The Southern Fried Podcast: Conway’s creative scene and Art Walk with Jessica Crum and Katie Wilson | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

In this week’s episode, Rex sits down with Create Conway’s founder, Jessica Crum, and its Executive Director, Katie Wilson, to discuss the growing arts scene in downtown Conway as well as the city’s thriving arts community. 

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The conversation begins with an overview of Conway’s art scene and how Create Conway’s focus is to “put creatives on display.” Jessica, a Pine Bluff native who moved to Los Angeles, Calif., for a time as a fashion and graphic designer, moved to Conway in part to help build and develop an arts district and culture in the heart of the city. Katie, a performing artist and painter, is equally passionate about brining the community’s art scene together and building a support system for regional artists. Both mention that part of the reason for the city’s thriving arts scene is tied to the city’s nickname, “the City of Colleges.” 

Much of the focus of this episode is on Create Conway’s Conway Art Walk, a monthly festival held on the first Friday nine months out of the year for both aspiring and established artists that features vendors, performers, live music and, of course, artists. In an effort to promote the Conway Art Walk, which has been a staple of the downtown and community for several years, Jessica invites Rex to “get his hands dirty” and visit the festival to showcase all that Conway has to offer to citizens and visitors alike. In fact, Jessica and Katie mention that the Art Walk is unique in that it appeals to “a mix of young and old.” 

The duo also tell Rex how the Art Walk was inspired by a similar event in Fayetteville, and not only allows visitors entertainment and art, but also serves as an important revenue generator for one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. In short, the event has greatly helped with Conway’s regional and statewide popularity, which is due in part to its reputation as a regional hub for artists, and attracts approximately 2,000 visitors each month that the festival is held. 

Also discussed in this episode is how the Art Walk has a ripple effect for the retailers that participate in the event as well as storefronts and businesses in the city’s downtown area, the newly renovated Studio in Downtown Conway – which features a museum-grade gallery that showcases the works of regional artists – and Jessica provides a descriptive overview of “the best way to do the Art Walk” for new visitors. 

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