Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas facts for kids

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, which is pretty big. Inside, you'll find four art galleries, a theater with 232 seats, and special rooms for classes. There are also offices and spaces to take care of the museum's collections.

This center gets help from groups like the Arkansas Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. These groups support art and learning across the country.

History of the Center

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas started a long time ago, on March 4, 1968. Back then, two local art groups in Pine Bluff joined together. They called themselves the Civic Center Arts Museum.

Soon, the center grew to include more than just art. It added performing arts (like plays), science exhibits, and educational programs. It started serving ten different counties in Arkansas. Because it grew so much, the city council changed its name in May 1969. It became the Southeast Arkansas Arts & Science Center. In 1971, it became an official part of the City of Pine Bluff. This meant it had its own board to make decisions, but it still worked with the city government. In 1987, the name changed one last time to what it is today: the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas.

From 1968 to 1986, the center was located in the Pine Bluff Civic Center. It had an art gallery, a science gallery for kids, and a theater. There was also a separate building, an old fire station, used for classes. This building was called the Little Firehouse Studio.

In 1986, a fire badly damaged the Civic Center building. Even though the theater was fixed later, the art galleries and offices had to move. They moved to an old house on Martin Street. The Little Firehouse Studio kept being used for classes. Because the museum was split into different buildings, everyone wanted one place for all the programs. To help with this, a special fund was started in 1986. This fund helped raise money for a new, bigger building.

In 1994, after a successful fundraising effort, the current building was built. It's located at 701 Main Street in downtown Pine Bluff. This 22,000-square-foot building was made to high museum standards. It has everything under one roof: four galleries, a 232-seat theater, classrooms, and spaces to prepare and care for the museum's collections.

Fun Activities to Do

The center has lots of cool things for kids and families!

Science Fun

They often have different science exhibits that change over time. Some past exhibits have included "Illusion Confusion," "Good Vibrations," and "Grossology." You can also take science classes all year long. The center is part of a group of seven museums in Arkansas called the Arkansas Discovery Network. This group works together to bring great science exhibits to kids.

Art Adventures

You can see amazing art from local, state, and even international artists. The center also offers art classes all year. You can learn about sculpture, mixed media, and more. Famous artists like Frederic Remington and Norman Rockwell have had their work shown here. They've also displayed art and artifacts from western Africa, some of which are very old! The center also loves to show art from artists in Arkansas and the surrounding Delta region.

Music and Theater

The center hosts a monthly music series called Live@5. It happens on the first Friday of each month. You can hear Arkansas musicians playing jazz, blues, soul, rock, and country music. The center also puts on plays, from famous ones like "Guys and Dolls" to plays by Arkansas writers. They even have theater classes and camps for both kids and adults!

Permanent Collection

The center has a "permanent collection" of art. This means they own these artworks and keep them to show regularly. They especially focus on collecting art by African-American artists, artists from Arkansas, and artists who live and work in the Delta region.

Paintings

The paintings in the collection are made in many different styles. You can see everything from realistic pictures to abstract art. The collection includes works by several Arkansas artists. For example, there are six pieces from Larry D. Alexander’s "Dermott Series." You can also see beautiful landscapes by Henri Linton. The center also has the Elsie Mistie Sterling Collection of Botanical Paintings. This is the largest known collection of watercolor paintings of plants by one artist.

Sculptures

The center has a special collection of Art Deco bronze sculptures. This is called the John Stern Collection. There are also modern sculptures made by artists from the region.

Photography

The Arts & Science Center has a unique collection of photographs. Some pictures show life in the Mississippi Delta around the early 1900s. These are part of the J.C. Covert Collection and show things like cotton fields and riverboats. Other photos, like those in the Howard Stern Collection, are more abstract. They show everyday objects in unusual ways.

Drawings and Prints

The center's collection of drawings and prints is growing. It includes seriographs (a type of print) by famous artists like Jacob Lawrence and Red Grooms. You can also see lithographs by Joan Miró and Käthe Kollwitz, and etchings and ink drawings from Benny Andrews.