to be displayed at 2021’s virtual festival.
Virtual event to feature local artists and international films
The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region (The Arc NCR) will host its eighth annual Sprout Film & Art Festival virtually Thursday, January 14, 2021, from 6-7 p.m. The event will feature an online showcase of diverse art supplied by local Harford County artists followed by entertaining short films from the renowned NYC company, Sprout.
Included in this year’s film lineup is “Topsy and Dave,” directed by Kristy Griffin and Viv Kernick, which follows a couple with differing abilities as they navigate the journey of marriage. Throughout the film, Topsy and Dave share their enchanting love story and describe what marriage means to them.
Photo courtesy of Sproutflix.
Also being shown the evening of Sprout is Nive Das’ film “Boys in the Boat,” which shares the story of two young rowers with intellectual disabilities who thrive on the companionship and routine that comes with being part of a team. Just like individuals without differing abilities, these athletes row for different reasons, but both find it helps them challenge everyday stigma.
“We are very excited to kick off 2021 by hosting Sprout,” says Cheryl Mele, The Arc NCR’s development & volunteer coordinator, who is organizing the event. “We look forward to offering the community an outstanding display of art and a celebration of both local and international talent!”
The Arc NCR’s 2021 installment of Sprout is free for all to attend, understanding that many families and individuals may be experiencing financial challenges due to COVID-19. However, donations to support the organization’s mission to empower Harford and Cecil County residents with differing abilities to live, work and thrive in the community are accepted. To register or donate, visit www.arcncr.org or call 410-836-7177. The Arc NCR thanks the following local businesses for their sponsorship of the event: Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union (APGFCU), Dimensional Health Care Associates, Har-co Credit Union and Harford Mutual Insurance Group.
About The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region
For more than sixty-seven years, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region has empowered people with differing abilities to live, work and thrive in the community by providing support services and advocacy to adults and children and their families in Harford and Cecil Counties. For more information, call 410-836-7177 or visit www.arcncr.org.
About Sprout
Founded in 1979, Sprout is a private, nonprofit organization based in New York City that provides travel and recreational opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. The organization provides year-round travel and vacation programs, weekend-long music and arts festivals, and other events that showcase the talents of people with developmental disabilities. The annual Sprout Film Festival, created in 2003, presents film and video related to the field of developmental disabilities, made in the United States and abroad.
