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Cultural events, places and people in the Little Rock area

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Tag Archives: Artspace

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Tonight! The Artspace Survey Soiree offers food, facts, and fun!

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Scott

The Artspace Arts Market Survey results are in and they can’t wait to share the findings with you!

Join the Artspace Rocks team in welcoming Artspace back to Little Rock to present your survey responses and next step to meet our creative live/work space needs in The Rocks!

January 29 from 5pm to 7pm at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.

Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., who is a strong proponent of the role of the creative economy in moving cities forward, will bring greetings.

In anticipation of an upcoming exhibition, “Wonders and Signs” opening on Feb. 6th at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock artist Perrion Hurd will be hosting a live printmaking demonstration at our party! Be sure to attend this exciting night and be on the lookout for more announcements to come.

This event is free and open to the public. Food, drink & live entertainment provided.

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Posted in Civic Engagement, Dance, Design, Food, Government, Museum, Music, Theatre, Visual Art | Tagged Arkansas Arts Council, Artspace, Artspace Rocks, Department of Parks Heritage and Tourism, Frank Scott Jr., Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Windgate Foundation

Next week – Artspace Rocks Party to learn about Arts Market Survey Results!

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Scott

The Artspace Arts Market Survey results are in and they can’t wait to share the findings with you!

Join the Artspace Rocks team in welcoming Artspace back to Little Rock to present your survey responses and next step to meet our creative live/work space needs in The Rocks!

January 29 from 5pm to 7pm at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.

Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., who is a strong proponent of the role of the creative economy in moving cities forward, will bring greetings.

In anticipation of an upcoming exhibition, “Wonders and Signs” opening on Feb. 6th at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock artist Perrion Hurd will be hosting a live printmaking demonstration at our party! Be sure to attend this exciting night and be on the lookout for more announcements to come.

This event is free and open to the public. Food, drink & live entertainment provided. More info to come

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Posted in Architecture, Civic Engagement, Design, Film, Food, Museum, Music, Public Art, Theatre, Visual Art | Tagged Arkansas Arts Council, Artspace, Artspace Rocks, Department of Parks Heritage and Tourism, Frank Scott Jr., Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Windgate Foundation

19 LR Cultural Touchstones in 2019. Part 5: Six Bridges Book Fest, Shock the Rock! with Museum of Discovery, and Artspace Rocks!

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Scott

The penultimate look back at 19 Little Rock cultural milestones in 2019 with numbers 14 to 16.

14 – CALS rebrands literary festival as Six Bridges Book Festival. Previously known for 16 years as the Arkansas Literary Festival, this summer, the Central Arkansas Library System announced that starting with the April 2020 event, it would be known as Six Bridges Book Festival.

The four-day event in April celebrates reading, literacy, stories and wordsmithing including musical lyrics. Scores of nationally known authors converge on the city to offer panels on a wide variety of topics, from cooking demonstrations to award-winning comedy to personal stories of tornado-chasing. A slate of programming for children and teens includes hands-on crafts and music, animal visits, poetry contests, and more. Authors also venture out into the community for efforts such as “Writers in the Schools” (WITS), bringing the joy of writing to hundreds of students in the Little Rock area. Concerts, films, readings, and author parties enhance the festive atmosphere across 18 venues in downtown Little Rock.

The continuing success of the festival and its mission to encourage the enjoyment of reading and literacy have led CALS leadership to envision an even larger and more widely appealing festival for the future. By actively soliciting community input from all demographic groups and throughout the region, CALS plans to draw more people to experience the rich atmosphere of the festival and to see for themselves that the Six Bridges Book Festival offers something for everyone.

CALS Executive Director Nate Coulter noted, “The label ‘literary’ doesn’t describe the wide variety of festival offerings available to our community members. And the word can be off-putting to those who associate it with books they were made to read in school, rather than books they like now. The Six Bridges Book Festival is a diverse, energetic celebration of all kinds of stories and topics, both literary and mainstream, and we feel the new name reflects the festival’s nature more accurately. Our goal is to draw a wider audience by removing any barriers of perception that this event is only for highbrow tastes.”

The 17th annual festival now known as the Six Bridges Book Festival will take place April 23-26, 2020. Community organizations and community members at CALS branch libraries will soon be involved in the planning process.

15 – Museum of Discovery “Shocked the Rock” with 40 feet tall Tesla Coil.  Thousands of fans of famed inventor Nikola Tesla (or of the Museum of Discovery) flocked downtown on July 20 to witness the world’s largest Tesla Coil in action at “Shock the Rock!,” a Tesla-themed, free event on the grounds of the Clinton Presidential Center. “Shock the Rock!” was powered by Entergy and presented by the Museum of Discovery.

Greg Leyh, a California electrical engineer and scientist, completed construction of the 40-foot Tesla coil tower in October 2018 and displayed its awesome capabilities in Little Rock after his world-record device is featured at a Nikola Tesla birthday party celebration July 13 at the Tesla Science Center in Wardenclyffe, NY.

