Art, Music Film

First Thursday, the popular art event on the Fayetteville Square is tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. and the new 540 Film Festival will open tonight, too.

There will be a 540 Film Fest opening ceremony and filmmaker reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Fayetteville Town Center. The first film will screen at 7 p.m. at the Center For Continuing Education on the Square. The festival will feature nine feature films, eight documentaries, 11 short films and seven student films. The festival runs today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at CCE and the UARK Bowl on Dickson Street. For a schedule go to 540filmfest.com.

The ddp gallery is rolling out Project Feed Local, an exhibit benefiting Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and Fayetteville Independent Business Alliance that features the work of more than 50 regional artists … on grocery bags. Gallery owner Dede Peters said she recently saw an exhibition that looked like the work was created on kraft paper and thought an exhibition of artwork on grocery bags would make an excellent fundraiser. Each piece of art will be sold for $60, of that, $40 will go to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, $10 will go to the artist and $10 to the gallery. Tyson Foods is matching five pounds of food for every dollar raised. Also on exhibit will be mugs designed by local artists with the “Keep Fayetteville Funky” slogan. Proceeds from the sale of these mugs will benefit the Fayetteville Independent Business Association.

At the Fayetteville Underground, basketmaker Leon Niehues will be featured in the Revolver Gallery. In The Hive and Vault Galleries of the underground, there will be a group show by several of the underground artists.