TASD to spotlight ‘creative economy’ in Wednesday workshop

TEXARKANA, Ark. — The Texarkana Arkansas School District will host an event this week to highlight the role of the arts in the economy.

TASD’s Arts + Technology Legislative Boot Camp will take place Wednesday in accordance with a new state law.

In 2021, the Arkansas Legislature passed bipartisan Act 577, which is designed to positively impact the quality of life in every part of Arkansas by growing what is known as the creative economy with a focus on arts and technology.

To carry out the requirements of Act 577, legislators are holding meetings known as Arts + Technology Boot Camps in several parts of the state to help the community understand economic development and opportunities to grow Arkansas’ creative economy through the arts and technology. The event’s agenda includes:

• Welcome from TASD — Dr. Becky Kesler, superintendent

• Creative Economy Overview — Dr.

Lenore Shoults, chair, Arts + Technology Boot Camp; Arkansans for the Arts (AFTA)

• Creative Economy Data Report — Sandy Martin, chair, AFTA; co-chair, Arts + Technology Boot Camps

• Robotics Discussion — Julie Carver, Exploration Lab Robotics Team, Edward Trice Elementary School; Tracey Boyles, principal, TASD; Chris Biscoe, robotics teacher, TASD

• Technology and the Arts — Remica Gray, chair, Arkansas Arts Council I

• Creative Economy Discussion — Sandy Martin, chair, Arkansans for the Arts; co-chair, Arts + Technology Boot Camp

(The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the TASD Administration Building, 3435 Jefferson Ave. For more information about previous Boot Camps, visit arkansansforthearts.org/artstech-bootcamp. Questions regarding the event can be directed to Sen. Joyce Elliott at Joyce.Elliott@senate.ar.gov or Rep. Less Warren at les.warren@arkansashouse.org.)