Leyh’s latest world-record coil was centered on the large concrete pad at the western edge of the Clinton Center grounds cordoned off from the crowd, ensuring zero danger from being on-site to watch the awesome power of 60-foot bolts of lightning.

Pre-“Shock the Rock!” festivities included electricity-related demonstrations and host hands-on, interactive activities with guests.

16 – Artspace Rocks.  Over 300 people gathered in July at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center for the Artspace Rocks first public event.  It was part-description of what Artspace does, part-celebration of the vibrant Little Rock arts scene, part-networking event, and part-performance. It was all fun!

Artspace is the leading non-profit developer of live/work artist housing, artist studios, arts centers and arts-friendly businesses in the U.S. They specialize in creating, owning, and operating affordable spaces for artists and creative businesses. These spaces include live/work apartments for artists and their families, working artist studios, arts centers, commercial space for arts-friendly businesses, and other projects.

The Windgate Foundation invited Artspace to Little Rock to conduct a feasibility study during the first several months of 2019. They assembled a core committee made up of a diverse group from a variety of facets from the creative economy.  The feasibility study process involved tours, focus groups, interviews, and the aforementioned public event.  The name given to the Little Rock project was Artspace Rocks.

In September, a Creative Space Needs Survey was launched. It sought specific input from creative people, especially those interested in affordable space. Several hundred responses were received.  In October, the preliminary feasibility study was released.

Artspace will be back in The Rocks at the end of January 2020 with more updates.  Stay tuned….

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Posted in Architecture, Civic Engagement, Dance, Design, Film, Food, Government, Lecture, Literature, Museum, Music, Science, Theatre, Visual Art | Tagged Arkansas Arts Council, Artspace, Artspace Rocks, CALS, Central Arkansas Library System, Clinton Presidential Center, Clinton Presidential Park, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Museum of Discovery, Nate Coulter, Nikola Tesla, Six Bridges Book Festival, Tesla Coil, Windgate Foundation

November 5 is the final day for the Artspace Rocks Survey!

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Scott

Image may contain: textTuesday, November 5, is the final day to take the Artspace Rocks Market Survey.

Earlier in 2019, the Windgate Foundation invited Artspace, a national nonprofit leader in the field of affordable creative space development, to explore the feasibility of creating an affordable live/work community in the Little Rock metro region, a region they are calling “The Rocks.”

A series of meetings with the community and local leaders occurred in July and August, setting the stage for this next big step: A Creative Space Needs Survey of creative people, especially those interested in affordable space. Input will help the local stakeholder group and Artspace determine if there is ample need for new space, what type of space to create, what “affordable” means in the community, where to build, and if this idea should be taken to the next step.

Your input is critical to advancing plans for a new, affordable, creative space facility in the Little Rock metro area. A facility where creative people (artists, “creatives”, arts educators/administrators, people who make things, and those who keep alive cultural practices) can have affordable space in which to live and work, create, practice, connect and share with the public.

Please take the survey at https://www.artspace.org/ArtspaceRocks to have your voice heard in this process.

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Posted in Architecture, Civic Engagement, Dance, Design, Film, Food, Government, Literature, Music, Public Art, Theatre, Visual Art | Tagged Artspace, Artspace Rocks, City of Little Rock, Windgate Foundation

Only one week left to take the Artspace Rocks Artist Market Survey!

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Scott

Image may contain: textThere is only one week left to have your voice heard on the Artspace Rocks Arts Market Survey!

Earlier in 2019, the Windgate Foundation invited Artspace, a national nonprofit leader in the field of affordable creative space development, to explore the feasibility of creating an affordable live/work community in the Little Rock metro region, a region they are calling “The Rocks.”

A series of meetings with the community and local leaders occurred in July and August, setting the stage for this next big step: A Creative Space Needs Survey of creative people, especially those interested in affordable space. Input will help the local stakeholder group and Artspace determine if there is ample need for new space, what type of space to create, what “affordable” means in the community, where to build, and if this idea should be taken to the next step.

Your input is critical to advancing plans for a new, affordable, creative space facility in the Little Rock metro area. A facility where creative people (artists, “creatives”, arts educators/administrators, people who make things, and those who keep alive cultural practices) can have affordable space in which to live and work, create, practice, connect and share with the public.

Please take the survey at https://www.artspace.org/ArtspaceRocks to have your voice heard in this process.

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Posted in Architecture, Civic Engagement, Dance, Design, Film, Food, Government, Literature, Music, Public Art, Theatre, Visual Art | Tagged Artspace, City of Little Rock, Windgate Foundation

Artspace and ArtspaceRocks Core Group announce the Preliminary Feasibility Report of findings

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Scott

In late July Artspace launched a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) in the Little Rock area (The Rocks) to investigate the potential for an Artspace project to be developed in The Rocks. The question prompting the study was how to address the creative space needs of local artists/creatives/makers and arts organizations/creative businesses.

The study, made possible by support from the Windgate Foundation, is the first of its kind in Central Arkansas to explore the viability and future sustainability of newly created affordable spaces for the area’s creative sector. The region’s deep artistic and creative community is seen as a driving economic force that local stakeholders would like to see better supported through a thoughtful strategy and lasting infrastructure. The Windgate Foundation hopes this study will help make the case for future investment in arts related workforce housing, and nonresidential work and community spaces.

