Northern Mariana Islands Council for the Humanities Awards $10,906 Grant to Horse Opera Productions

August 15, 2002

We are pleased to announce that Horse Opera Productions, producers of The Insular Empire: America's Pacific Possessions, has received a solid vote of confidence from the CNMI community! The Northern Mariana Islands Council for the Humanities (NMICH) voted last week to award a $10,906 media grant to Horse Opera Productions to support production costs of "America's Best Kept Secret," a one-hour episode on the history and contemporary life of the Northern Mariana Islands. Not only has the Council awarded this grant, they have also agreed to serve as an advisory board to the project. We are delighted that they have chosen to participate in this way.

The NMICH award will enable the Horse Opera production team to travel to the CNMI for a two-week period in the winter of 2002. It will cover the costs of accommodations, meals, crew, and production equipment and supplies.

This grant to Horse Opera Productions demonstrates the trust that NMICH has placed in Amy, Vanessa, and in Horse Opera. It also demonstrates the NMICH's commitment to telling CNMI stories in an open, critical, compelling, and sympathetic manner. We recognize that The Insular Empire cannot be successful without the support and input of local Pacific Island communities, and Horse Opera plans to honor the NMICH's trust and commitment through our continued work on the project.