local artists, manage events and provide art education opportunities to the public. The nonprofit organization has seen funding growth in the past few years through increased donor activity and grant fundraising. Attendance at events has also been on the upswing. Volunteers are always welcome to join MAC and donations are always welcome. Click Here to donate or visit the website to learn more about how you can become involved in the Media Arts Council including opportunities to volunteer! You may also view M.A.C.’s most recent annual report here.
Click below for a great informational video about the Media Arts Council – Media’s hometown art initiative:
The Media Film Festival
Presented by the Media Arts Council at the Media Theatre
Now in its 12th year, the Media Film Festival has gained a reputation as a vibrant forum for audiences and filmmakers alike. Proceeds from the festival provide a significant source of funding for the Media Arts Council. The 2019 Media Film Festival, scheduled for April 4th–6th, will include short films from filmmakers within our community and around the world. The films will be shown at the Media Theatre on State Street in the Borough of Media.
In its infancy, the Media Film Festival was presented at the Delaware County Institute of Science. As the audience size grew, the festival was moved to the Community Center in the Media Borough Administration building. Now audiences can view the short films in the majestic Media Theatre on State Street. This year over 25 hours of film have been submitted for the Media Film Festival. Some of the filmmakers will be at the screenings to answer questions and to meet the audience.
The Media Film Festival is comprised of a group of volunteers who spend the year soliciting, screening and scoring the ever-increasing number of films received from around the world. By presenting a variety of short films—narrative, documentary, animation and experimental—the goal is to build a greater appreciation of artists and filmmakers within our community and beyond.
April 4th and 5th (Thursday and Friday) screenings begin at 7:00 pm.. Following Friday night’s films there will be a horror fest from 10:30 . Saturday, April 6th, there is a matinee at 1pm and an evening show from 7:00 pm followed by a VIP after party in the Crystal Room at the Theatre. Awards will be presented on Saturday evening.
Last year about 1000 seats were sold to the Film Festival. Friday and Saturday nights were very close to capacity. Dave Scheivert, Media Film Festival organizer suggests getting your tickets early! Tickets for the festival will go on sale March 1st.
An important initiative for the Media Arts Council that ties in with the Media Film Festival is M.A.C.’s Media Youth Film Initiative, or MyFi (pronounced My-Fi). High school students who are interested in film meet every week for 10 weeks at the Media Youth Center, a partner organization to MAC, and produce films which are shown at the Media Film Festival. MyFi classes are taught by Villanova professor Hezekiah Lewis and filmmaker Darryl Ridgeway. Dave Scheivert, M.A.C. board member and film festival organizer, says that the MyFi program has been life changing for some students who have participated. MyFi is currently accepting registrations for this program. Click here for more information about the MyFi program, which is made possible by the Rotary Foundation of Media, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Congregation Ohev Shalom, and other generous funders
There is something unique about going to the movies. We come together in a darkened theater to feel the thrill of emotion and adventure that we have little access to in our normal lives. Independent films from a diverse group of filmmakers and cultures, like those selected for the Media Film Festival, remind us that whether we are watching an animated film from Iran or a comedy made in here in Delaware County, we share common ground as human beings.
“We are excited to be a forum for emerging filmmakers and to offer our community the chance to come together to see these unique films in HD and digital sound.”
Dave Scheivert, Media Film Festival
Click Here for more information on the Media Film Festival – coming to Everybody’s Hometown in April!