What we do.

Founded in 2005, Low Key Arts connects people and inspires creativity by providing tools, education, and opportunities to experience musical, cinematic, and artistic innovators from around the world. Low Key Arts contributes significantly to the revitalization of Hot Springs by offering the following carefully curated music and film programs: Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival, Persistence of Vision Film Festival, previously called Arkansas Shorts - a Weekend of Short Films, Inception to Projection hands-on filmmaking program and KUHS Solar Powered Community Radio Station.

What’s Happening now!

Inception To PRoject REGISTRATION!

Now Accepting Registration for Advanced Directing!

Advanced Projects REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!

Inception to Projection Advanced Projects is a 5-week intensive film class for experienced filmmakers to create a 5-7 minute short film

WHO THE CLASS IS FOR:

This is an advanced class. YOU MUST BE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM in order to take the class. Acceptance will be based on your prior work as a filmmaker whether through I2P or elsewhere. Every participant will write, direct and produce their own original short and the final films will screen at POV Film Festival in January 2025. NOTE: All classes will be taught virtually on Zoom, but production and editing will be in person in Hot Springs.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

This 5-week class is designed for experienced filmmakers who are seeking a community and network to produce their next short film. The group will meet 1 day a week for 3 hrs. Each filmmaker has (1) 12 hour day to complete their film and when not directing, classmates will serve as crew for each other. All crew, equipment, meals and operations are covered in the program, along with script development and mentorship as part of the weekly classes.

ADVANCE CLASS (Program Dates: Sunday, Nov 3 - Sunday Dec 8, 2024)

CLASS SCHEDULE : Sunday, Sunday, Nov 3 - Nov 24, 2024 4:00-7:00 PM (ZOOM)

PRODUCTION DATES: Friday, Nov 29 - Sunday Dec 1

EDITING DATES: Dec 4 - Dec 8 (In-person please plan ahead to be available for editing dates!)

Wed, Dec 4 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thurs, Dec 5 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday, Dec 6 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sat, Dec 7 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sat, Dec 8 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Who is this class for?

Anyone with experience making films (recommend you have made and released at least 2 films prior to taking this class)
Must be familiar with Premiere Pro or other comparable editing software
You don’t have to have taken I2P previously to take this class, you can submit a link to previous work.
If you have a short film idea and want an all-inclusive experience with crew, production management and a community to support you making your best work!

Class fee: $650, includes the following:

Mentorship, producing support and guidance through the creation of a short film.
Advanced Film Program Equipment Includes:
Sony FX6 + Lenses
Grip & Lighting Gear
All working meals during production provided
Crew provided by I2P
-Director of Photography
-1st AC
- Gaffer
- 1st AD

Editing mentorship and equipment

Screening and festival pass to POV Festival Jan 3-5, 2025

*Limited need-based scholarships available, as well as custom payment plans

All completed films will screen at POV Film Festival Jan 3-5th, 2025 at the Malco Historic Theater in downtown Hot Springs.

Movie Poster Design Class REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!

Whether you’re an aspiring pro or a total novice, learning how to design a professional-looking poster for your movie should be fun and rewarding! This short course with Low Key Arts’ Executive Director, Sonny Kay, will be exactly that. Over the course of three days, you’ll go from studying posters to producing one. We’ll discuss some basic approaches to poster design, and look at plenty of examples. We’ll discuss fonts - the good, the bad, and the ugly! - and dispel many of the confusing and mysterious parts of successfully printing a poster.

Before you know it, you’ll start to become fluent in the language of visual communication, and ready to produce a striking poster of your own! Finished designs will be displayed at the Persistence of Vision (POV) Film Festival taking place at the Malco Theatre in Hot Springs on January 3-5, 2025.

Schedule
Thursday, Nov 21 5:30-8:30PM (ZOOM)

Saturday, Nov 23 at Low Key Arts Studio 11:00AM-9:00PM

Sunday, Nov 24 at Low Key Arts Studio 11:00AM-9:00PM

Cost: $125 (price includes large format mounted print of your design)

Cinematography Class REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!

Join us for an immersive 4-week cinematography course designed for all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned filmmakers. This hands-on program will provide you with the essential skills and techniques to bring your cinematic visions to life using the renowned ARRI Alexa Mini camera and professional grip and lighting gear. Through a combination of lectures, practical exercises, students will explore the art and craft of cinematography, focusing on the critical elements of lighting, composition, while getting to work as the Director of Photography, Gaffer, Key Grip, Best Boy, and Assistant Camera as the class will create a collaborative project that will screen at the Persistence of Vision Film Festival.

Course fee: $250

Includes meals on production days and hands-on access to ARRI Alexa Mini and complete grip & lighting package.

