Whether you live in the area or are thinking about visiting, you might want to check out this mind-blowing list of speakers and artists that Northwest Arkansas will be hosting soon.
Distinguished Lecture Series Features Tarana Burke and Laura Bush
“We are thrilled to host a record number of women speakers this year [...] The committee members are excited about this year’s guests and the different points of view they bring to students and the greater campus community. If the response to our fall lecture featuring Laverne Cox is any indication, we expect great turnouts for Ms. Burke and Mrs. Bush.”
Christine CarrollStudent Chair of the Distinguished Lectures Committee
As part of the University of Arkansas Distinguished Lecture series, on March 29 Tarana Burke— the founder of the ‘me too’ movement—will be coming to the Fayetteville Town Center to give a lecture. Burke, a social justice activist, will share her powerful, personal story behind this international movement which has sparked a global dialogue about sexual harassment and sexual assault.
Following Burke, the former first lady Laura Bush will be speaking at the Bud Walton Arena on April 18 at the University of Arkansas. As the chair of the Woman’s Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, Mrs. Bush continues her work on global health care innovations, empowering women in emerging democracies, education reform and supporting the men and women who have served in America’s military. The university hasn’t announced the ticket information yet, but tickets are usually free and open to the general public.
Lecture by ‘The Hate U Give’ Author Angie Thomas
The University of Arkansas ‘One Book, One Community’ committee has selected The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas for their 2018 reading program. On March 26 at 6:30 p.m., Angie Thomas will give a lecture at the Walton Arts Center. The event was initially scheduled for the Faulkner Performing Arts Center but had to be moved to the Walton Arts Center to meet the high demand for tickets. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. You can make reservations by calling 479-443-5600 or by visiting www.waltonartscenter.org. Tickets can be picked up in person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Hate U Give debuted at number one on The New York Times young adult best-seller list, where it remained for 50 weeks. The book was recognized in 2018 by the American Library Association with the William C. Morris Award for best debut book for teens, the Odyssey Award for best children’s audiobook, the Coretta Scott King Award for the best novel by an African American author for children, and the Michael L. Printz Award for best novel for teens.
There will also be a screening of the movie version of The Hate U Give on March 25 at 6 p.m. at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center. There are still free tickets available for this event, which you can reserve HERE.
An Evening With Temple Grandin: Animal Science and Autism
“Autism helped me understand animals because I think in pictures. Since animals do not have language, their memories have to be sensory-based instead of word-based.”
Dr. Temple Grandin
Future Horizons, a leading association on autism devoted to informing the public through conferences, has organized An Evening with Temple Grandin, who is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and an autism spokesperson. “Dr. Grandin will discuss autism and its advantage in working with animals. Whether you are a member of the autism community or the livestock arena, you will find this talk informative and unforgettable,” reads the Future Horizons website. Dr. Grandin is known for her disclosure of being on the autism spectrum and for her conferences on the connection between her experience with autism and animals. The event will take place on August 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m; the venue is yet to be determined. Tickets can be found below.
Trevor Noah Comes to Rogers!
“If this comedy thing doesn't work out, I've always got poverty to fall back on.”
Trevor Noah
Do you love Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show”? Are you in dire need of a good laugh? Well, you’re in for a treat! As part of his Loud & Clear Tour, Trevor Noah will be coming to Rogers on June 2. The show will start at 8 p.m. at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (the Walmart AMP), an outdoor amphitheater. Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased below.
In 2018, Time magazine named Noah one of the 100 most influential people in the world!
In Conversation with Gabrielle Korn
NWA Fashion Week and Arkansas Arts & Fashion Forum are organizing an educational speaker event featuring Gabrielle Korn, the Editor in Chief of Nylon magazine. NYLON Media is one of the world’s leading creators of lifestyle content for young women. With eight editions internationally, NYLON focuses on emerging culture through their original, thought-provoking storytelling around topics like beauty, fashion, entertainment, and everything in between. The event will be held on April 6 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Haxton Road Studios, Bentonville. “Gain insight into fashion’s editorial world and learn to create content for your own online fashion magazine under Gabrielle’s expert guidance,” reads the event’s Facebook page. There is a low capacity of space for this event, so you may want to buy your tickets right away! Tickets start at $10 and can be found below.
Visiting Artist: Vanessa German
“As a citizen artist, German explores the power of art and love as a transformative force in the dynamic cultural ecosystem of communities and neighborhoods.”
Crystal Bridges
On April 24 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Vanessa German will be giving a presentation at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art as part of the museum’s Distinguished Speaker series. The winner of the 2018 Don Tyson Prize, Vanessa German, “is an acclaimed visual and performance artist based in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood, the community that is the driving force behind German’s powerful performance work, and whose cast-off relics form the language of her copiously embellished sculptures,” reads the Crystal Bridges’ homepage. Tickets cost $15 for the general public, $12 for members, and $5 for students. You can register online for this event by following the link below or by calling the museum’s Guest Services at 479.657.2335.
The Momentary Announces Spring 2019 Artist-In-Residence Program
“One of the goals of the Momentary is to bring multiple contemporary art spaces together for the cultivation of new ideas based on current topics. With the Artists-in-Residence program at the Momentary, we envision studio and social spaces that provide artistic independence for artists alongside an integrated art experience to create a holistic mix of art and leisure activities.”
Lieven BertelsDirector of The Momentary
The Momentary—a multidisciplinary art space planned to open in early 2020 as a satellite to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art—recently announced their Spring 2019 Artist-in-Residence (AIR) line-up. Four artists from around the country: Ebony G. Patterson, visual artist; Will Rawls, choreographer, performer, writer; and Flutronix (Nathalie Joachim and Allison Loggins-Hall), flutists and musical artists will create a work, process an idea, or develop a project while in dialogue with the organizations and people of the region.
Learn more about the program and the artists below.
