April 14, 2003

The world premiere of the movie version of John Grisham’s 2001 bestseller A Painted House was shown at Arkansas State University’s Fowler Center. The benefit included a dinner that raised $170,000 in endowment funds for the Heritage Studies PhD program. Hallmark had turned Grisham’s novel into one of its made-for-television movies, filming in and around Lepanto (Poinsett County); the farmhouse from the set is on display there. In 2001, the Arkansas Library Association presented Grisham and A Painted House with the Arkansiana Award, recognizing authors and books that represent a significant contribution to Arkansas heritage and culture.