Arkansas Arts Council

Our next featured Arts in Education program is Mount Sequoyah – Camp Sequoyah. This grantee received an Afterschool/Summer Residency. In 2023 and 2024, Camp Sequoyah created a vibrant hub of creativity and discovery for our youth, thanks to a stellar lineup of teaching artists. Hundreds of young campers were immersed in the world of art, music and theater, fostering imagination and inspiring future passions.

Our next Arts in Education program feature for National Arts In Education Week comes to us from Sonny Boy Blues Society, which earned a grant from your Arkansas Arts Council.

“The Arts in Education grant funded the Blues in Schools Program at KIPP schools Barton Elementary, Barton Middle School and Barton Elementary. The grant paid for artists in Residency, David Berntson, as well as other local musicians who live in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. The AIE Blues in Schools program started August 2023 through May 2024.” Sonny Boy Blues Society

This week is National Arts in Education Week! We will highlight Arts in Education programs that were funded by The Arkansas Arts Council through our grants. Our first featured program was an Afterschool/Summer Residency sponsored by .

“The AIE grant funded Artx3 campus programming that maximized our community’s fondness for theater, our growing interest in poetry, the prevailing interest in visual arts, and offered students the opportunity to attain a vital learning experience through the exploration and appreciation of the arts in three different forms: poetry, theater and visual art. The funds were used for two separate weeklong Arts in Education after-school residency programs, one summer camp residency and two community drop-in sessions.”

For more information on arts in education grants, please visit our website arkansasarts.org.

Our upcoming workshop on The Art of Grants will help nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, community leaders and artists who are interested in finding and getting grants. The workshop is free with lunch provided, but registration is required via Eventbrite or by emailing [email protected]. Seating is limited. Find all our workshops at www.arkansasarts.org. Philander Smith University Arkansas Heritage Kharis Group Consulting

We do more than grants...

The last day to nominate an artist, organization or business supporting the arts in Arkansas is TODAY! Anyone can make a nomination at arkansasarts.org.

Governor's Arts Awards Established in 1991, the annual Governor's Arts Awards program recognizes Arkansas artists, arts patrons, arts educators and businesses for their outstanding contributions to the arts community.

Each year, we recognize local artists and arts supporters that you nominate. Anyone can make a nomination at arkansasarts.org. NOMINATE BY SEPT. 6.

CATEGORIES ARE:
• Arts Community Development
• Arts in Education
• Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts
• Folklife
• Individual Artist
• Patron
• Lifetime Achievement

Time is almost out to nominate an artist, art patron, community arts activator, or business supporting the arts for the 2025 Governor's Arts Awards. Our awards celebrate arts leaders during a special recognition ceremony and award them with original artworks by Arkansas creators. Nominate by Sept. 6.

(Video interview by AAC, potter Fletcher Larkin, of Little Rock, demonstrates his methods during a 2020 interview. Larkin created the awards that year.)

Artist Fletcher Larkin Demonstrates Wheel Thrown Pottery Fletcher Larkin, of Little Rock, created the awards for the 2020 Governor's Arts Awards. He invited us into his studio to demonstrate his craft in late Febru...

Nominate by Sept. 6 at arkansasarts.org.

We are closed to observe Labor Day.

Have you ever wondered about Artist Residencies? Artist and arts professor Justin Tyler Bryant will walk creatives through what residencies are, how to get them, where to look and what to be aware of during our free GetSmART! workshop 6-8 p.m. Nov. 7 at Philander Smith University. Seating is limited for this in-person event, so RSVP while you can.

Between September and next June, Artist INC programs will bring highly focused, professional development to arts communities in El Dorado (September), Russellville (October) and Monticello (March), along with a statewide virtual session (January). Join us in learning together. Connect with a network of creatives like you and learn the ins and outs of arts-related businesses. These events are free, but spaces are limited. Learn more at arkansasarts.org or email [email protected].

What does your artwork reflect? What subjects are you most drawn to? All forms and genres of art help us collectively reflect, realize, recognize and connect.

Get your school involved! High schools statewide are invited to participate in Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation competition, to give their students the opportunity to gain confidence, poetry skills and cash prizes. Arkansas schools that participate in the state-level program have access to coaching and help organizing. Student winners at schools compete at the state Championship in March for the opportunity to compete at the national competition in Washington, D.C.

We are so excited for Arkansas Artist Kevin Kresse!

UA Little Rock Alumnus Kevin Kresse Prepares to Unveil Johnny Cash Statue to the World Now that the long-awaited Johnny Cash statue is set to be unveiled on Sept. 24, the statue’s creator, Kevin Kresse, famed Arkansas artist

Learn about programs, services and grants that can help you succeed in your artistic endeavors at arkansasarts.org.

As we wrap up National Dog Day, we wanted to show one last furry friend. This is Kevin. He is dressed as a taco. Kevin wants you to know art comes in many forms, including fashion, costume, acting and comedy. You are an artist.

(Photo courtesy of Matt Boyce, Arts in Education Programs manager.)

Today is National Dog Day, a day to recognize and celebrate our beloved, four-legged friends. How does your dog inspire your art? Comment with your best doggone photos below. ;)

(Photos courtesy of AAC staff Patrick Ralston, director, and Cheri Leffew, special projects and events manager. Images are for "Portraits of doggy friends," as part of National Dog Day.)

