A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student and web designer and two alumni were recognized as exceptional young artists during the ACANSA Arts Festival.

Ashi Franke, a web designer in the UALR Office of Communications and Marketing, Erin Anson-Ellis, general manager of Ballet Arkansas, and Michael Bartholmey, an artist and founding member of Saline County Shakes in Benton, were awarded the distinction of Avant-Garde Sept. 24 at the Rob Robinson Alley Way in Little Rock.

The Avant-Garde title was awarded to 10 young artists who demonstrate exemplary leadership and commitment to impacting and furthering their own art or the arts as a collective in the community.

This year celebrates the third year for the ACANSA Arts Festival, which inspires public appreciation for the arts while enriching the economic and cultural vitality in the region.

For more information, visit the ACANSA Arts Festival website.

More information about the award winners:

Ashi Franke is a web designer focusing on user experience and interface design. Pursuing her bachelor’s degree in web design and development, Franke studies web standards and accessibility as well as modern usability interface trends. Through her involvement with UALR and communication with young Arkansas artists, she encourages designers to pursue careers in technology and translate their artistic passions into accessible, beautiful websites and applications.

She has made her mark by completing freelance design work for entrepreneurs and promoting the digital arts to both students and faculty at the university. She has given lectures on user experience and interface design, advertising, and competitive graphic design to middle school, high school, and college students.

Erin Anson-Ellis is a native of Little Rock and general manager of Ballet Arkansas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from UALR and graduated with honors in May 2012. Ellis became Ballet Arkansas’ production, company, and stage manager in 2013.

In addition to her work at Ballet Arkansas, her credits include stage managing Wildwood Park for the Arts 2012 fall tour of “Lily and the Appleseed,” Shuffles and Ballet II’s 2014 and 2015 dance recitals, and various ACANSA performances in 2014 and 2015.

Michael Bartholmey has been involved in central Arkansas theaters since age 10. In 2012, he earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from UALR. He is a founding member of Saline County Shakes in Benton, a company dedicated to bringing classical productions to the public for free. Bartholmey recently directed and starred in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” this past summer.

In the upper right photo, Ashi Franke, a UALR student and web designer, earned the distinction of Avant-Garde at the ACANSA Arts Festival. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/UALR Communications.