The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Division of Arkansas Heritage, is pleased to announce the award recipients for 2026 Arts Across Arkansas.
Arts Across Arkansas is a mentorship and professional-development program designed to encourage, enhance and expand high school students’ original thoughts, processes, personal experiences and artistic abilities.
More than 160 students were nominated by their teachers in six artistic mediums: dance choreography, film, literary arts, music composition, photography and visual arts. Arts in Education Roster members selected 54 students from about 30 schools to move to the State Final event, which took place March 28, 2026, in North Little Rock.
About 100 supporters, artists, students, family and friends attended and celebrated our young creatives, who took the stage and exhibited their works during the event.
Students earning the top awards at Finals were:
Film
- Andy Kneebone/Isabel Ross – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
- Jhada Armstrong – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
- Gabe Guthrie/Layne Rickard – Hillcrest High School
Literary Arts
- John Sullivan – Hot Springs World Class High School
- Spencer Bryant – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
- Layla Cullipher – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Music Composition
- Corinna Phillips – Malvern High School
- Eli Gregory – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
- Ian Glasgow – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Dance Choreography
- Victoria Mitchell – Hot Springs World Class High School
- Arabella Lampinen – Hot Springs World Class High School
- Elyse Young – North Little Rock High School
Photography
- Ricardo Garcia Caballero – Star City High School
- Isabella Wingard – Star City High School
- Lily Burleson – Hillcrest High School
Visual Arts
- Julianna Dishongh – Little Rock Central High School
- Emily Kolb – Little Rock Central High School
- Zion Jackson – Little Rock Central High School