BATESVILLE — Tucked in a small storefront on Main Street, the Batesville Area Arts Council is rich with artwork from local artists.
As executive director of the Arts Council, Colleen Jackson wears several hats, and it is evident that she loves her job.
“As a nonprofit organization, the mission of our organization is to enrich people’s lives in the Batesville area through the promotion of the arts and to serve as a unified voice for the arts community,” Jackson said.
The BAAC Art Gallery is the only gallery within a 40-mile radius that exhibits and sells work of local artists. The gallery also provides special exhibits, and Jackson works closely with the artists to schedule and promote the exhibits, classes and workshops for adults and children.
“Colleen is an amazing person, and her dedication to the arts is so evident in everything she does,” BAAC Board member Linda Creighton said. “As director, it isn’t uncommon to see Colleen in the gallery on weekends and evenings, adding her special touch in displaying works of art from local artists and other interesting collections, making it inviting to those that drop by.”
Since she was in elementary school, Jackson has pursued some sort of art, including music. She said she has always been interested in the arts, and she tried learning the accordion, but that didn’t work out so well.
“I couldn’t stretch my arms around this large metal box,” Jackson said about her decision to move on from accordion to junior high choir and band. “The choir thing didn’t turn out so well, but I did play the flute for several years in both the orchestra and marching band.”
Then Jackson said she tried her hand at acting, and that seemed to work out much better. She joined the Thespians in high school and played the leading role in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
“It was a wonderful experience,” she said. “In college, I took a few art courses, including a pottery class that helped me with learning and creating in different avenues.”
During her senior year at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, she said, she was given a role in the college production of All the Way Home.
“It was a new way of expressing myself, to develop a character that an audience could relate to,” she continued. “I had no lines, just interpreted the emotions of a 100-year-old woman who loved her family.”
After earning a degree in special education from UCA, Jackson taught for 29 years. After teaching for several years in Missouri, Jackson taught elementary special education at West Side Elementary School in Greers Ferry, then at Heber Springs Elementary School. While teaching in Heber Springs, she completed a master’s degree at UCA and acquired additional classes for administration and supervision in the special-education field.
“When I began teaching, my family and career were my priority; however, my interest in the arts shone through the students that I worked with,” Jackson said. “I directed a group of elementary students in a Christmas play, which integrated the arts to promote reading and comprehension — as well as develop communication skills, the understanding of differences and the importance of each person’s role — and build self-esteem.
“Another class of students was involved in a production of a play of John F. Kennedy with a version of P.T. 109. The impact of integrating the arts within the curriculum was remarkable.”
While teaching in Heber Springs, Jackson took oil-painting classes from an internationally known artist, Glenda Turley.
“I am like a sponge and want to try a variety of art mediums, even though the outcome may not be what I had envisioned,” Jackson said.
Several years prior to becoming executive director of the BAAC, Jackson was a board member and volunteer.
“When the former executive director resigned, I offered to step in to help with transition of the programs and later became the executive director a few years ago after retiring from my previous career in education,” Jackson said.
The two main areas that impact the Arts Council, she said, are maintaining and expanding art opportunities that benefit the community and obtaining financial support in order to provide those opportunities.
“My role is to work with the board of directors to implement board policies and procedures, implement programs and provide support for other art organizations,” Jackson said. “Being a fiscal manager and being an advocate for the arts are an integral part of this position.”
Writing grants, implementing fundraising efforts, providing marketing and publicity, and submitting data reports are part of Jackson’s job. She is also the Arts in Education coordinator, working with schools to bring highly regarded artists into the school districts to integrate the arts with targeted curriculum areas.
“It is always a pleasure to coordinate and act as host for these artists, who work with students and staff to bring new ways of teaching, through artistic means, to those with whom they work,” Jackson said.
She said she has had many “ah-ha moments” with the AIE artists, as well as with students and teachers, and some with adults in art workshops and classes who have been excited in reinventing themselves through art opportunities.
“It is fun to watch students who have been a part of our program in many ways, those who remember certain events from previous years that have greatly impacted their lives long-term,” Jackson said. “I enjoy the foolery that takes place in the simple things. Not one thing, but many stand out. However, I look forward to many fun and rewarding experiences that are yet to come.”
Creighton said the board of directors appreciates Jackson’s contribution.
“As a member of the Arts Council Board of Directors, I know how much we all appreciate Colleen for the work she does in promoting the arts, and we can see the enriching of lives of those that benefit from her efforts,” Creighton said.
Traveling to places she has never been is on Jackson’s list of things to do, and she’s been known to take short journeys just to explore Arkansas. Reading, knitting and spending time with her family and friends are her favorite things to do while she’s not working at the Arts Council.
“Up until recently, I have shared some of my time with my ‘Little Sis’ from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program,” she added.
Jackson said the only changes she has personally made at the BAAC’s gallery space are painting the bathroom and putting up curtains. The changes are made through the efforts of the board of directors and committee members, and Jackson just follows them through.
“As an organization, we have tried to improve the look of the gallery space which we occupy, as our gallery space is a donated area by Barbara Fitzpatrick,” Jackson said. “Our organization now supports a Summer Outdoor Movie Series that provides free movies in a safe and secure atmosphere from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Main Street Batesville has worked with BAAC to provide a Wander and Wonder Walk the second Friday of each month, when we have gallery activities from 5-8 p.m.”
To learn more about the Batesville Area Arts Council, visit www.batesvillearts.org.