Registration open for statewide arts conference
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Arts Council will present “ArtLinks 2017: Creating a Vibrant Arts Community” Oct.
23-24 at the Robinson Center in Little Rock.
Participants may register online by Oct. 13 at http:// www.arkansasarts.org/ artlinks.
The conference attracts arts patrons, supporters, administrators and artists throughout the state. Keynote speaker Clayton Lord, vice president of Local Arts Advancement for Americans for the Arts, will discuss the social impact of the arts and the importance of creating more equitable access to the arts in all communities, a news release said.
Workshops will be led by
12 local and national arts experts on topics including the creative economy, the story behind the rebirth of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and how to create a better arts experience for older audience members and individuals with disabilities.
Highlights of the conference include:
• An overview of the $100 million creative place making development in El Dorado’s Murphy Arts and Entertainment District.
• Tours of the Robinson Performance Hall, home of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Arkansas, and the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub in the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock.
• Docent-led stroll through downtown Little Rock’s outdoor sculpture garden.
• Hands-on arts activity led by Little Rock artist Virmarie DePoyster.
• Annual presentation of the Individual Artist Fellowship awards at Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock.
• Tips on how to inform legislators about the value of the creative economy and how to use the arts to connect with an aging population.
“In October, the nation observes National Arts and Humanities Month. The ArtLinks conference is a great opportunity for us to celebrate how the arts impact the economy, tourism and the quality of life in Arkansas,” Stacy Hurst, director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, said in a news release.
Email Cheri Leffew at cheri.leffew@arkansas.gov or call 501-324-9767 for more information.