INTERFORM strives to support and grow the local creative community and remain at the forefront of educational opportunity and programming. We aim to showcase and retain the talent that makes our area unique and to act as a catalyst for future collaborative productions. We will constantly uplift and center the creative works of those who are underrepresented and use our platform to influence others to do the same.
Founded in 2014, NWA Fashion Week has been the premier fashion week in Arkansas for over 6 years. Rebooted in 2016 to focus on diverse representation, local creative production, and celebrating all things art and fashion in the region of Northwest Arkansas, NWA Fashion Week made a name for itself across the nation as being a premier fashion and inclusion event. Now merging with its non-profit and relaunching as INTERFORM FASHION WEEK, IFW stands to become a national beacon of art, fashion, and diversity across cultural, social and creative divides.
This June, INTERFORM will open a series of exhibitions in Downtown Springdale curated by and featuring local artists from throughout the region. The project, collectively titled ASSEMBLY, brings together six young curators, including a member of the Interform team, chosen to work alongside INTERFORM leadership in selecting artists, handpicking artworks, coordinating exhibition spaces, creating a theme and installing their exhibitions. This curatorial training program is the first of its kind in the state. Working alongside mentors from regional institutions like Crystal Bridges and The Momentary, as well as experts from across the country joining in as thought partners, the cohort of six learned the essential foundations of curating. The result of this program is a series of art exhibitions, events, runway shows, performances and a printed publication featuring the work of 50 local artists. “This program is one of a kind in Arkansas,” says INTERFORM CEO, Robin Wallis Atkinson, “as it is the first program that specifically focuses on training curatorial talent. Our goal is to empower more cultural producers who can expand opportunities across the community. We see the addition of curatorial skills to the local landscape as a step toward democratizing access to exhibitions and cultural opportunities.” The exhibitions will be free and open to the public, with galleries open for the entire month of June in Downtown Springdale. Visiting hours will be Thursday-Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM
