What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/918568
2 WHAT'S UP! DECEMBER 24-30, 2017 Counting It Down N ot even the most optimistic among our circle could have anticipated back in 2005 that by 2015 TheatreSquared would unveil plans for such a remarkable community space. But in many ways, we're just keeping pace with what's turned out to be a singular cultural renaissance in Northwest Arkansas over the past decade." That statement from Martin Miller, executive director of TheatreSquared, pretty much explains why we keep doing year-end stories. We are living in a "singular cultural renaissance in Northwest Arkansas." Not every community is so fortunate. And in the midst of the hubbub of week-to-week coverage, it's good to slow down for a minute and look both ways — at where we've been and where we're going. That's the format of this year's top 10 stories of 2017 — the past, the present and the future. We started each with a resolution, much like one would have used in high school debate. And then we set out to prove what we thought. Last week, we counted down the stories from 10 to 6 and this week, it's 5 to 1. We hope you'll enjoy the results. — BECCA MARTIN-BROWN WHAT'S UP! EDITOR Arts writers look back on top 10 stories of 2017 COVER STORY Be It Resolved Northwest Arkansas film festivals continue to expand their reach, fostering artists and films that receive national attention. Courtesy Photo The women of Athens take an oath to do their part to end the war in the University of Arkansas' production of "Lysistrata," an original adaptation by professor Morgan Hicks. File Photo/ALEX NICOLL Patrons listen from the catwalk of JJ's Beer Garden and Brewing Co., a new venue on the Fayetteville music scene. Courtesy Photo "Footloose" was the first production of a brand new Fayetteville theater company, Pilot Arts. Courtesy Photo Fayetteville Film Fest Executive Director Morgan Hicks says the 2017 festival elicited the largest number of film submissions yet. Courtesy Photo Cindy Arsaga's "Girl at Whitney" is among artworks that have been exhibited by Fenix Fayetteville this year. 2017 Top 10 Be It Resolved Northwest Arkansas premieres, supports and produces more new scripts than Kent Brown and Roger Gross could ever have dreamed. Be It Resolved Northwest Arkansas' music scene is thriving. There lives here a tradition of great local music dating back to the Cate Brothers and Levon Helm, as well as a history of attracting national and international musicians to experience the unique venues and audience response of the area. Be It Resolved The over- whelming success of Crystal Bridges Museum put visual arts front and center in Northwest Arkansas, inspiring a vari- ety of new kinds of venues for visual arts and helping artists sell their works. Be It Resolved Northwest Arkansas theater companies are figuring out how to multiply — not divide — audiences to maximize their reach.