At least 150 artists, arts supporters and community leaders turned out to celebrate and recognize Arkansas artists and the arts on Feb. 5 for the 40th anniversary of the Individual Artist Fellowship awards program, which has now ended.
Live music, dance, poetry readings and art demonstrations filled the night at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. Arts lovers got an inside, close-up look at large-scale visual arts, contemporary craft woodworking, photography and more. Musician Annie Ford and Artist Adaja Cooper did a live-music-and-art-response session in the theatre. While the Hot Springs Dance Troupe and Al "Papa Rap" Lopez captivated crowds in the ballroom.
Community businesses and nonprofits donated giveaways and beer and wine for the event. Donors included Art Outfitters, Blick Art Materials, The Rep, Argenta Contemporary Theatre, Lost 40, 107 Liquor and ACANSA.
About 14 creatives who received the 2025 award mixed and mingled with community activators, including leaders from the City of Little Rock, Hearne Fine Art, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Arkansas, as well as former and current Arkansas Arts Council board members.
Starting in 1986, the Individual Artist Fellowship program had awarded more than $1 million in direct support to individual artists living and working in Arkansas. The program was unique nationwide and was among the first to support the arts in Arkansas by funding the backbone of the creative economy – creatives. A 2023 survey of Fellows showed most used their grant funding toward furthering their arts careers. Many artists said the program helped them when they needed it most.
"Receiving the Fellowship was a powerful affirmation at a pivotal moment in my journey as an artist," wrote Crystina Smart, a 2022 Fellow, in email. "It encouraged me to believe in the value of my original songs and gave me both the confidence and momentum to fully pursue a long-held goal: bringing my music to life in a recorded form."
Photos from the 2024 and 2026 events are available at tourismarkansas.mediavalet.com/portals/MTCC_Artist_Fellowship_2024 and
tourismarkansas.mediavalet.com/portals/AAC_Fellowship_Grants_2026.