Cinematography Week 1:

WED, Nov 13 5:30-7:30PM (ZOOM)

Intro to the class
Lecture: Role of the Cinematographer

Crafting a vision with a director
Creating a style

Mood boards, storyboards, shot listing, composition, framing,

Sat, Nov 16 11:00AM - 6:00PM

Intro to the grip truck

What’s in it?
How/when to safely use it

Cinematography Week 2:

WED, Nov 20 5:30-7:30PM (ZOOM)

Assign roles for production & create schedule
Lecture: Role of the Gaffer
Approach to lighting

Quality of light
Shaping light

Sat, Nov 23 1:00PM -7:00PM

Intro to the ARRI Alexa Mini

Set up series of test shots

***OFF FOR THANKSGIVING***

*Nov 29-Dec 1: I2P Advanced Directors will be making their projects. Cinematography participants are welcome to join these productions to increase their skills on set and gain more experience.

Cinematography Week 3:

WED, Dec 4 5:30-7:30PM (ZOOM)

Lecture: lenses, aspect ratio + the role of the Key Grip/ Best Boy

Sat, Dec 7 1:00PM -7:00PM

Test shoot

Cinematography Week 4:

WED, Dec 11 5:30-7:30PM (ZOOM)

Production meeting for weekend shoot

Sat, Dec 14 & Sun Dec 15

8:00AM - 8:00PM (both days)

PRODUCTION DAY 1 & 2

Class will work together to create a short video project that will screen at the Persistence of Vision Film Festival Jan 3-5.
Students will assume the roles of the following positions and will rotate throughout the production to gain experience in all areas.

Director of Photography
Gaffer
Key Grip
Best Boy
Grip
1st AC
2nd AC

By the end of this class, students will have a strong foundation in cinematography, hands-on experience operating professional equipment, and the ability to create a short film from concept to completion.

NOTE: Some classes will be taught virtually on Zoom and some will be in-person in-person in Hot Springs.

Inception to Projection Filmmaking Program

Learn More

Inception to Projection (I2P) is a hands-on filmmaking program that trains participants to write, direct, produce, and edit their own original short film. At the conclusion of the program, the students publicly screen their film at the highly anticipated film festival Persistence of Vision Film Festival (previously called Arkansas Shorts), hosted by Low Key Arts.

Valley of the Vapors

Independent Music Festival

VOV is an international underground music festival that typically takes place each March in Hot Springs. Since 2005, VOV has been bringing innovative performers from the global music and art communities to Hot Springs. VOV has hosted approx. 3,500 musicians and artists from such faraway places as Japan, South Korea, China, Norway, England, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada. The festival is known for the out-of-the-ordinary hospitality afforded visiting artists, as well as the fun twists it puts on the format - secret shows, surprise locations and intimate workshops, to name only a few. In 2021, VOV relocated to Cedar Glades Park, a short drive from downtown Hot Springs, and in 2024 it celebrated its 20th anniversary!

Persistence of Vision Film Festival

(POV Fest)

(FORMERLY KNOWN AS Arkansas Shorts)

Submissions open March 1

Accepting Shorts, Features, Music Videos, Animations, Documentaries and student films!

Submit

Previously known as ARKANSAS SHORTS - A WEEKEND OF SHORT FILM, this year the festival will take on a new name to reflect the evolution with the festival programming. What started 18 years ago as a single screening designed to only showcase films made by Arkansans, has now expanded to a 3 day event packed with 85+ films and a fun filled atmosphere that celebrates the art and the creator.

January 2024 was our last year for the traditional “Arkansas Shorts” format. Moving forward the festival will be called POV Fest (Persistence of Vision Film Festival.) The festival will remain at its core focused on celebrating regional storytellers, but in the future, we will expand the programming to include feature films, documentaries, additional panels, workshops, parties and special guests. POV Fest is not just about showcasing films; it is about enriching our creative community. It is about providing a platform for filmmakers to connect, learn, and grow. By celebrating the art of filmmaking, we aim to foster an environment that encourages brave storytelling, nurtures talent, and sparks new collaborations.

Low Key Arts' Persistence of Vision Film Festival (POV Fest) will take place January 3-5, 2025, at the historic Malco Theatre.

Persistence of Vision Film Festival (POV Fest)

(Formally called Arkansas Shorts Film Festival)

KUHS -LP 102.5

ARKANSAS’ ONLY SOLAR POWERED COMMUNITY RADIO STATION

Learn More

KUHS -LP 102.5 ARKANSAS’S ONLY SOLAR POWERED COMMUNITY RADIO STATION Staffed entirely by volunteers, KUHS-LP102.5 FM presents a wide range of programs designed to inspire, inform, and engage the community of Hot Springs.