Film in the Cities (Organization)

Originally formed to introduce secondary students to photography, filmmaking, and other visual arts media, Film in the Cities later refocused its mission on adults. The organization disbanded in 1993 and was succeeded by the Midwest Media Arts Center.

From the description of Organization records, 1970-1994. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 313836832

Organized in 1970 and incorporated in 1974, Film in the Cities (FITC), one of about thirty media arts centers in the United States and one of the first fifteen centers to receive National Endowment for the Arts funding, was originally a joint project of the St. Paul Council of Arts and Sciences and the St. Paul Public Schools. Its goals, as stated in the 1975 articles of incorporation, were to function as a school for teaching the art of film making, still photography, video tape production, and work with similar recording media, and to provide academic credit in those techniques for junior and high school students. The headquarters were in St. Paul.

The education component of the program eventually included over 250 secondary school students, which numbers declined after 1974 when the St. Paul Public Schools withdrew its support.

The organization then shifted its focus to concentrate more on adult film makers and photographers. New means of support were found including programs such as Local Film Makers Review and MovingImageMakers, which were supported by the Jerome Foundation. The organization also cooperated with the Walker Arts Center and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and was instrumental in establishing photographic classes at the Inver Hills Community College and, later, at the University of Minnesota. The organization also established a community extension program to work with low income groups, halfway house residents, minority groups, community centers, and similar groups. Other activities included a Visiting Film Artist program, in which six film makers discussed their films and published monographs, and Lightworks, a national summer photography workshop started in 1981.

Due to financial problems the organization dissolved in 1993 and was succeeded by the Midwest Media Arts Access Center.

The above information was taken from the collection.

From the guide to the Organization records., 1970-1994., (Minnesota Historical Society)