Arkansas Freelance Composer. Author. Independent Artist
United Imaginations Workshops Artist in Residency
Artist in Residency - Arkansas Arts Council
Writing with children and adults enriches team skills, expands imagination, and opens up a path wrapped and bundled into a lasting keepsake. There is something genuinely wonderful about holding a book in one's hands that you know you were a part of; it is the quintessential time capsule of a special passage in a child's life." - Laura Botsford.
My United Imaginations Workshops offer children of all ages opportunities to develop collaborative creative writing, illustration, acting, and Theater production skills.
Laura Botsford in the Arkansas Arts Council Artist in Residency Arts and Education.
Endorsement from Lois Duncan, author of I Know What You Did Last Summer and Hotel for Dogs
"This is a fantastic concept - having children create their own books within a structured program that, nevertheless, permits them to utilize every aspect of their imagination and then experience the great satisfaction of seeing their creations materialize to be shared by others.”
- Lois Duncan, Author
Pure Imagination
Original Plays
Books Written by Children
Acting and Production
Speaking Engagement Workshop
I've moved to Conway, Arkansas, where I welcome workshops in the central part of our state. I am available statewide with a matching grant that includes travel and lodging.
Play - Drama - Music United Imaginations Productions
Plays with Students
My Backyard
Is an Original Musical with the all the kids from Portland Elementary in Arkansas. It was written by Laura Botsford. The Art and Music Teachers collaborated with the kids in learning their music, creating sets and costumes.
These are Hands-on Workshops in Producing a Play with a step-by-step process that students and faculty participate in school, after-school or a summer program. This workshop integrates curriculum and the emersion of music and art classes in the making of an original play or musical.
Live Radio Shows are events that not only engage the community but also create a platform raising awareness and support for their causes. Your own community already has a captivating lineup of characters. A live radio show with local stories and places provides you organization with a simple performance of perfected wit that surely all will attend.
The Portland and Dinner Show brought in $3,500 for our Portland Beautification project!
Laura Botsford
Neverlands INC 501c3
An Imagination is a terrible thing to waste
I believe now more than ever, that occupying a child with creative endeavors at an early age helps to make well–rounded, successful adults. - Laura Botsford
For details please visit me on the AAC website All available Grants with matching funds from the Arkansas Arts Council mini-grants up to a thousand dollars are available. Afterschool Program - Life Long Learning - Artist in Residency mini-grants
Laura resides in Conway, Arkansas, and has been writing children's books and plays for 25 years. She studied Early Childhood Development in college and worked in a Summer Theater Program at the Minneapolis Children's Theater.
"Books are a world all unto themselves, and writing them takes us places we never knew of before in a collaborative process that is a vital lifelong skill. There is something truly wonderful about holding a book in one's hands that you know you were a part of; it is the quintessential time capsule of a special passage in one's life." - Laura Botsford.
Laura is a multi-disciplinary artist with the Arkansas Arts Council. With 25 years of experience working with children and a radio script for her Delta community, she has self-published ten books, collaborating with schools and family centers.
Her United Imaginations Workshops empower children and adults through collaborative writing and illustration. Her mellifluous approach to teaching theater craft and behavioral and creative writing workshops is illuminated with well-being and moral lessons. Arts and Crafts workshops include mixed media, painting, and digital collage. She is also available for speaking engagements and Arts in Education workshops for teachers, PTO members, and administrators on the Art of Writing with Children.
. Laura studied at the McPhail School of Performing Arts in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and taught an early summer childhood Arts program at the Minneapolis Children's Theater. She attended El Camino College, majoring in Early Childhood Education and Development. She attended Workshops in the Theater Classroom and Curriculum Enrichment classes for Autistic, Hearing-Impaired, and behaviorally challenged students. She is a graduate of the Governor's Leadership School.
Serving Creative Community Spirit
Neverlands Inc Arts ~ 501 c 3 Nonprofit
DUNS # 968154364 EIN Number 71- 0729201
Vision Statement
Neverlands Inc. aspires to:
* Inspire communities with artistic spirit.
* Administer programs and events in the area, schools, and community events that enrich the lives of all ages in mind, body, and cultural growth that support and encourage individual imagination and well-being.
Values:
We believe that great community programming offers entertainment, enrichment, resources, inspiration, and community investment for all ages.
We value the artist in individuals whose task is to transform the realities of human experience into artistic and poetic truth.
Purpose:
Strengthening capability with hands-on workshops and events that will expand an appreciation of culture, history, and health by integrating the arts into everyday life.
We invest in rigorous attention to detail across all areas of community development, knowing it is essential to consider all aspects in year-long program planning that best serve the community as a whole.
We act collaboratively, believing that a partnership between the administrative and citizen arms of our community is essential.
We seek to operate the organization from a position of financial strength and fiscal responsibility.
united imaginations productions
50/50 grants available at Arkansas Arts Council
We offer grant writing in conjunction with the Arkansas Arts Council for communities and organizations. If you are interested in bringing your own vision to life, please get in touch with Laura Botsford for a collaborative project.
Laura Botsford - President ~ Rhiannon Barber -Treasurer ~ Art Director~ Jessi Botsford
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Lois Duncan - Author
"This is a fantastic concept, having children create their own books within a structured program that, nevertheless, permits them to utilize every aspect of their imagination and then experience the great satisfaction of seeing their creations materialize to be shared by others."
Lois Duncan- Author of
I Know What You Did Last Summer and Hotel for Dogs
J Austin White Cultural Center
"Working with Laura this summer was an absolute blast. The kids in our summer camp loved seeing their ideas turned into words on the page that they were able to illustrate themselves. She remained in constant communication during the production of the book and worked quickly and diligently to get the book published. Now our campers have a memento to remember camp by - along with the joy of reading, writing and drawing! I look forward to working with her again and would recommend her for any programs working with children."
Executive Director
- Seth Paddock
J. Austin White Cultural Center
Linda Armour - Principal
Laura engages the children with a spark of creativity that brings
students a foundation of confidence and self expression that carries with them throughout their lives."
Linda Armour
Principal
Lakeside High School
Lake Village ,Arkansas