Learn how to create fantastic festivals and events or make your current festival/event even more fantastic from two of the state's leading festival and event organizers.
Join us at this regional workshop and learn how to:
Create a budget and allocate funds to make your dollars stretch as far as possible
Create an effective checklist to keep your festival/event on track and on schedule
Utilize your festival/event brand for successful PR and advertising
Plan your advertising and marketing strategically utilizing social media, TV, radio, print and free
resources
Secure and keep sponsors, structure the sponsorship package and provide generous exposure for
sponsors
Workshop Facilitators
Susie Cowan
I am a local business enthusiast that is focused on promoting independent business and cultivating talent in Arkansas. To accomplish this goal, I have been a part of starting Legends of Arkansas (music and craft festival), Local First Little Rock(Independent Business Alliance), the founder/Executive Director of Local First Arkansas, and the Director of Marketing and Development for the Argenta Downtown Council/Argenta Arts Foundation. I believe that if we help educate the public how
important it is to keep their money in their own community, that we can
strengthen our own local economy from within. In my free time, I help build
events to create connections and boost the local economies in the communities
throughout Arkansas.
My current position for the Argenta Downtown Council &
Argenta Arts Foundation has given me the opportunity to focus my energy and
experience into the Argenta Arts District to ensure quality of life, create
cultural experiences, and attract people from all over the region to our arts
and entertainment district
Chellie Longstreth
Director of Events
Downtown Little Rock Partnership
Chellie Longstreth came to Downtown Little Rock
Partnership in the summer of 2012 upon her return to Arkansas from Cozumel,
Mexico where she owned and operated a successful tourism company for 22 years,
frequently mentioned in Fodor's, Travel and Leisure and Cruising. Her business was likewise featured by
Discovery Channel Latin America and in US News and World Report. She is also a
certified dive master through PADI. While living in Mexico she researched homes
for HGTV as well as managed dozens of vacations homes for international
visitors. She has done general studies at both University of Central Arkansas
and University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
She brings to the DLRP her experience in business
management and event planning and oversees many events, including the
sponsorship development, for the Partnership including the Annual Meeting,
Barkus on Main, Alley Party Series, and the award winning Main Street Food
Truck Festival. Chellie coordinates the
volunteers for the DLRP including the summer Downtown Navigator program. She
also represents the DLRP as a member of Arkansas Festival and Events Board of
Directors.
She volunteers for her church as well as serving on the Future Planning Committee and Mission Board. She is bi-lingual in English and Spanish. Chellie lives in Benton with her husband Dale and her two daughters, Isabella and Sophia.
This workshop is presented by the Arkansas Festivals and Events Association & the Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.
