Small Town. Big Art.
We are a small team with mighty dreams and believe in our "Small Town, Big Art" slogan which aims to connect global artists to smaller towns to create unique, meaningful art happenings that are mutually symbiotic.
Global artists escape the rigor of daily life into unexpected places rich with history and charm which inspires their work and supports an intimate, focused artist residency experience. Meanwhile, the local economy leverages the presence of art events to promote tourism, gather organic, user-generated content and build social media and marketing presence. This is about creating arts destination spots that serve the artists and the destinations. This is sustainable arts through tourism and cultural identity.
Global Exchange Arts Roundtable, Inc.
Our Mission
Driven by a collaborative team of artists, entrepreneurs, and scholars, Global Exchange Arts Roundtable (GEAR) launches innovative, tangible projects and programs that transcend disciplinary boundaries, traditional expectations, and function of “performance” and that operate across diverse social, cultural, and educational backgrounds. The GEAR philosophy to spark curiosity and awareness, and to nurture respect and appreciation for people, place, history, and culture, will drive our mission to bridge the arts, especially dance, with science, technology, and education. A Virginia-based organization with a global presence, our initiatives are designed to facilitate exchange and dialogue at the local, national, and international levels with maximum impact and scalability.
We are dedicated to creating opportunities for artists from every background, experience level and ability. It is important that we lead by example when it comes to inclusion of different abilities in our programs.
Films that Move (under the former name Experimental Film Virginia) has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants including being names an "Exemplary Program and Pinnacle Event" by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and received an Ally Award from the Hampton Roads Arts Alliance for "Creative Leadership".
A fundamental aspect of our program design is community engagement and connecting the global artists to place, people and local stories. We offer opportunities for locals to participate in our workshops and events.
Education is a fundamental thread in the design of our events, both for professionals with peer-supported continued education opportunities and for youth and emerging artists with workshops, residencies and internships.
Films that Move (under the former name Experimental Film Virginia) has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants including being names an "Exemplary Program and Pinnacle Event" by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and received an Ally Award from the Hampton Roads Arts Alliance for "Creative Leadership".
We are dedicated to creating opportunities for artists from every background, experience level and ability. It is important that we lead by example when it comes to inclusion of different abilities in our programs.
President/Chair
Mary Ann Roehm
Mary Ann has served in the non profit industry since 2004 when she joined Arts Enter Cape Charles and became an integral part of the founding team for Films that Move.
Secretary
Morgan Garrett
Morgan is an experienced actress, a community leader and a mom. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in education and working creatively with GEAR, Arts Enter Cape Charles and Films that Move.
Treasurer
Michael Fountaine
Michael is a Senior Business Development Analyst who grew up on the Eastern Shore and has followed the growth of activities at the Historic Palace Theatre since it became the home of Arts Enter Cape Charles and now also GEAR/Films that Move.
He serves as the Treasurer and brings to the table his background in financial planning and analysis.
Officer
David Darg
David Darg is an Oscar nominated and Emmy winning director, cinematographer, film editor and photographer. He received critical praise for his documentary 'Body Team 12' which garnered him a nomination for an Academy Award at the 88th Oscars.
He and his wife live in Cape Charles where is production company Global Cinematic Society is based.
Officer
Ned Farr
Ned Farr is an award winning writer/director. His feature films include, A MARINE STORY, winner of 20 film festival awards as well as two screenwriting nods, and THE GYMNAST which won 28 awards, including 16 for Best Picture. His TV pilot TIN KICKERS is currently in development with a major studio, and he is a frequent collaborator with Films That Move.
Officer
Susan MacDonald
Susan is a senior executive leader and seasoned media, strategic business development, public affairs, and communications expert with innovative problem solving and organizational development throughout diverse disciplines. Exceptional public speaker and critical thinker with strong negotiation skills.
Officer
Dr. David A. Shamma
Ayman is a staff research scientist within the Human-Centered AI division at Toyota Research Institute. His research in human-computer interaction and AI aims at understanding people to build human-centered systems that enhance our environments, support decision-making tasks, and enrich our media interactions.
