What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1199154
JANUARY 12-18, 2020 WHAT'S UP! 3 Allyson Esposito PEOPLE TO WATCH Linking the world of NWA arts and culture in a whole new way Courtesy Photo "I am and have always been passionate about artists, having spent so much of my time with them," says Allyson Esposito. "They study and attempt to reflect the world around them in ways that help us to see. I value curiosity, questioning and critical thought, understanding, and life-long learning — and I find the arts are one of the best avenues towards those values." People To Watch Welcome to 2020! Seven years ago, on a whim, we at What's Up! thought it would be fun to spotlight some of the people we expected to change the Northwest Arkansas arts scene in 2014. Readers liked it. And here we are, still doing it! There has never been a fixed list of selection criteria. The people we suggest you keep an eye on are those we think are making a difference and likely to continue to in the new year ahead. Previous People 2019 In 2019, we looked back at five former nominees: Missy Gipson, founder of Pilot Arts Bryan and Bernice Hembree, founders of the Roots Festival Jason Suel, founding host of "Good Day NWA" Mark Landon Smith, founder of the Actors Cast- ing Agency Erika Wilhite, founder of Artist's Labo- ratory Theatre 2018 Mark Landon Smith Michael Myers Halley Mayo John Jeter Samuel Lopez Jeannie Hulen Leigh Wood Houston Hughes Daniel Hintz Willi Carlisle 2017 Stephen Cald- well Jenni Taylor Swain Laura Shatkus Kholoud Sawaf Mike Shirkey Katy Henriksen Joseph Farmer Hannah Withers Morgan Hicks Kat Robinson 2016 Jason Suel Dana Idlet Jennifer McClory Kelly & Donna Mulhollan Sabine Schmidt Erika Wilhite Jenny McKnight Eve Smith Gina Gallina Bob Stevenson 2015 Sara Parnell Luetgens Justin & Virginia Scheuer Mark Landon Smith Missy Gipson John Rankine Sons of Otis Malone 2014 Zeek Taylor Eve Smith Amy Herzberg & Bob Ford Michael Riha Amber Perrodin Kyle Kellams Zach Denison Bryan Hembree Janet Alexander LARA JO HIGHTOWER NWA Democrat-Gazette I n July Allyson Esposito came on board as executive director for a new regional arts organization launched by the Walton Family Foundation. Esposito has an impressive — and impressively varied — resume. Q. Why does our region need this new organization? A. In my short time living in Northwest Arkansas, I have found it to be a region of diverse, culturally distinct communities with complementary assets. However, there has been no central arts organization that exists to unite our communities and cultures. We have a real opportunity to celebrate local artists and creatives, diverse voices and the rapid rate at which our region is changing. We have the chance to model, elevate and empower — infusing Northwest Arkansas with the highest quality, most representative art and entertainment. Q. New role, new organization: do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by the tasks ahead? A. I will admit that I love being overwhelmed. Truly, I am fortunate to be able to work every day to effect change and solve complicated, seemingly intractable problems at a systems level. I am a person who relishes being in the beginning of a new project or job. I spent the first part of my career in consulting, which taught me to come up to speed quickly and how to talk to almost anyone. Then I got my law degree, which taught me how to deeply analyze every action. For the last 10 years, I have worked to completely overhaul three existing arts philanthropies — a family foundation, a large city agency and one of the country's oldest and largest community foundations — creating all new, large-scale programs See Esposito Page 4