2025 Small Works on Paper Opening Reception & Artist Talk

The Arkansas Arts Council is pleased to announce the opening reception and kick-off event for the 2025 Small Works on Paper touring exhibition 5-7 p.m. Jan. 30 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Windgate Center of Art + Design at 2801 S. University Ave.

GetSmART! Learning Series: The Artist’s Guide to Passive Income

Join playwright, actor, nonprofit founder, educator, and finance specialist Ben Grimes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub for a free workshop that helps creatives of all genres diversify their revenue through passive income and investing.

Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) quarterly meeting

Celebrate Kwanzaa

Join us at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center on December 31 for a free celebration of Kuumba, the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, which represents creativity. This special day will feature the traditional lighting of the kinara, along with a series of activities that highlight creativity within Kwanzaa and African American culture. Enjoy a lively drum circle and engage in arts and crafts that reflect the spirit of the creativity. To conclude, we will gather for a Karamu, a festive feast, to close out the celebration. Registration is required.

Arkansas Arts Council Advisory Board Meeting

Fall Quarterly Meeting is open to the public and accessible via Zoom.

Living Craft Saturday: Crafting Community

October 19, 10 am–4 pm
Included with historic grounds admission; free for members
 
Here’s your chance to get up close to the process used in making the works for the Crafting Community exhibit. The focus for Living Craft Saturday will be on demonstrating the crafts in the exhibit including printing, blacksmithing, natural dyeing, sewing and woodworking. You’ll also have a chance to participate in hands-on activities related to those crafts.  

2nd Friday Art Night

October 11 • 5–8 pm • FREE
Opening reception, with live music, Arkansas Made beer, a trunk show in the Museum Store and activities on the historic grounds.
 
Join us for 2nd Friday Art Night as we celebrate the opening of Crafting Community [link to exhibit]. We will have several of the makers on hand to talk about their work in traditional craft and the process of making their pieces. We’ll also have live music by Ain’t Got Nothin’ Band who play a mixture of classic rock, country, and original songs giving a “back porch jam” feel with a groove.
 
Our friends from Norfork Brewing will be pouring their Arkansas Made beer and Tommy Gunn Glass will be in the Museum Store with some of their spookier glass ornaments and sun catchers. Peter Bleed will sign copies of his book, Treasures Amassed: Adventures in the Antique Arms Trade, in the Museum Store.

Big Boo!seum Bash

Things are getting spooky at the Arkansas Heritage museums in Little Rock! It’s time to put on your costume and grab your candy bucket for the annual Big Boo!seum Bash.

Hosted by the Greater Little Rock Museums, the Big Boo!-seum Bash is free to the public, providing event goers the opportunity to visit many of Little Rock’s museums and cultural attractions for a night of safe trick-or-treating and family fun and games.
Visitors are encouraged to dress in Halloween costumes.

Historic Arkansas Museum will have their famous Twinkie Walk, fortune telling, witch’s hat ring toss, a haunted outhouse and lots of fun activities for all ages. And did we say candy?

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is providing another family-friendly event with trick-or-treating, games, and haunting activities.

Old State House Museum is partnering with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office and the Arkansas State Archives with have hands-on activities and games. They will also have a variety of candy and healthy Halloween treats for guests. Weather permitting, the event will be be out on the front lawn. In the event of rain, venture inside.

Visitors are also invited to pick up a free Big !seum Game Card at any of the sites and get it stamped by each participant’s station. Completed game cards will be entered into a drawing for a chance to WIN a Google Chromebook tablet or a goody basket. Each game card has detailed instructions.

Can’t wait to see you there! 
 

Arts Advisory Council – Executive Committee Meeting.

This is a public meeting on Zoom. Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88406422667?pwd=ZH86DdsZrlv8S64tJvDSuTaOxa4sf6.1

America at the Crossroads: The Guitar and a Changing Nation

The Delta Cultural Center, on October 9, 2024, will open “America at the Crossroads: The Guitar and a Changing Nation,” with a reception.