Press Release: Clinton and THEA Foundations Partner to Launch Educational Effort Featuring Celebrities
Participants include President Clinton, Billy Bob Thornton, Mary Steenburgen, Harry Thomason, and Lawrence Hamilton
The William J. Clinton Foundation and the THEA Foundation have partnered with President Clinton, two Academy Award-winning actors, an Emmy-Award-winning director and an acclaimed Broadway performer to present an art exhibit on DVD in hopes of inspiring and educating children.
“Throughout my life, art has been a source of inspiration and strength, said President Clinton in the opening of the DVD catalogue. ” I hope that through this virtual catalogue, the Clinton Collection for Art Across Arkansas, we can share with you the possibilities art can create in all our lives. “
The seventeen-minute DVD catalogue titled “Art Is…”, features 129 pieces of art and includes narratives by President Clinton, Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton, Academy Award winner Mary Steenburgen, Emmy Award winner Harry Thomason and acclaimed Broadway performer Lawrence Hamilton. Most of the work in producing this DVD was donated as an in-kind gift to the children of Arkansas.
Play the “Art is” DVD
“Art is the raw material from which you can fashion your dreams, promoting creativity and creative thinking, ” states Billy Bob Thornton on the DVD catalogue.
The DVD catalogue will be distributed to public schools in Arkansas during the 2007-2008 school year, with the hope that it will open the eyes of children to the power of art and the world of creativity. In addition, the DVD will be accessible online in the near future at www.theafoundation.org and www.clintonfoundation.org, allowing even more people to experience these works of art.
This DVD is the most recent addition to the highly successful Art Across Arkansas program, launched in October 2006 by the Clinton and THEA foundations.
“This program allowed children in Central Arkansas to experience art at an early age, and we are honored to expand the program for the upcoming year,” said Rose Crane, Current Board Chair of THEA Foundation. “We are also excited about the endless possibilities of this virtual DVD catalogue, allowing people throughout the world to experience the collection.”
Additionally, this seventeen-minute DVD will serve as the official catalogue to the upcoming temporary exhibit titled “Art Is…”, which will open June 16 and run through August 19 at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. This exhibit will showcase many of the works of art featured on the DVD. Furthermore, the first 200 visitors who view the “Art Is…”exhibit on June 16 at the Clinton Center will receive a free commemorative DVD, which can be obtained at the Clinton Museum Store (610 President Clinton Ave) with proof of admission to the Clinton Center.
About Art Across Arkansas
Art Across Arkansas placed individual works of art from respected artists, as well as award-winning student artists, at accessible locations throughout schools in Central Arkansas during the 2006-2007 school year. Each piece of art is placed in a specialized exhibit case, designed by Bylites, Inc., that allows for different works of art to be installed each year among the participating schools.
A total of sixty-six installations were made during this past school year, serving an estimated 50,000 students, parents, teachers, and education personnel.
Due to last year's success, the program is being expanded outside of Central Arkansas for the 2007-2008 school year, targeting at-risk populations in the Delta and in North Arkansas. The program hopes to serve approximately 200,000 during the upcoming school year.
All art used in Art Across Arkansas is donated by either the artist or collector to the Clinton Collection, which serves as the repository for Art Across Arkansas. Currently, the collection consists of 129 works of art. There is no cost to the participating schools, nor are demands made upon school curriculum. For schools to participate, apply at www.theafoundation.org.
DVD Production Credit
THEA Foundation and the William J. Clinton Foundation in association with Downstream People Productions, LLC, presents Art Is…, featuring special guests President William J. Clinton, Mary Steenburgen, Billy Bob Thornton, Harry Thomason, Lawrence Hamilton. Music by Will Churchill. Written by Rose Crane,. Still photography by Paul David Leopoulos. Videography by Roby Brock, Jordan Foster and Douglas Jackson. Editing by Jordan Foster. Produced by Vincent Insalaco.
Background
The THEA Foundation, established in 2001, advocates the importance of art in the development of our youth through educational and promotional activities and to encourage individual participation in art through scholarship, partnership, and other programs.
The Clinton Foundation is proud to be a partner with the THEA Foundation in this educational effort in Arkansas. For more information about the goals and initiatives of the Clinton Foundation, visit www.clintonfoundation.org.
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