HARK

The HARK Festival highlights Ark-La-Tex culture through writing, art, music, handcrafts, and more. Our annual HARK Student Competition encourages students to explore area history and express their findings creatively. HARK partners with the Red River Revel to educate and encourage young artists. We collaborate with the SCHOOL SAGAS archival program which collects oral histories from students of formerly segregated schools. The SAGAS radio documentary is broadcast on Red River Radio stations.

Testimonials

HARK isn't your average academic competition. It has a category for everyone, from cooks to artists to writers to filmmakers. I know from experience that when you get students to learn more about where they live, it can build their self-confidence.
Dionne Procell-Brown
Caddo Parish Schools

The HARK Festival is significant for preserving the historical and cultural uniqueness of this region. Students will be able to reconnect with their own family history and share in the collective experience of their region. Through music, prose, crafts, recipes, and other means by which they choose to express their history, student participants serve as historians when they share what they learn in an artistic manner.
ML Dumars
Shreveport poet and storyteller

As soon as my teacher informed me about the HARK Festival, I immediately knew that my choice would be photography. Since churches are a major part of our parish history, I decided to research and photograph these local treasures. When my name was called at the festival as the high school division winner, I was completely astonished. Seeing all of the finished projects from the other students was amazing, and it was something that I will never forget.

Thanks to the HARK Festival, I was able to learn more about Desoto Parish and I also discovered a hidden love for photography.
Kenzie Leach
North DeSoto High

The short story I entered into the HARK competition was inspired by the history of Shreveport and my wild imagination. I have always loved writing and reading. My Discoveries teacher, Mrs. Kadkhodai, encouraged me to enter the contest. When I found out that I was named the division winner I was in denial and completely shocked. Soon after, I began to feel excited and proud of myself. I plan to save my prize money and only spend it when I need to.
Jayden Anderson
University Elementary School