Elevating Cultural Moments
In the world of creating memorable brand experiences,, sometimes the most impactful campaigns are about elevating local culture in unexpected places. This case study explores how Meredith Corning PR orchestrated a landmark PR collaboration featuring two of our valued clients—Vibrant Occasions Catering and Weaver Films—that transformed Little Rock, Arkansas into a fashion and art hotspot for one unforgettable evening. "Revival: An Evening of Art and Fashion" drew inspiration from the Met Gala while showcasing the unique creative talents of Arkansas, demonstrating the power of strategic PR in elevating both local culture and client visibility simultaneously.
The Challenge: Creating Metropolitan Appeal in a Regional Setting
When our agency was approached to help develop and promote "Revival: An Evening of Art and Fashion," we faced a unique challenge: How do you create a Met Gala-inspired experience in a city not traditionally known for avant-garde fashion events? The goal was ambitious—to create an event that could:
Showcase local artistic talent with international flair
Attract an exclusive audience of cultural influencers
Generate meaningful media coverage beyond local outlets
Support philanthropic causes while celebrating creativity
Position Little Rock as a legitimate contender in the fashion and art world
The Strategy: Leveraging Cross-Industry Relationships
Rather than treating this as a typical event promotion, we approached Revival as a cultural movement that required strategic cross-industry partnerships. Our agency leveraged years of relationship-building to bring together key players who could elevate the event beyond typical local gatherings:
Fusion of Fashion and Philanthropy: By collaborating with local influencers and philanthropists, we created a dual-purpose event that attracted both the fashion-forward crowd and community-minded donors supporting the Arkansas Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Strategic Media Partnerships: Our careful cultivation of relationships with publications like Inviting Arkansas, Little Rock Soirée, 360 Magazine, and World Encounter allowed us to secure multi-platform coverage that positioned the event as worthy of both local and national attention.
Bringing Star Power: Our agency's long-standing relationship with Project Runway star and fashion designer Korto Momolu proved invaluable. Her participation instantly elevated the event's credibility, allowing us to frame Revival as a legitimate fashion happening rather than just another local fundraiser. Her striking designs—including a sophisticated floor-length black crepe gown with lace detailing and an avant-garde ensemble featuring a flowing brocade wrap skirt, oversized robe, and faux leather bustier—showcased Arkansas talent with international appeal.
The Execution: Creating Instagram-Worthy Moments
Understanding that modern events live and die by their shareability, we meticulously designed an experience where every element was worthy of documentation:
Immersive Environment: One of our biggest challenges was transforming what is an office space into an extraordinary event venue. Through strategic placement of Tanarah Luxe Floral's dramatic arrangements, carefully curated art installations, and atmospheric culinary arts, we created a completely reimagined space where fashion, art, and epicurean experiences merged seamlessly. The transformation was so complete that guests expressed disbelief that the sophisticated venue was typically a standard business environment.
Visual Storytelling: Our comprehensive documentation strategy involved bringing in two key visual partners. Through our relationship with Lori Sparkman Photography, we ensured every moment was captured with magazine-quality still imagery that would enhance press features and social media engagement. Simultaneously, our partnership with Weaver Films created dynamic video content and reels that extended the event's lifespan far beyond the evening itself. The resulting YouTube video provided additional promotional material that showcased the event's sophistication to potential sponsors and guests for future events, effectively multiplying our content creation opportunities from a single evening.
Production Excellence: Our collaboration with Central Arkansas Entertainment added sophisticated touches with their signature vinyl red carpet and velvet rope stanchions that created an exclusive, VIP arrival experience for guests. Through our agency's relationship, we secured the talents of DJ JellyBean, whose carefully curated soundtrack kept the energy high throughout the evening while maintaining the sophisticated atmosphere required for this upscale event.
Musical Atmosphere: Our team was instrumental in bringing DJ JellyBean on board, a rising star in Little Rock's entertainment scene who got his start at Henderson State University's radio station before connecting with Central Arkansas Entertainment. His expertise in reading the room and transitioning between musical selections created the perfect backdrop for the evening's celebration of art and fashion.
Culinary Artistry: Strategic partnership with Vibrant Occasions created not just a catered event, but culinary theater with live mozzarella-making stations and flaming parmesan wheels that became focal points for guest engagement.
The Results: Redefining What's Possible
The impact of Revival extended far beyond the evening itself:
Media Success: Features in four major publications positioned Little Rock as an unexpected cultural destination
Community Pride: Created a moment where local creatives felt internationally recognized while remaining rooted in Arkansas
Client Showcase: Created a high-profile platform that elevated two key PR clients: Vibrant Occasions Catering received acclaim for their innovative culinary presentations, while Weaver Films produced compelling content that continues to generate engagement online
Industry Connections: Strengthened relationships between disconnected creative industries (fashion, art, culinary, photography)
Template Creation: Established a replicable model for future high-end cultural events in mid-sized markets
The Takeaway: PR as Cultural Architecture
The success of Revival demonstrates that effective PR is about about creating new cultural realities. For mid-sized markets looking to establish cultural relevance, the lesson is clear: with strategic relationship management and an eye for cross-industry collaboration, PR agencies can architect experiences that transcend their geographic limitations.
By bringing together fashion luminaries like Korto Momolu, visual storytellers like Lori Sparkman and Brian Weaver of Weaver Films, culinary artists like Chef Serge Krikorian of Vibrant Occasions Catering, and production experts like Central Arkansas Entertainment, our agency helped create a new benchmark for what's possible in Little Rock's creative landscape.
The true measure of this event's success was in how it has inspired ongoing conversations about Arkansas' place in the broader cultural conversation. By leveraging relationships, strategic media placements, and creating genuinely shareable moments, we demonstrated that sophisticated PR can transform perceptions of place and possibility.
Meredith Corning is the founder of Meredith Corning PR, specializing in fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, food & beverage, legal, tech and event PR. For more information on how our agency can elevate your brand or event, contact us today.
Hosts and Sponsors
Host & Philanthropy Coordinator: Cat Sims @catsimsxoxo
Host & Wardrobe Stylist: Kimberly Cyr @kimberlycyr
Host & Creative Coordinator: Sarah Oden @sarahoden_photo
Catering: Vibrant Occasions @vibrantoccasionscatering
Venue: Jill White Designs @jillwhitedesigns
Bar: Have Bar Will Travel @havbarwilltrvl
Alcohol: De Nux Distributor @de_nux and So Restaurant + Bar @so_restaurantlr
Photographer: Lori Sparkman Photography @lorisparkmanphotography
Planner: Meredith Events @meredithevents
Public Relations: Meredith Corning PR @meredithcorningpr
Floral Designer: Tanarah Luxe Floral @tanarahluxefloral
Production and DJ: Central Arkansas Entertainment @cae_lr and DJ JellyBean @djjbean
Rentals: Mack 365 Designs @mack365designs_
Videography: Weaver Films @weaverfilms
Model Agency: AVA Model Management @avamgmt
Stylist Assistant: Alexa Hart @alexa_hart_
Fashion Participants
Fashion Contributor: B.Barnett @bbarnettlr
Fashion Designer: Korto Momolu @kortomomolu
Fashion Designer: Souq @souq.studio
Handbag Designer: OFaolain @ofaolainleather
Jewelry Designer: Lydia Elsa Martin @lydiaelsamartin
Jewelry Designer: Laura B Luxury @laurabluxury
Artists
Stephen Wilson Studio @stephenwilsonstudio, Alecia Walls-Barton
@pressedflowergal, Kvinna Studio @kvinna_studio, Jaird Art @jairdart, Hannah Hill Art @hannahhillcreations
Models:
@catsimsxoxo, @kimberlycyr, @sarahoden_photos, @andi_k_chappell, @iambeauticurve, @beautyandthe.belle, @dlizzzzzz, @celestejoliee, @javonwallace_, @erica_watkins
