Editorial: Sightseers and sightdoers: Eureka Springs University

People have come to Eureka Springs for many reasons in its century-plus of existence -- as a destination for those seeking better health as well as an inexpensive, funky place to create art and live; a shopping destination in recent years, and with the growth of entities like the Eureka Springs Outdoor Alliance, XTERRA and those devoted to developing its urban forest, a wonderful outdoor tourist destination as well.

Lifelong learning

One dimension of our community that has, I think, been overlooked so far by its tourism industry, is its potential as a center of learning.

Mayor Dani Joy recently, and correctly, pointed out getting people here on the weekends isn't too hard.

It's the days in between that are the problem.

So the Citizen offers this solution as a Christmas present to the city: Promote Eureka not only as a romantic weekend getaway, which it is; not only as a place to shop, which it is; and not only as a place with wonderful hiking, canoeing and other outdoor opportunities.

Sightdoers

Consider promoting Eureka not just as a place for sightseers, but also as a place for sight-doers.

People want the most bang for their buck possible, especially given the current perilous times, and people -- a lot of people -- want to feel they're getting something for their money that isn't necessarily tangible. In other words, a chance to grow.

Hidden treasures in plain sight

One great example of our educational and cultural offerings can be found in the Eureka Springs School of the Arts (ESSA). ESSA offers classes in arts and crafts throughout the year for interested, emerging and professional artists. Award-winning and noted artists and crafts persons guide students to learn new art forms and expand their current skill levels.

This year ESSA offered classes in oil and acrylic painting, furniture design, book making, basic jewelry design, Chinese brush painting, drum making, green woodworking, fused and stained glass, stone carving, air brush painting, chain making, loom weaving, digital photography, glass bead making, pewtersmithing, life drawing and another dozen-plus subjects.

Next season they will offer blacksmithing as well.

ESSA's reputation is such that people have come from as far away as Mexico City to study here.

But wait, there's more

And that is just one example. The Main Stage Creative Community Center offers an array of classes for both children and adults. They have offered classes on topics including theatre performance, guitar, song writing, dog training, origami and fantasy architecture.

Or consider Fire Om Earth Studios on Mill Hollow Road. They regularly offer classes and workshops in everything from belly dance and Tai Chi to botanical photography and flute making.

Enthios Art Venue on Greenwood Hollow Road offers classes in ballet, gymnastics, African drum, Hip-Hop, tap dancing and shamanic improvisational dance.

The list goes on. The Arkansas Metaphysical Society, which meets Monday nights at 6:30 at 68 W. Mountain, has hosted speakers on subjects as diverse as medieval astrology, life-as-prayer, Taoism and Buddhism, the Mayan calendar, Remote Viewing and the vision quest.

I think you see my point.

One big campus

We are living in an enormous campus here, one which offers classes month after month, many if not most during those slow middle days of the week when tourism otherwise lags.

It isn't that people don't know these things exist. But I don't believe the city has taken a look at the big picture. It may see these individual, brightly burning stars, but it doesn't see the galaxy they comprise, a constellation of learning opportunities with something to appeal to every visitor to this town, all year long.