At Arkansas PBS, we’re more than what you see on screen. Yes, we stream, post and broadcast – but we also step outside our Conway headquarters and into the heart of Arkansas communities. For nearly 60 years, we’ve worked as your neighbor, creating meaningful connections around stories that matter. Education is at the core of everything we do, and our commitment to outreach means bringing free, accessible events directly to the public because as public television, we’re nothing without the people we serve. Through community engagement, we don’t just meet Arkansans – we reflect them. We are Arkansas PBS.
“It’s important for all of our events to be open to the public because we’re public television, and we’re nothing without the public.” – Casey Sanders, Outreach Producer
Community engagement is more than a box we check – it’s a vital part of our mission to educate, inform and inspire. From educational outreach programs to special events centered around national programming, our team works to create opportunities that bring people together, spark curiosity and strengthen the ties that bind Arkansas communities.
Events Rooted in Education and Connection
We love meeting our viewers and supporters and learning what you watch, what you like and what more you want to see.
One of our many education events is Read To Succeed, which are fun, family reading events designed to provide literacy resources and encourage family engagement through educational activities.
“Read to Succeed is about helping families have tools that set their kids up for success. Read to Succeed also usually provides a meal, so it’s a time for a parent to sit, have a meal that they didn’t have to cook, and they can sit there and be with their child.” – Karen Walker, Community Education Manager
Our beloved Family Day events, currently held in Conway and Springdale, feature PBS KIDS costume characters, snacks for children, live entertainment, hands-on kids’ activities and games, and giveaways and prizes.
And, our annual Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive helps our neighbors stay warm during the winter months. The statewide effort serves all of Arkansas, largely rural communities, with donation points at public libraries and community agencies.
Turning National Stories into Local Conversations
Community engagement also means identifying PBS content to spark meaningful local dialogue. Our team creates panel discussions, screenings and special events around flagship programs – connecting national issues to real stories that matter to Arkansans. This unique approach allows us to bring thoughtful, timely conversations to communities across the state, reinforcing the power of public media to convene and connect.
In March, our team held a free, advance screening of “Unveiled: Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash,” an Arkansas PBS original documentary, at Robinson Center in Little Rock, which featured a panel discussion with guests Shane Broadway, chairman of the National Statuary Hall Steering Committee; Nathan Willis, “Unveiled” director; Kevin Kresse, sculptor of the Johnny Cash status at the U.S. Capitol; and Charles King, president of the Daisy Bates House Museum Foundation Board.
"Gospel," the latest history series from Henry Louis Gates Jr., digs deep into the origin story of Black spirituality through sermon and song.
Our main event in February 2024 with Mosaic Templars Cultural Center drew a standing-room-only crowd. Attendees were treated to live music featuring HBCU choirs, praise bands, a panel discussion with four local pastors, hand-held fans reminiscent of churches long ago and a bountiful grazing table.
Stay Connected with Arkansas PBS Events
Want to join in on the fun? We invite you to follow us and stay in the loop:
● Sign up for our newsletter so you never miss an opportunity to join us in your community.
● Follow us on Eventbrite to register for upcoming events.
● Visit our Events page to see what’s coming next.
● Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.
● Get front-row access to some of the most educational and entertaining events across the state with Arkansas Live.
● Tune in to state legislative proceedings, board and commission meetings, and other government hearings and activities with ARCAN.