He is a distinguished member of the ACM and a senior member of IEEE.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Pat Tinkelman
Pat does the bookkeeping and accounting for GEAR & Films that Move. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Brockport in Accounting and has worked as a Tax Managing Director with BDO for the last 4 years. She was previously an office assurance partner and auditor.
Executive Director
Renata Sheppard
Renata is the founder and executive director of GEAR which she founded as the vehicle for her vision for glocal art events that would unite international artists with small town communities in need of the arts, economic boost and cultural branding. She is a Fulbright Scholar, Henry Luce Scholar and recipient of numerous awards for her creative direction & visionary leadership.
Ambassador & Consultant
Kelly Bartnik
Kelly is an industry leader in Immersive Theater with an extensive ability to produce, write, choreograph, direct , perform and run large scale Immersive Experiences. She is a NY-based choreographer, performer, director, teacher and producer and was an original cast member of both the Boston and NY productions of Sleep No More.
Leadership
Founded in 2015
Annual budget of $100,000+
Award-winning events
High impact programming
GLOBAL EXCHANGE ARTS ROUNDTABLE, INC.
SPONSORS & COLLABORATORS
Past & Present
Historic Palace Theatre Cape Charles Lemon Tree Art Gallery Arts Enter Cape Charles Northampton County of Virginia Tourism Infrastructure Grant Virginia Commission for the Arts Community Partnership Grant Virginia Commission for the Arts Project Grant Virginia Film Office Eastern Shore Tourism Taiwan Ministry of Culture Israeli Embassy of Washington DC Virginia Eye Consultants | John & Clelia Sheppard Carahsoft Foundation | Kim Abod McWaters Family Foundation | Jeff McWaters Cape Charles Coffee House Gourmet Gang | Mia Guignan The Oyster Farm Governor's School for the Arts Norfolk The College of William & Mary University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne Sodium Ranch Productions NEON Arts District Norfolk VIBE Arts District Virginia Beach Schooner Virginia Rosso Fuoco Productions Rayfield's Pharmacy Cape Charles Yacht Center Mimosa Barn | Eyre Baldwin Kiptopeake State Park Bill Dyas Allergan Pharmaceuticals GoldKey PHR | Bruce Thompson Franklin Johnston Group | Taylor & Emily Johnston Priority Auto | Dennis & Jan Ellmer WHRO | Jeff Fine Zero DB Studios | Vito Martinelli Virginia Tourism Cooperation Rutter Family Art Foundation Chatham Vineyards Eastern Shore Tourism Cooperation Virginia Oyster Trail Virginia Artisan Trail Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Chrysler Museum of Art Governor’s School for the Arts Norfolk Coordinamento Di Danza Piemonte (COORPI) Glass Wheel Studio Norfolk Patrick Hand Bill Parr Back Bay Brewing Co. Barrier Island Center Margaret Van Clief/Nature Conservancy Ned Harris/Cherrystone Aqua Farm Cape Charles Historical Society Richard Starr Gina Gibney Dance Center NYC The Oyster Farm Seafood Restaurant Mark Atkinson/Otto Creative Marketing David & Kathryn Gammino/Hotel Cape Charles Chris Roll/Shorefire Productions Walt & Jeanne Roll David Darg/Global Cinematic Society Austin Burnette/Skeleton Crew Films Ned Farr/Red Road Studio New Dominion Pictures French Consulate of Hampton Roads
Historic Palace Theatre Cape Charles
Lemon Tree Art Gallery
Arts Enter Cape Charles
Northampton County of Virginia Tourism Infrastructure Grant
Virginia Commission for the Arts Community Partnership Grant
Virginia Commission for the Arts Project Grant
Virginia Film Office
Eastern Shore Tourism
Taiwan Ministry of Culture
Israeli Embassy of Washington DC
Virginia Eye Consultants | John & Clelia Sheppard
Carahsoft Foundation | Kim Abod
McWaters Family Foundation | Jeff McWaters
Cape Charles Coffee House
Gourmet Gang | Mia Guignan
The Oyster Farm
Governor's School for the Arts Norfolk
