Since 2019, Columbia’s non-profit Vidwest Studios has “worked to advance the art of cinematic storytelling in Missouri and to serve Columbia’s growing grassroots media community.” For all of those years, funding for the community media center was provided by the City of Columbia. That funding is not guaranteed for next year.
Vidwest co-founder and studio manager Matt Schacht was a guest on The Current recently. He talked about the services Vidwest provides to a community full of creatives. With City funding for the media center proposed to end this fiscal year, Matt made the case for public funding via a City of Columbia contract for community media services.
The show also featured writings from participants at the Missouri Writers Project Summer Camp. Thanks to teacher Alicia Flavin for sharing the audio.
This program originally aired on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 on KOPN 89.5fm. New episodes of The Current air live each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm on 89.5fm in mid-Missouri and online at KOPN.org.
The Recollection Agency 