This is Kourtlynn Pinkins in her element, during the weekend of her directorial debut at the Arts & Science Center of Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff, Arkansas! She shared her passion for the arts, her journey to becoming a director, and what it means for her to give back to the next generation in her hometown! It reminds us to be what we needed when we were younger.
Aside from being the director, it's more important to be a mentor in these kids lives.
"It has been an honor being one of the directors for Charlotte's Web in 2023 at ASC. It's very important to speak life into the children. Aside from being the director, it's more important to be a mentor in these kids lives. To be able to boost confidence and let them know that confidence is an inside job. You first have to believe that you can so that you can prove yourself right, not to (prove anything to) anybody else, so when you're on stage you shine naturally because it comes from within and that's what's most important to me as a director. Especially directing children and young adults, being able to be in their life. You never know what these kids are going through you never know their experiences."
Arts are an escape for many of us. When our life is a mess we can turn to music, books, film, or tap into our own crafts to help us along our journey. Our teachers of the craft leave a part of them with us forever, & Kourtlynn's mark has been made already!
"It's important for kids to see themselves in media, even for me as a kid it mattered
for me to see young black females in media and look at the screen like hey I could do that too. It shows representation and lets them know their dreams and desires to be in media or be on stage performing, they can do just that because they've seen someone do it before them."
It's very important for them to offer this because you don't see the arts offered in small communities such as Pine Bluff or surrounding areas.
"ASC has been paving the way for young adults, children and adults to be able to showcase their talents in the community. It's very important for them to offer this because you don't see the arts offered in small communities such as Pine Bluff or surrounding areas. When a person is on stage they're able to completely be creative and express themselves. They get to change the narrative and the perception of what our city holds and put on something positive. Family oriented performances and shows gives inspiration to the young kids in the audience. We offer summer camps and theater camps for young kids to come out so that they can be able to bring out the personality that they truly have inside and that's what really matters.
I am honored to have a role in being a part of this this movement going on here in this community. Being able to direct these amazing amazing talents is a full circle moment because I started as a little kid myself going to theater camps and coming here as a kid, doing shows. Now that I get to actually direct, it brings a tear to my eye. I have cried about it. It's just beautiful and I'm honestly so honored and grateful. Thank you ASC, thank you God."
