Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the DC South Asian Film Festival
Montgomery College
Robert E Parilla Performing Arts Center,
51 Mannakee Street, Rockville
As prepared
I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight.
This festival keeps getting bigger and better. Montgomery County loves and celebrates the fine arts; and my wife Catherine, our charming First Lady, is an outstanding Fine Arts Activist.
She and I have always believed that public investment in the arts is crucial. The arts and humanities drive our County’s economy and uplift the community spirit.
The arts and humanities have the power to transform and uplift our lives. Over the years, Montgomery County has established itself as a cultural arts destination offering top-notch entertainment with state-of-the-art venues and flourishing arts.
Our entertainment districts have become hubs for community engagement and activity.
Montgomery County is home to the American Film Institute in Silver Spring. This historic cinema hosts a series of film festivals as well as new and classic movies and documentaries each year.
We are also home to world-class performing arts facilities like the Strathmore Hall.
Montgomery College is the home to the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center. And, of course, we are proud to also have the Robert E. Parilla Center.
We are delighted that DC South Asian Film Festival continues to grow in prominence. More than three thousand people are expected to attend this year.
I commend the County’s own Mr. and Mrs. Manoj Singh, who have founded DCSAFF as a 501 (C3) nonprofit and with their efforts reaching out to the six million people living in the Maryland, DC and Virginia with 600,000 South Asians.
We celebrate diversity here every day; and we commend the Film Festival for their commitment to using film arts to transcend cultural boundaries and address social issues in though provoking ways; educate tomorrow’s story tellers; be good ambassadors to our very diverse communities in the County, region and Country; and give back by championing local charities.
We support DCSAFF and encourage their efforts to continue to grow this event and year-round efforts to promote arts.
Thanks for coming; and please have a great time!
Thank you!
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Release ID: 17-087
Friday, September 8; 7 p.m.