The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of Arkansas Heritage, is currently accepting entries for the 2026 Small Works on Paper juried art exhibition.
Entries can be submitted online at www.arkansasarts.org through Friday, July 25. Artists may submit up to three works of art on paper for a fee of $15 for the first entry, $20 for two entries or $25 for three entries. The exhibition is open to all artists who reside in Arkansas and are 18 years old or older.
“Art is an essential part of Arkansas’s cultural heritage, and Small Works on Paper gives us the opportunity to honor that by highlighting the work of local artists,” said Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “By touring the exhibition across The Natural State, we’re making it easier for Arkansans to experience and connect with the arts in their own communities.”
Small Works on Paper is a competitive art exhibition featuring artwork no larger than 18 x 24 inches. An out-of-state, independent juror selects up to 40 pieces to tour the state. All submitted works must have been completed within the last two years.
The traveling nature of the exhibit offers a unique opportunity for Arkansans to engage with high-quality visual art close to home—whether in large cities or smaller towns. With stops at universities, art centers and cultural institutions, the exhibit fosters deeper appreciation for the arts and supports ongoing cultural enrichment statewide.
Some works will be selected for purchase awards and become part of the Small Works on Paper permanent collection. Up to $2,000 will be granted for juror-selected awards. The award amount matches the purchase price set by the artist at the time of entry.
"Every year, Small Works on Paper gives Arkansans a peek into the portfolios of our state's best visual artists, both established and emerging. These creatives represent the workforce who are the backbone of our state's $3.5 billion creative economy," said Patrick Ralston, director of the Arkansas Arts Council.
Artists whose work is selected for the exhibition will be notified in September 2025. The 2026 exhibition will open in January at the Arts and Science Center at 701 S. Main St. in Pine Bluff. The tour will then make stops in Russellville, Fort Smith, Bentonville, Batesville, North Little Rock, Stuttgart, Helena, West Memphis and Forrest City.
The 2026 juror is artist and educator Kelli Scott Kelley. She is an art professor at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, specializing in painting and drawing. Kelley holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from LSU and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Her paintings have been widely exhibited, including solo shows at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in Colorado, the Bradbury Art Museum at Arkansas State University, and the LSU Museum. She has received numerous research and travel grants, including a 2023 Emerging Research Faculty Grant to Japan. Kelley is also the author of Accalia and the Swamp Monster, a book featuring her artwork published by LSU Press in 2014.
Entries can be submitted online at www.arkansasarts.org through Friday, July 25. Artists may submit up to three works of art on paper for a fee of $15 for the first entry, $20 for two entries or $25 for three entries. The exhibition is open to all artists who reside in Arkansas and are 18 years old or older.
“Art is an essential part of Arkansas’s cultural heritage, and Small Works on Paper gives us the opportunity to honor that by highlighting the work of local artists,” said Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “By touring the exhibition across The Natural State, we’re making it easier for Arkansans to experience and connect with the arts in their own communities.”
Small Works on Paper is a competitive art exhibition featuring artwork no larger than 18 x 24 inches. An out-of-state, independent juror selects up to 40 pieces to tour the state. All submitted works must have been completed within the last two years.
The traveling nature of the exhibit offers a unique opportunity for Arkansans to engage with high-quality visual art close to home—whether in large cities or smaller towns. With stops at universities, art centers and cultural institutions, the exhibit fosters deeper appreciation for the arts and supports ongoing cultural enrichment statewide.
Some works will be selected for purchase awards and become part of the Small Works on Paper permanent collection. Up to $2,000 will be granted for juror-selected awards. The award amount matches the purchase price set by the artist at the time of entry.
"Every year, Small Works on Paper gives Arkansans a peek into the portfolios of our state's best visual artists, both established and emerging. These creatives represent the workforce who are the backbone of our state's $3.5 billion creative economy," said Patrick Ralston, director of the Arkansas Arts Council.
Artists whose work is selected for the exhibition will be notified in September 2025. The 2026 exhibition will open in January at the Arts and Science Center at 701 S. Main St. in Pine Bluff. The tour will then make stops in Russellville, Fort Smith, Bentonville, Batesville, North Little Rock, Stuttgart, Helena, West Memphis and Forrest City.
The 2026 juror is artist and educator Kelli Scott Kelley. She is an art professor at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, specializing in painting and drawing. Kelley holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from LSU and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Her paintings have been widely exhibited, including solo shows at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in Colorado, the Bradbury Art Museum at Arkansas State University, and the LSU Museum. She has received numerous research and travel grants, including a 2023 Emerging Research Faculty Grant to Japan. Kelley is also the author of Accalia and the Swamp Monster, a book featuring her artwork published by LSU Press in 2014.