To the editor:

As the chair of the Lawrence Arts Center, I am so proud of the entire staff who have worked on top of their full-time jobs to create the Free State Festival, a community-wide event. There was something for everyone — more than 70 art talks, lectures and idea panels, concerts and exhibitions.

Support from the City of Lawrence make the free events possible. Nowhere else in the Midwest can we have one week filled with experiences that enhance our creativity and understanding of others, and take us back to reminisce the times in our youth.  Thank you to Sarah Bishop, director of the festival, and all of the Lawrence Arts Center staff for an incredible week in Lawrence.