• Log In
• Search

HSDFI Honors P. Allen Smith

PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute
Malinda Herr-Chambliss
Executive Director
819 Central Ave.
Hot Springs, AR 71901

Hot Springs, AR. March 4, 2009.  The Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute (www.hsdfi.com) has selected P. Allen Smith as the recipient of the 2009 Arkansas Cultural Enrichment Award. This prestigious honor is given to outstanding Arkansans who make significant contributions to the state through education, artistic expression, leadership, commitment to their community and civic involvement. P. Allen Smith is America's most recognized and respected garden design expert, best selling author, host of two nationally broadcast television shows, supporter of educational programs and tireless ambassador for the state. He reaches out to his vast audience through various media platforms to teach the values of caring for the earth in a responsible manner and inspires Americans to reconnect to the natural world through the joy of creating beautiful gardens

A special event honoring Smith will be held Friday evening, April 3rd at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas with a reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.  A preview of the documentary, Out On a Limb, featuring P. Allen Smith and produced by HSDFI Board Chairman Dr. Ben Meade will be shown at the dinner. The world premier of the film will be October 16, 2009, opening night of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

According to Dr. Meade, “I have been very lucky to have spent the time with Allen in deep discussions about the future of Arkansas regarding agriculture, the environment, animal husbandry, and how to deal with the current problems facing our country, especially in the area of education. The film is a wonderful piece that addresses these issues. Please join me in honoring Allen for his work and this event which supports the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute’s educational and cultural programs and its Festival presentations.”

Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and other high profile musicians, will also be there to provide a special musical presentation. This year marks the 11th Annual ACE banquet. For more information visit www.hsdfi.org or call the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute office at 501-321-4747. 

Further HSDFI History and P. Allen Smith Background Information

Founded in 1992, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute remains the only film institute in the United States dedicated solely to the documentary film genre.  Each year the institute presents the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, a multicultural and intergenerational event.  The festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors making it one of the largest tourist attractions in our state.  The Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and your gift is tax deductible. Make checks payable to “Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute” to:  Arkansas Cultural Enrichment Award Dinner, P. O. Box 6450, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas 71902.

P. ALLEN SMITH CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Host of Public Television Series, P. Allen Smith's Garden Home, reaching 75% of US television homes
• Host of P. Allen Smith Gardens, a 30 minute nationally syndicated program broadcasting to 83% of U.S. households (8 seasons)
•   Regular guest contributor on NBC's Today Show
• Author of the best selling Garden Home series of books published by Clarkson Potter/Random House:
  • P. Allen Smith's Garden Home: Creating a Garden for Everyday Living
  • P. Allen Smith’s Container Gardens: 60 Container Recipes to Accent Your Garden
  • P. Allen Smith's Colors for the Garden: Creating Compelling Color Themes
  • P. Allen Smith's Living in the Garden Home: Connecting the Seasons with Containers, Crafts, and Celebrations
  • P. Allen Smith’s Bringing the Garden Indoors: Containers, Crafts, and Bouquets for Every Room
• The Weather Channel's exclusive gardener, hosting reports broadcasting to over 76 million homes
• Host of 90-second nationally syndicated gardening reports on commercial television news programs
• Author of PAllenSmith.com website featuring home and garden information and recipes
• Featured in national publications including Cottage Living, Southern Accents, Gardening Deck and Design, Fine Gardening, Garden Gate, Hobby Farm Home, Sustainable Home, Gardening How-To, Woman’s Day, All You, Fine Gardening, People Magazine.

 
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• Medal of Honor and Honorary Member of the Garden Club of America
• Garden Communicator Award from the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA)
• Horticultural Communicator Award from the American Horticultural Society (AHS)
• Featured author at National Book Festival on the National Mall, Washington, DC
• Projects Odyssey Award presented by the Hendrix College Board of Trustees to honor achievements by alumni of Hendrix College
• Rotary International Scholarship to study garden design and history at the University of Manchester in England
• Professional garden designer for 25 years
• Garden center owner and operator for 10 years
• Certified Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Board member of the Royal Oak Foundation, the United States affiliate of the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland