The Gathering: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gathering?

The Gathering is an art party. The Gathering is an open forum. The Gathering promotes creativity. The Gathering celebrates diversity. The Gathering offers sanctuary to new ideas. The Gathering showcases new talent. The Gathering asks “How is this… like that?” The Gathering brings us together through the arts. 

Ok but, what is it exactly?

• The Gathering is three hours of “awesome” on the last Friday in October: Halloween!
• There will be food, music, and art provided for you and your peers! Friends from your high school, or teens from another school in the area, will: bring unique dishes of food to share, paint live murals, perform live music, and deliver spoken word poetry that connects to a central theme.
• There will be door prizes, table discussions, group art challenges and more!

Is there a theme for the evening?

Yes:

Identity: Masks and Mirrors.

Popular culture treats the Halloween holiday as an opportunity to put on a mask and pretend to be someone or something that we are not. These assumed identities are easily recognized as false while everyone participates in the charade. There are other instances throughout our lives when we pretend to be something we are not. And there are many different reasons and different settings for doing this.

Who is this for?

• Strictly for students! This event is created to provide an opportunity for area high school students (15-18 years old) to meet young artists and poets from other schools, showcase their creativity, explore new ideas, share their points of view, stretch themselves and make new friends.
• Seriously, Just for teenagers: We ask parents and guardians, and even younger siblings, to allow teens the space to be themselves, by themselves. The adult staff of the AAC and its partners are there to facilitate the activities of the evening and care for the guests during the event. Security is present in the building, and on the grounds, for all evening events at the Arkansas Arts Center. We will check ID’s at the door.

How can I participate?

• You might choose to dive all the way in as one of the performing artists or poets for the evening. If you wish to participate as one of the performing artists, contact Matthew Thorne at the Arkansas Arts Center to get on the roster ASAP!
• You may wish to contribute to the refreshments! Because IDENTITY is the theme, we are encouraging teens to bring a unique dish that celebrates their culture and heritage. If you are interested, contact Tomiko Townley over at Just Communities of Arkansas for details!
• Come ready to share your ideas and make your mark! There are exciting ways to creatively participate in the evening while we party.
• Bring your people!

Do I have to be an artist or poet or make anything that night?

Not at all. If you would like to come out to support someone else that you know is participating or just sit back and enjoy the evening with your friends, please join us! It’s going to be amazing!

I don’t see my question answered here. Who can I contact?

Do you have any questions which have not been answered here? We are committed to providing the best possible service to our patrons–please feel free to send your questions to us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Call us at 501.396.0308 or e-mail Matthew Thorne.