Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — April 28, 2025 — The Foundation of Arts (FOA) continues to support Northeast Arkansas’s special needs community as it hosts its annual Spring LEAP Showcase.
Learning Expression through Arts Programming, or LEAP, is an FOA outreach program designed for the adult clients of Abilities Unlimited (AU). The showcase has been hosted for over a decade.
“It consists of weekly art and drama classes, where we send instructors from the FOA over to the Abilities Unlimited Day Program and AU clients get to participate in those activities. They learn new skills and use their creativity and get an opportunity to express themselves when they may not otherwise have those opportunities presented,” said FOA marketing manager Meridith Pierce.
Although it varies slightly from year to year, Pierce said the stage portion usually takes around 30 minutes, which is then followed by a short reception and refreshments in the lobby. This free event will feature a brief stage performance followed by an art reception.
“We really just encourage anyone to come because it’s open to all of the public and it’s always our most uplifting performance of the entire season,” Pierce said. “People leave feeling very blessed every single year and we get so much positive feedback from it.”
This year’s event will be sponsored by the Jonesboro Media Group (JMG).
JMG operations manager Mitch Mahan said on-air talent will be there along with the Pleazer Freezer full of free ice cream, while it lasts. He said the JMG is still working on who will be there, although he said it will likely be 104.9 The Fox’s Trey Stafford, 100.5 The Eagle’s Phil Jamison, or maybe both.
“Watching the participants’ faces light up as the audience got more and more into performances was what this event is all about,” Mahan said. “Take 30 to 45 minutes out of your day and be entertained by these incredible adults from Abilities. Even if you miss lunch, it will be worth it.”
The show will be held on May 8 at noon at the Forum Theater, located at 115 E. Monroe Ave. No registration or tickets are required to attend.