Our Governor's Arts Awards recognize and celebrate those supporting and impacting the arts in Arkansas. From individuals to corporations, we recognize the creatives who are making a difference.

Nominate a business, corporation, patron, artist, or arts leader today. See all the categories at arkansasarts.org.

Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts Award: An Arkansas for-profit business that has made a significant contribution in support of the arts in this state. Corporate Sponsorship Arts Awards have gone to General Mills, Rogers; The Springs Magazine, Hot Springs; Cranford Co., Little Rock; and Bylites, Inc., Little Rock, in 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Time is running out to nominate for the 2025 Governor's Arts Awards. Anyone can nominate by Sept. 6 at www.arkansasarts.org. (Photo: Musicians Pam Setser and Charley Sandage, 2024 Folklife and Lifetime Achievement awardees, respectively, play during a reception at Arkansas Craft School, 2024.)

Lifetime Achievement Award
An artist or group whose contributions to the arts over a lifetime has fostered significant recognition, or an art patron whose lifetime of dedication to the development and support of the arts will sustain the arts beyond their lifetime.

Folklife Award
An individual or group that actively practices, shares and preserves folklife traditions within a cultural community. Examples include traditional crafts, dance, foodways, music, storytelling or shared contemporary cultural traditions and artforms built on tradition.

We are accepting nominations for the 2025 Governor's Arts Awards, which recognize and honor arts patrons, supporters, teaching artists and individual artists who have made significant contributions. In 2022, artist Perrion Hurd was honored with the Individual Artist Award. Help us recognize someone in your community by Sept. 6 at arkansasarts.org.

Individual Artist Award
An artist active in the field of architecture, contemporary crafts, design, film, literature, performing arts or visual arts who has made significant contributions to their art form.

(Photo courtesy of Arkansas Tourism, from left, Director Patrick Ralston poses with artist Perrion Hurd in front of the award created by Bryan Massey, professor and artist at UCA, March 2022)

Someone in your community is helping support, grow and teach the arts in Arkansas. Nominate them and help us honor those who are keeping the arts alive and thriving. For more information or to nominate online, visit arkansasarts.org. Arkansas Heritage (Photo of 2024 Governor's Arts Awards reception, , courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, Arkansas Tourism)

Our first Artist INC Express is coming up fast Sept. 21-22, so be sure to register for a networking experience that will help you grow your artistic practice and business. We've sponsored it so it's free for artists! Find out more at our website arkansasarts.org or join the discussion in our Facebook events. (Photo, courtesy submission, from left, Arkansas artists Kai Coggin, Veronica Wirges and Anna Zusman at the South Arkansas Arts Center during Artist INC Express, 2023.)

Take a moment to nominate someone who has impacted the arts in Arkansas. Nominate by Sept. 6 at arkansasarts.org.

Attention Arkansas artists! Build up your creative career, connect with a network of creatives like you and learn the ins and outs of developing your arts-related business during our free Artist INC Express workshops coming up in El Dorado, Russellville and online. Spaces are limited.

Did you know the Governor's Arts Awards has a category for Arts Community Development? Those who are recognized are civic leaders who take a leadership role in creating an environment for artists that help the arts flourish. This year, Garbo Hearne, of Hearne Fine Art and Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing in Little Rock, was recognized. Nominate the 2025 awardee by Sept. 6 at arkansasarts.org.

Garbo Hearne of Little Rock, Arts Community Development Award Garbo Hearne is the director of Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing and Hearne Fine Art. She has advocated for the advancement of African American culture t...

Help us recognize the next Governor's Art Awards recipients! The deadline to make a nomination is Sept. 6. More at arkansasarts.org.

Award Categories
Arts Community Development Award
A civic leader who has taken a leadership role in creating an environment for artists and the arts to flourish in their local community.

Arts in Education Award
An individual or organization that has made significant contributions in integrating the arts into the educational curriculum within the school system or through creating educational opportunities in the arts outside the school setting

Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts Award
An Arkansas for-profit business that has made a significant contribution in support of the arts in this state.

Folklife Award
An individual or group that actively practices, shares and preserves folklife traditions within a cultural community.

Individual Artist Award
A longtime, working artist who has made significant contributions to their art form.

Patron Award
An individual or family who has made significant philanthropic contributions to the development of the arts.

Lifetime Achievement Award
An artist or group whose contributions to the arts over a lifetime has fostered significant recognition, or an art patron whose lifetime of dedication to the development and support of the arts will sustain the arts beyond their lifetime.

Photo: The 2024 Governor's Arts Awards recipients are: (Top, left to right) Gay Bechtelheimer, Judges Recognition Award; Virmarie DePoyster, Arts in Education Award; Charley Sandage, Lifetime Achievement Award; (Second row, left to right) General Mills in Rogers, Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts Award; (Third row, left to right) Stephen Driver, Individual Artist Award; Pam Setser, Folklife Award; and Tony Waller, Patron Award.

Sometimes the best way to make art is to take a break and relax to recharge your creativity. How do you recharge to keep creating?