Vesterheim, Seed Savers and Oneota Film Festival receive CARES Act funds from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is awarding more than $1.1 million in 173 grants statewide.

Funding for the emergency relief grants was made possible by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs distributed CARES Act funds through its partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Arts Midwest.

Winneshiek County organizations receiving the grants were:
Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum ($18,000)
Seed Savers ($2,000)
Oneota Film Festival ($1,000)

Oneota Film Festival (OFF) Board President Nancy Sojka says the grant will help the OFF Board plan for the events on March 4-7, 2021 for the 12th Oneota Film Festival.  Says Sojka, "We will be ready when the audience is ready to get together to see films that matter."  Film submissions for the 2021 Festival have already begun at filmfreeway.com/OneotaFilmFestival.