I'm LaDonna Gibson, and I dream that all children can explore and learn the arts. After several years as a high school and middle school band director, I moved on to a career providing instruments to students around Arkansas. But the desire to teach remained, and the need around me was great.

Eleven years ago, I applied for a grant to create an after-school arts program for kids in my rural community. The arts were not getting much funding, and the few programs available were suffering.

I found several people who wanted to teach, and The Studio Arts Center was born. It's gratifying to pass on my passion to the next generation and fill a gap in their education. The arts save lives, and arts education creates brilliant and thoughtful human beings.