Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts and the Eddie Mae Herron Center will host an evening of celebration honoring Pat Johnson of Pocahontas as the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Bess Lomax Hawes National Heritage Fellowship.
The ceremony, free of charge and open to the public, will take place from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Eddie Mae Herron Center in Pocahontas and online. The link to join virtually will be sent to all who register.
Johnson, a distinguished figure renowned for her dedication to preserving cultural heritage and furthering community traditions, will be honored for her outstanding contributions to folk arts, cultural traditions and community engagement. The ceremony promises to be an evening filled with warmth and appreciation of Johnson’s invaluable service at the Eddie Mae Herron Center.
Virginia Siegel, director of Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts and state folklorist of Arkansas, will provide insights into the significance of the Bess Lomax Hawes National Heritage Fellowship.
Lauren Willette, the folk arts fieldwork coordinator for Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts, who nominated Johnson for this award, will speak to Johnson’s remarkable journey in founding and directing the Eddie Mae Herron Center, highlighting her accomplishments and the community traditions she’s started. Willette met Johnson while conducting fieldwork research for Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts in 2021.
Willette says, “I am thrilled to have successfully nominated Mrs. Pat Johnson for a National Heritage Fellowship. She is deserving not only because of her dedication to preserving Arkansas heritage and history but because she does it creatively and with a community-centered approach.”
As part of the celebration, the Williams Family of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, will showcase their musical talents, while Cherisse Jones-Branch, Ph.D., will highlight the significance of the Eddie Mae Herron Center in preserving cultural heritage and fostering community connections in Arkansas.
This event is hosted by the U of A Libraries’ Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts. Please contact Willette at willette@uark.edu or 479-575-4664 with any questions or for assistance.