NEA Chairman Jane Chu to Visit Little Rock, Arkansas
Washington, DC—NEA Chairman Jane Chu will visit Little Rock, Arkansas, October 7–8, 2014, to meet with the arts community and learn more about Little Rock's creative placemaking efforts.
On October 7 at 1:30pm, the city of Little Rock will hold an event about the Little Rock Main Street Creative Corridor. In 2011, the city received an NEA Our Town grant to support the design phase for this cultural corridor. With the construction of the first phase of this project nearly complete, this event will include an overview of the plan to strengthen Little Rock's creative community and renew a central section of its downtown district. Steve Luoni, with University of Arkansas Community Design Center, will present, with remarks by Mayor Mark Stodola and NEA Chairman Jane Chu.
Following this event, Chairman Chu will tour a few of the arts organizations that help to make up the arts corridor—Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Ballet Arkansas, and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
There will be a media availability following the tour from 3:30–4:30pm at Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Media wishing to request an interview should contact Liz Auclair at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744.
On October 8, 2014, Chairman Chu will learn about Argenta's arts district in North Little Rock. Held at the Argenta Regional Innovation Hub, the arts organizations in that area will hold a discussion with Chairman Chu followed by a tour of the neighborhood.
Follow @NEAJaneChu on twitter for photos and commentary on her visit to Little Rock.
Media are invited to attend the following events:
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
1:30–2:30pm: Event about Little Rock's Main Street Creative Corridor.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 9–10:00am: Meeting about Argenta arts district followed by walking tour of Argenta Location: Argenta Regional Innovation Hub, 201 E. 4th St., North Little Rock, AR 72114 Participants:
Location: Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St, Little Rock, AR 72201
Participants:
NEA Chairman Jane Chu
Mayor Mark Stodola
Steve Luoni, Director of the University of Arkansas Community Design Center
2:45pm: Tour of Arkansas Repertory Theatre Company's new black box and education space,
Ballet Arkansas, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
Location: Tour will begin at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St, Little Rock, AR 72201
Participants:
NEA Chairman Jane Chu
Mayor Mark Stodola
Caran Curry, Interim Assistant City Manager
Robert Hupp, Producing Artistic Director, Arkansas Repertory Theatre
Michael McCurdy, Managing Director, Arkansas Repertory Theatre
Karen Bassett, Executive Director, Ballet Arkansas
Christina Littlejohn, Executive Director, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
3:30pm: Media availability—Media wishing to interview NEA Chairman Jane Chu should contact Liz Auclair
at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744.
Location: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, 514 Main St, Little Rock, AR 72201 (former MM Cohn’s Building)
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 9–10:00am: Meeting about Argenta arts district followed by walking tour of Argenta Location: Argenta Regional Innovation Hub, 201 E. 4th St., North Little Rock, AR 72114 Participants:
NEA Chairman Jane Chu
Arkansas State Representative Eddie Armstrong
Joy Pennington, Executive Director, Arkansas Arts Council
Arkansas State Representative Warwick Sabin, Executive Director, Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
John Gaudin, Board Chairman, Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
Joel Gordon, Director of the Launch Pad, Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
Hollie Lewis, Executive Director, Art Connection, Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
Donna Hardcastle, Executive Director, Argenta Arts Foundation
Paul Leopolus, Executive Director, THEA Foundation
Paula Livey, Argenta Community Theater
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Contact
Liz Auclair
auclaire@arts.gov/202-682-5744
