Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts facts for kids
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| Former name | Arkansas Arts Center |
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| Established | October 5, 1937 |
| Location | MacArthur Park, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Type | Art museum |
| Founder | Fine Arts Club of Arkansas |
| Architect |
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| Owner | Government of Little Rock |
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) is a cool art museum located in MacArthur Park, in Little Rock, Arkansas. It used to be known as the Arkansas Arts Center. The museum recently got a big makeover and expansion. This new design was created by a famous architecture firm called Studio Gang.
The museum was closed for a while during this work. It had its grand reopening in April 2023. AMFA has a huge collection of art that you can always see. They also have special art shows that change often. You can find a research library there too. Plus, there are rooms for different art classes. The museum even has a restaurant and a gift shop. Many areas, like the main hall, can be rented for events. AMFA is a top attraction in Arkansas!
Contents
Discovering Art: The Permanent Collection
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts has an amazing collection of art. It mainly focuses on drawings and modern craft items. When they say "drawings," they mean any unique artwork made on paper. This includes sketches, watercolors, and more.
You can see works by famous artists like Rembrandt and Pablo Picasso. The collection also features art from important artists of today. One special part of the collection is a group of drawings and watercolors by Paul Signac. Many of these are on display in their own gallery.
Exciting Art Shows and Events
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts hosts several fun events each year.
The Delta Exhibition
The Annual Delta Exhibition is a special art show. It features artists from Arkansas and nearby states. These states include Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. This show started in 1958. It highlights new art from the Mississippi Delta region.
Collectors Show & Sale
The museum also holds an Annual Collectors Show & Sale. Here, museum experts bring in drawings from galleries across the country. This lets local art lovers see unique pieces. It also gives everyone a chance to see art by many modern artists.
Young Arkansas Artists Show
A very popular show is the Young Arkansas Artists exhibition. This show displays art made by students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Kids can win prizes for their amazing artwork. Schools with winning entries get money to help their art programs.
National Drawing Invitational
The museum also puts on the National Drawing Invitational sometimes. This show helps people appreciate drawing as an art form. It also helps everyone learn more about the skill of draftsmanship in modern art.
Children's Theater: Live Stories for Kids
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts has a fantastic Children's Theatre. It is known as one of the best theater groups in America. It is the only professional company in Arkansas that performs plays based on children's books.
The Children's Theater is a very popular place to visit. They put on plays of classic children's stories. This theater gives kids two great chances. They can watch live performances. They can also take part in stage productions themselves!
Museum School: Learn to Create Art
The Museum School at AMFA offers many art classes. You can learn different types of art here. Classes include life drawing, ceramics, photography, and woodworking. They also have jewelry making classes.
Visiting artists sometimes teach special workshops. There are also classes just for children. The school holds a sale of student artwork every year. This sale happens on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Gift Shop: Unique Finds
The museum's gift shop has many cool items. You can find beautiful ceramics and hand-blown glass objects. They also sell books about different artists. These include books about Paul Signac and Viola Frey. You might even find bronze sculptures and other sculpted items.
Architecture: A Building Transformed
The museum first opened in 1937. It was in an Art Deco style building. This building was made by the Works Progress Administration. The architect was H. Ray Burks. The original building has a special limestone front. It was designed by Benjamin D. Brantley. It also has two carved figures that represent Painting and Sculpture.
Over the years, the museum grew. It became a group of eight buildings. Each building was built at a different time. They all had different architectural styles. In 2016, the firm Studio Gang was chosen to redesign the museum. They worked with a landscape architect named SCAPE.
Their design kept and updated as many old buildings as possible. This helped save energy. A new main section was added. It has a curved concrete shape and a folded roof. This new part helps visitors move easily through the museum. It also creates new entrances and public spaces. These new areas connect the museum to the park and city. The original Art Deco front, which was hidden before, is now the main entrance again.
See also
- Community Gallery at the Terry House
- MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History
- Old State House Museum
- William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