The Artspace team looked at six essential criteria during its PFS study-related two-day visit to The Rocks region:
– The potential to align a future project with community goals
– Local public/private leadership interest and capacity to advance a project
– Potential sites and neighborhoods for the new space
– Funding and financing opportunities for a self-sustaining facility
– The arts market need for housing and work spaces
– What type of project concept would best serve The Rocks region

Key finding from the PFS include:
• A mixed-use, Artspace developed artist live/work project should be explored as a priority with ideally a second non-residential creative space project also considered
• New space could find a home in any number of neighborhoods in Little Rock or North Little Rock
• New space needs to make a significant contribution to the economic revitalization of its neighborhood without displacing existing organizations or families
• A project should bridge geographic and cultural communities

A recommended next step of the Preliminary Feasibility Study, the Arts Market Study, is already underway with a survey for artists/creatives/makers that launched on September 24th and closes on November 5th at http://www.ArtspaceRocks.org. If the study identifies a strong market need for an Artspace project and the community decides to proceed, survey results will inform both the project concept and site selection.

Results will also impact specific design and programmatic decisions, such as the number and types of affordable artist housing and working spaces, types of shared creative spaces, special features and amenities. Artists who take the survey will have the option of being among the first to be informed of project developments, including leasing opportunities. The complete study will be the first of its kind in the region to explore how physical infrastructure, might help strengthen the already present, catalytic creative, energy that has seen significant growth.

“Windgate is proud to support this work that we hope is the beginning of the path to create long-term affordable space for artists and their families in Central Arkansas. We are proud to be a part of the process and to learn from the local community about what is needed and wanted in terms of artist space — an important part of the infrastructure for the arts in our region,” said Pat Forgy, Executive Director of the Windgate Foundation.

Both the Arts Market Study and Preliminary Feasibility Study activities were proceeded by a robust community engagement process. Artspace worked with a group of local, volunteer leaders, The ArtspaceRocks Core Group, to invite cross-sector leaders to offer input to Artspace and to share information about the region, civic and private sector goals and the needs of and support for artists and artist space.

“During Artspace’s PFS visit, we experienced a warm reception and heard from leaders across disciplines that the arts are generally deep and diverse but undervalued and a bit isolated. Many creative people spoke of their desire to have more places and spaces to convene, work on projects together with affordable rents to live and work that allow them to grow their arts businesses and careers,” commented Wendy Holmes, Senior VP for Consulting and Strategic Partnerships with Artspace.

Holmes went on to say, “Thanks to personal invitations from the ArtspaceRocks Core Group, Artspace heard from civic leaders in the finance sector, arts sector, civic and transportation sectors and many others. It’s always gratifying when bankers and local elected officials come together to talk about how the arts are an important part of the economy and what makes “The Rocks” a special place to live, work and play. Artspace
hopes to turn that enthusiasm into a path to a future physical space project with permanently affordable spaces for local creatives.”

Local artists, creatives and people who make things, as well as those who welcome the development of new arts spaces in their community, are strongly encouraged to take the online survey at www.ArtspaceRocks.org.

There are two weeks remaining for the creative sector to have their voice heard. The survey closes November 5th. A strong response will offer stakeholders the information they need to grow support for and advance a project to the next phase. #ArtspaceROCKS

The full Preliminary Feasibility Study Report of findings can be downloaded at www.ArtspaceRocks.org.

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Posted in Architecture, Civic Engagement, Dance, Design, Film, Food, Government, Literature, Music, Public Art, Theatre, Visual Art | Tagged Artspace, Artspace Rocks, City of Little Rock, Windgate Foundation

Artspace Rocks needs to hear from YOU

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Scott

It is a Sunday!  Things are a little slower (unless you are a clergy or church musician in many faith traditions, a restaurant worker, or an NFL player).  Take a few minutes to fill out an easy survey!

Earlier in 2019, the Windgate Foundation invited Artspace, a national nonprofit leader in the field of affordable creative space development, to explore the feasibility of creating an affordable live/work community in the Little Rock metro region, a region they are calling “The Rocks.”

A series of meetings with the community and local leaders occurred in July and August, setting the stage for this next big step: A Creative Space Needs Survey of creative people, especially those interested in affordable space. Input will help the local stakeholder group and Artspace determine if there is ample need for new space, what type of space to create, what “affordable” means in the community, where to build, and if this idea should be taken to the next step.

Your input is critical to advancing plans for a new, affordable, creative space facility in the Little Rock metro area. A facility where creative people (artists, “creatives”, arts educators/administrators, people who make things, and those who keep alive cultural practices) can have affordable space in which to live and work, create, practice, connect and share with the public.

Please take the survey at https://www.artspace.org/ArtspaceRocks to have your voice heard in this process.

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Posted in Architecture, Civic Engagement, Dance, Design, Film, Food, Government, Literature, Museum, Music, Public Art, Theatre, Visual Art | Tagged Artspace, City of Little Rock, Windgate Foundation

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