The College of William & Mary
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne
Sodium Ranch Productions
NEON Arts District Norfolk
VIBE Arts District Virginia Beach
Rosso Fuoco Productions
Rayfield's Pharmacy
Cape Charles Yacht Center
Mimosa Barn | Eyre Baldwin
Kiptopeake State Park
Bill Dyas
Allergan Pharmaceuticals
GoldKey PHR | Bruce Thompson
Franklin Johnston Group | Taylor & Emily Johnston
Priority Auto | Dennis & Jan Ellmer
WHRO | Jeff Fine
Zero DB Studios | Vito Martinelli
Virginia Tourism Cooperation
Rutter Family Art Foundation
Chatham Vineyards
Eastern Shore Tourism Cooperation
Virginia Oyster Trail
Virginia Artisan Trail
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Chrysler Museum of Art
Governor’s School for the Arts Norfolk
Coordinamento Di Danza Piemonte (COORPI)
Glass Wheel Studio Norfolk
Patrick Hand
Bill Parr
Back Bay Brewing Co.
Barrier Island Center
Margaret Van Clief/Nature Conservancy
Ned Harris/Cherrystone Aqua Farm
Cape Charles Historical Society
Richard Starr
Gina Gibney Dance Center NYC
The Oyster Farm Seafood Restaurant
Mark Atkinson/Otto Creative Marketing
David & Kathryn Gammino/Hotel Cape Charles
Chris Roll/Shorefire Productions
Walt & Jeanne Roll
David Darg/Global Cinematic Society
Austin Burnette/Skeleton Crew Films
Ned Farr/Red Road Studio
New Dominion Pictures
French Consulate of Hampton Roads
Schooner Virginia
Project Spotlight
Films that Move is a home grown, award-winning, film-festival-meets-artist-residency that has charmed artists and audiences alike for the last twelve years. In 2024, we shift into the next chapter, letting go of the name Experimental Film Virginia and embracing an expanded, global vision as Films that Move.
We look forward to the August premiere of the films in our original location right here in Cape Charles. Meanwhile, we are planning the 2024-2025 season on the road to Europe, South America and beyond, bringing other small towns a dose of big art. We are proud to be a Virginia Commission of the Arts “Exemplary Program and Pinnacle Event."
GEAR’s mission is to transcend disciplinary boundaries and expectations of where and how performance is presented. This begins with our award-winning program, Films that Move, which launched in 2011 as Experimental Film Virginia thanks to a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant. It has been a matter of passion and perseverance over the last twelve years to sustain this annual two-week summer festival in a rural community through a pandemic and budget cuts. We are especially grateful to our loyal supporters who give annually and allow us to forge ahead with our vision.
Our films bring the people and places of the Eastern Shore to life on the screen. They are woven into the creative stories told by our filmmakers who live, work and create intensely, to produce poetic, visually stunning films with dance as the central storytelling language.
The experience of art offers a precious and necessary moment of human connection, emotion, empathy and acknowledgment. By merging the agendas of art, tourism and economic development, we can go even further with a sustainable future for the arts. Our programs are hybrid, innovative and inclusive, weaving local and global exchange into a seamless conversation that recharges and benefits the artists who participate, the audiences who enjoy and the students who learn. We use the medium of film to reach more audiences, especially younger audiences, and present dance in a way that is fresh and beyond language barriers.
It is an honour and a challenge to continue this mission but the reward of seeing these beautiful films come to fruition on the big screen coupled with the powerful personal stories of our artists who experience Virginia’s Eastern Shore with wonder and awe–is a precious gift I cherish each year and it drive me forward in service to the arts.
Renata Sheppard, Artistic Director of GEAR and Films that Move
From our Director
