What do bandages, aluminum foil, shaving cream, and dirt have in common? They are some of the materials that will be used to give year’s ArtBlast participants an opportunity to tap into their creative talents in unusual ways. 

ArtBlast, Hot Springs’ annual children’s arts festival, is the collaborative effort of local non-profit organizations and schools.

Presenters this year include:

          ● Arkansas Children’s Hospital – Circle of Friends
          ● Arkansas Sculptors Guild
          ● Arts Cooperative Team
          ● Children’s Pocket Theatre
          ● Garland County Girl Scouts
          ● Garland County Library
          ● Garvan Woodland Gardens
          ● Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute
          ● Hot Springs High School Key Club
          ● Hot Springs Jazz Society
          ● Hot Springs Music Festival
          ● Mid-America Science Museum 
          ● Poet's Loft

As new presenters, the Poet's Loft will be building a "poet tree" of young poet's works and Garland County Library will help kids produce a book to be displayed at the library, made up of pages they design.

The Arkansas Sculptors Guild will teach the secrets of using aluminum foil to create 3-D sculptures and Children’s Pocket Theatre will offer an opportunity for kids to act on stage.

The Garland County Girls Scouts will help kids turn recycled items into artistic creations. River rocks are the canvas for kids to draw their own hieroglyphics with Hot Springs High School Key Club.

At the Hot Springs Music Festival booth, kids will be decorating kazoos and creating pandemonium with them as they learn tunes from professional musicians. Visit the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute for an interactive documentary film experience.

Ever had a cast decorated??? For a different interpretation of art, make a “finger cast” and decorate it with your own artwork at Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s Circle of Friends. At Hot Springs Jazz Society kids will create a rhythm instrument and listen to a live jazz band.

The Arts Cooperative Team will offer full-sized Adirondack Chairs for schools, individuals, groups, or clubs to paint prior to a special exhibit at ArtBlast when prizes will be awarded.

Garvan Woodland Gardens will be busy pilfering smelly flowers all season for kids to use as potpourri ingredients. Dig in and turn plain thumbs into green thumbs as kids learn the art of potting plants.

At the Mid-America Science Museum booth kids will discover how art and science work together to impact our lives.

Included again this year, is a special Junior Philanthropist (JP) promotional package. For a $25 donation, children will receive a ticket to ArtBlast, the official ArtBlast t-shirt with their name on it, along with other JPs names, and admission to the JP table where they will receive their badge of appreciation.

The JP packages can be purchased as gifts for friends and relatives. Entries can be submitted until Monday, November 10th. Contact ACT at 501-625-3992 or email kids@artblasths.org.

Need a way to work off those Thanksgiving calories? “It takes almost 300 volunteers to encourage and inspire kids as they take part in the ArtBlast activities,” said Sissi Bennett, ACT President. “”

Events such as ArtBlast could not take place without the support of Arkansas’ praiseworthy sponsors and volunteers. Enthusiastic volunteers from the presenting organizations and from groups such as Teen Challenge, the Mayor’s Youth Council, and the Blue Coats have found ArtBlast to be a rewarding way to spend the day.

Donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations, along with local, state and federal grants are needed to present programs of this scope. Contact ACT for more information about becoming a sponsor or to volunteer. 625-3992 or email act@hotsprings.net.
 

Tickets for ArtBlast are $5 for ages 4-18. Accompanying adults are free.

For info or to volunteer, contact the Arts Cooperative Team at 501-625-3992 or kids@artblasths.org. 

Support for ArtBlast is provided in part by

AT&T, Youth Advisory Council, Reynolds Packaging Group, Simmons First Bank, Archie Crittenden, Epsilon Sigma Alpha Intl, The Springs Magazine, Crystal Springs Gallery, Direclynx, Sentinel Record, StudioLoud, Subway,

The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts
C. Louis & Mary C. Cabe Foundation
Morris Foundation 
Elisabeth Wagner Foundation
Munro Foundation
Hot Springs Area Community Foundation
Reynolds Packaging  ● YAC ● AT&T 
Simmons First  Bank 
Epsilon Sigma Alpha-Zeta Chi Chapter
Cato ● Archie Crittenden
Sentinel Record ●  The Springs Magazine 
Alliance Rubber ●  Subway
Gallery Central  ●  Crystal Springs Gallery
Direclynx  ●  Studioloud