ASU students stop by tables set up on Taylor Mall at the Downtown campus Tuesday to learn about local art venues. (Photo by Brittany Lea)Tuesday morning’s Downtown Phoenix Campus Arts Expo at Taylor Mall had almost no response from the student body.
Liz Smith, outreach director for the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, organized the Expo and said the goal was to introduce events to the student body that are nearby and build communities.
“We want to introduce students to places they wouldn’t normally know about,” Smith said.
The turnout, however, was not great. Barely a dozen students approached the tables.
Political science junior Kyl Ledbetter said he likes that the school is making the effort to promote the arts, but that efforts such as the Expo are not enough.
Ledbetter said he was not aware the event was going to take place, but is very interested in arts.
“I think the Downtown community needs some revitalization,” Ledbetter said.
Healthy lifestyle coaching junior Heather Sam would like to see more events on the Downtown campus.
“I wish there had been more of a turnout, but I think it was kind of a weird time to do it,” Sam said. “I don’t ever go out to Tempe. I really wish there were more things happening here.”
The Expo had eight tables promoting art venues ranging from theaters to the Phoenix Symphony. Most of them offered student discounts and have inexpensive rates.
Jose Gonzalez, co-founder of The Torch Theater, a venue for performing and learning improvisational comedy, hosted a table at the Expo for his theater.
“Some of our shows are affordable to most people,” Gonzalez said.
Shawna Franks, artistic director of Space 55, a theater with new or rarely seen work, said they have punch cards and 2-for-1 tickets for students.
Local First Arizona, a nonprofit group supporting small businesses, hosted a table at the Expo as well.
Erica Peterson, a volunteer for the organization, said Local First Arizona has the largest directory of local business members in the country.
“We are trying to improve the local economy,” Peterson said.
Reach the reporter at dpbaltaz@asu.edu
