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INTRODUCTION TO WILDWOOD

Wildwood Park for the Arts is a developing botanical garden and center for the artslocated in western Little Rock's Chenal Valley. Its mission is to challenge the intellect,engage the imagination and celebrate the human spirit through encounter with nature and a full spectrum of the cultural arts: visual, performing, literary, horticultural, culinary and more.

Gardens on the 104 acre woodland site include the Richard C. Butler Arboretum, the Gertrude Remmel Butler Gazebo and Gardens (a project of the Chenal Valley Garden Club), the Ruth Allen Dogwood Trail, the Boop Water Garden, the Carl Hunter Wildflower Glenn, the Bruce Theatre Gardens, the Doris Carre Gay Asian Garden (a project of the Pulaski County Master Gardeners),the Campbell Davies Reflection Garden and an 8-acre swan lake. Paved walking trails provide access to all areas of the park.

In addition to the 625-seat Lucy Lockett Cabe Theatre (which carries the name of Wildwood's largest benefactor),the park includes a studio theatre complex, production facilities, and the park's administrative offices.

Cliff Fannin Baker was appointed Director in January, 2008. Founder of Arkansas Repertory Theatre, he is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and the Drama Guild. He has directed over 200 productions of every genre including musicals, drama, comedies, opera and new works. He has directed over 30 world and regional premieres by established and emerging playwrights.

Respected as both an artist and an experienced arts manager, Baker has served as site evaluator for the Theatre Division of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), chaired the NEA's Planning and Stabilization Panel, and has served as panelist for the endowment's Professional Theatre Division and Challenge Gant Programs. He has been a corporate management consultant with Goss-Reid Associates of Austin, Texas since 1999.

He is a Founding Member of the Governor's Advisory Council for the Gifted and Talented Educational Program and the Governor's School of Arkansas, a past President of Arkansans for the Arts, Director of Arkansas' Sesquicentennial Celebration and Director of the Diamond and Denim Inauguration Ball of Governor Bill Clinton. Baker received the Governor's Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Arkansas Arts Council Award of Distinction, the Little Rock Arts and Humanities Award of Distinction and was the first recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Award for Outstanding Individual Artist.