Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas facts for kids
| Established | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Location | 701 S. Main Street Pine Bluff, Arkansas |
| Type | Art, science museum |
The Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas is a cool place in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It's a museum where you can explore both art and science! The building is about 22,000 square feet. That's like a really big house!
Inside, you'll find four art galleries. There's also a theater with 232 seats. Plus, there are classrooms for learning. The center gets help from the Arkansas Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Contents
History of the Center
The Arts & Science Center started a long time ago. It began on March 4, 1968. Two local art groups in Pine Bluff joined together. They called themselves the Civic Center Arts Museum.
Soon, the center grew bigger. It started to include performing arts, like plays. It also added science exhibits and educational programs. This helped it reach people in ten different counties in Arkansas. Because it grew so much, its name changed in May 1969. It became the Southeast Arkansas Arts & Science Center.
In 1971, the center became a special part of the City of Pine Bluff. It has its own board that makes decisions. It works a lot like a public library. In 1987, the name changed one last time. It became the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas.
Moving to a New Home
From 1968 to 1986, the center was in the Pine Bluff Civic Center. It had art galleries and a science gallery. There was also a theater and offices. The city even lent them an old fire station. This building was used for art classes. It was called the Little Firehouse Studio.
In 1986, a fire badly damaged the Civic Center. The theater was fixed later. But the galleries and offices had to move. They went to an old house on Martin Street. The Little Firehouse Studio kept being used for classes.
Because the center was split into different buildings, they needed one big place. So, in 1986, a special fund was started. It was called the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas Endowment Fund. This group helped raise money for a new building.
In 1994, they had raised enough money. The current building was built at 701 Main Street. This new building brought all the programs together. It has four galleries, a theater, classrooms, and offices.
What You Can Do There
The center offers lots of fun activities for kids and families.
Science Fun
The center often has different science exhibits. These exhibits change, so there's always something new to see! Past exhibits have included "Illusion Confusion" and "Grossology." You can also take science classes all year long. The center is part of the Arkansas Discovery Network. This is a group of seven museums in Arkansas.
Art Adventures
You can see amazing art at the center. They show art from local artists and artists from all over the world. You can also take art classes. They teach things like sculpture and mixed media art.
Some famous artists whose work has been shown include Frederic Remington and Norman Rockwell. The center also has art from western Africa. It shows art from the 400s all the way to the late 1900s! The center also loves to show art from artists in Arkansas.
The museum has a special collection of art. It focuses on art by African-American artists. It also collects art by Arkansas artists and artists from the Southern United States.
Music and Theater
The center hosts a music series every month. It happens on the first Friday. You can hear music from Arkansas musicians. They play different styles like jazz, blues, soul, rock, and country.
The center also puts on plays. They perform famous shows like "Guys and Dolls." They also show plays by writers from Arkansas. If you love acting, you can take theater classes and go to camps. They have programs for both kids and adults.
Permanent Art Collection
The center has a collection of art that stays there all the time. This collection focuses on artists from the region. It highlights works by African-American artists and artists from Arkansas.
Paintings
The paintings at the center are made in many different ways. Some are realistic, while others are abstract. You can see paintings by several Arkansas artists. This includes six pieces from Larry D. Alexander’s “Dermott Series.” There are also landscapes by Henri Linton. The center also has a huge collection of botanical watercolor paintings by Elsie Mistie Sterling.
Sculptures
The center has a special collection of Art Deco bronze sculptures. This is called the John Stern Collection. There are also modern sculptures by artists from the region.
Photography
The Arts & Science Center has a unique collection of photographs. Some photos show life in the Mississippi Delta around the early 1900s. These include pictures of cotton fields and riverboats. This is part of the J.C. Covert Collection. Other photos are more abstract. The Howard Stern Collection shows everyday objects in amazing ways.
Drawings and Prints
The center has a growing collection of drawings and prints. You can see prints by famous artists like Jacob Lawrence and Red Grooms. There are also works by Joan Miró and Käthe Kollwitz. Plus, you can find etchings and ink drawings from Benny Andrews.
