Women Making History: Gretchen Hall

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Gretchen HallAt the 2019 Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Gretchen Hall was named Tourism Person of the Year.  This is just the latest honor for her.  In 2017, she was the first woman to solely receive the Downtown Little Rock Partnership’s Top of the Rock Award.

As the President and CEO of the Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, she leads a staff that not only brings conventions and tourists to Little Rock, but also creates opportunities for local residents to enjoy their city more.

From 2014 to 2016, she actively oversaw the deconstruction and reconstruction of Robinson Center Performance Hall. Taking a New Deal era assembly hall and making it into a state-of-the-art performance facility was not an easy task. Gretchen and her team have worked with the architects, engineers, designers and consultants to make it happen.

Gretchen joined LRCVB in 2001 and worked her way up through the organization.  In May 2011, she was named to her current position.  Since that time, the LRCVB has undertaken numerous efforts to enhance Little Rock including a new amphitheatre in Riverfront Park, enhanced programming at the River Market, and increased financial support of cultural organizations.  She has worked to improve not only the meeting space available for conventions, but also to enhance the dining and lodging scenes in Little Rock.  In addition, she helped lead the effort to see the additional penny of the hotel tax be dedicated to support the Arkansas Arts Center and MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.

Downtown Little Rock Partnership seeks artists for mural

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“InspiredLR” is a public art initiative developed by the Public Spaces subcommittee of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership (“DLRP”). The goal is to encourage artistic expression and foster a greater appreciation for art in our community.

Arkansas artists are invited to submit concepts or proposals for a site-specific art installation on the east wall of the Union National Plaza in Little Rock, Arkansas, as a focal point of Downtown Little Rock.

As part of our public art strategy, DLRP is dedicated to collaborating with Arkansas artists to present public art that enhances our City’s imaginative capacity, enlivens our neighborhoods, contributes to economic vitality, sparks civic exchange, and enhances community connection.

All artists residing in the State of Arkansas who have prior public art mural experience are eligible to apply. Work must be durable and suitable for outdoors with the ability to withstand the elements of our Arkansas climate as well as interaction with the general public.

The artist will be selected by our committee on April 30, 2019, and the installation must be completed by June 30, 2019.

For a copy of the complete Call to Artists: email here.

 

 

The Climate Reality Project is focus of UA Little Rock Downtown talk

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“The Climate Reality Project: Need for Change and Reasons for Hope” is the topic of Dr. Jessica Scott’s discussion tonight (3/27) at the UA Little Rock Downtown campus.  The program is free and begins at 6pm.

Must we change? Can we change? Will we change? These three questions will be the focus of Dr. Scott’s presentation on climate change and the work of The Climate Reality Project.

Although climate change is often misunderstood by the public, more than 97 percent of climate scientists agree that it is real and caused by the burning of fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas. Understanding climate change can be overwhelming because our atmosphere, oceans, soil, and weather are driven by a complex network of interconnected factors.

Dr. Scott’s talk, targeted at non-scientists, will not only summarize the evidence for climate change, but will also give an overview of what we know about its impacts and the policy and industry changes that experts predict will be necessary to mitigate these effects.

Dr. Jessica Scott is assistant director of the Donaghey Scholars honors program and anthropology instructor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Dynamics and M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and her B.A. in Anthropology and History from UALR.

Women Making History: Stephanie S. Streett

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Stephanie S. Streett is the executive director of the Clinton Foundation. In this role she oversees the day-to-day operations of the Clinton Presidential Center, including the development and implementation of its educational programs, special events, exhibits, and services as well as staff management.

She establishes and cultivates strategic partnerships and cooperative arrangements with state and local governments, the non-profit and private sector, community groups and other organizations. Stephanie also serves as the corporate secretary for the Clinton Foundation Board of Directors.

Stephanie has used her position to broaden culture in Little Rock through the wide variety of exhibits which the Clinton Center has hosted. A wide variety of styles of visual arts, design, contemporary craft, sports, science and history have been showcased in exhibits at the Clinton Center.  She also was instrumental in planning the special events in conjunction with the Clinton Center 10th Anniversary in 2014 and the 2017 celebration of the 25th anniversary of President Clinton’s election.

In addition, she has been active in promoting partnerships with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Together with Kaki Hockersmith, she has facilitated several seminars which have brought key Kennedy Center leaders to Little Rock.  Together they lead the effort known as Fusion: Arts + Humanities Arkansas. Now in its second year, Fusion promotes heritage and culture and celebrates human achievement by weaving the arts and humanities together.

She has been the president of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association National Board of Directors and is co-chair of the Board of Directors for City Year Little Rock. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Partnership of Little Rock and is a member of the International Women’s Forum Arkansas.  In April 2018, she was honored with the 2018 City Year Little Rock Lifetime of Service Award at the Red Jacket Ball.

CALS Ron Robinson Theatre: Silver on the Silver Screen – THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

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The Shawshank RedemptionJoin the CALS Ron Robinson Theater for Silver Anniversaries on the Silver Screen, as they celebrate films that turn 25 in 2019!

Tonight’s feature is The Shawshank Redemption. A prominent banker (Tim Robbins) unjustly convicted of murder spends many years in the Shawshank prison. He is befriended by a convict who knows the ropes (Morgan Freeman) and helps him to cope with the frightening realities of prison life.

Others in the cast include Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, and James Whitmore.  The film was directed by Frank Darabont, who also adapted the screenplay from a Stephen King short story.  The movie was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture.

The showing starts at 7:00.  Admission is $5.00.

Spring classes for Arkansas Rep announced

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Image may contain: textArkansas Repertory Theatre’s Education Department announces a four-week minimester of theatre classes this April for students ages 5+.

“Whether you’re new to The Rep or continuing your theatre studies, we’ve got something fun for everyone this April,” said Anna Kimmell, Director of Education. “We create a fun, high-energy creative environment where artists of all ages can learn, discover, and grow.”

Spring classes run April 1-29 and include training in musical theatre, improvisation, Shakespeare, theatre dance, tap dance, stage combat, and audition prep for students of all ages and abilities. Scholarships are available.

The Rep provides a professional and encouraging environment for artists of all ages and abilities. With new material every semester, classes can be taken multiple times.

Faculty members include Kimmell, TJ Medel, Kevin Brown, Courtney Baker, Molly Emerson, Joi Hester, Matt Boyce, and Stephen Stone.

Each year, The Rep reaches more than 7,500 Arkansas students through classes, workshops with guest artists, summer programs, community outreach, and the Student Matinee Program. More than $18,000 in scholarships were awarded in 2017-2018 to students for theatre training at The Rep.

The full class schedule, online registration and info on teaching artists can be found therep.org/education

CALS joins with Gov. Hutchinson to announce new effort

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Nate Coulter, executive director of Central Arkansas Library System (CALS); Amy Webb, Chief of Communications and Community Engagement, Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS); and Governor Asa Hutchinson will announce a new effort to keep Arkansans insured.

It will take place today (March 26) at 1:30 p.m. at the Capitol Rotunda, 500 Woodlane Street

Governor Hutchinson will join Coulter and Webb to announce a new partnership between CALS and DHS to help Arkansans get the proper information about Arkansas Works. CALS staff members have received training from DHS to assist people in signing up for Arkansas Works reporting. Staff can help patrons create an account, navigate the portal website, and scan and upload supporting documents.

On some occasions, depending on branch staffing needs, and on the level of assistance that is required, staff may ask patrons to schedule a future appointment rather than providing immediate help. Patrons may also call ahead to schedule an appointment.