Elberta Arts Center facts for kids

The Elberta Arts Center is a special place for art in Nashville, Arkansas. It's one of the smallest towns in Arkansas to have its own arts center! You can find it on Main Street. This center is home to the Elberta Arts Council and Humanities. This group helps support art and culture. It was started by Marie Murray Martin in February 2000. The Center shows art from local artists. It also has the cool neon sign from the old Elberta Theater, which was built in the 1950s.

A Look Back: The Center's History

Former Elberta cinema, whose neon sign is still preserved by the modern Arts Center.

The Elberta Arts Center first opened its doors in November 2000. They celebrated with a special event for artist Lankford Moore. Since then, the Center has brought many public art projects to Nashville. Their very first public art project was a big mural downtown. Artist Johnce Parrish painted it on the corner of Main and Clark Street. The mural showed how important farming is to Howard County. It also celebrated the area's famous Elberta peaches!

How the Center Started

When the Elberta Arts Council and Humanities began, it had a group of people guiding it. These people were called the first board of directors. They helped make sure the Center got off to a great start. Marie A. Martin, who started the Center, was also a director. She had experience from other art centers.

Awards and Recognition

The Elberta Arts Council and Humanities has received several important awards. These awards show how much good work they do for the community.

Grants for Growth

In the summer of 2001, the Center was chosen for a special grant. This grant came from the Arkansas Arts Council. It was part of a three-year program to help arts groups grow. The Center received this funding from 2002 to 2005.

Organization of the Year

Just two years after opening, the Center earned a big honor. In 2003, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce named it the "Organization of the Year." This award showed how much the local business community valued the Center.

Celebrating Heritage

The Arkansas Department of Heritage also gave the Elberta Arts Council a grant. This was to celebrate Arkansas Heritage Month in May 2007. The grant helped fund a program called "Preserving Howard County's Heritage." During this month, the Center hosted many activities. There was a month-long quilt show organized by the Elberta Quilter's Guild. Local artists also showed how they made things. They demonstrated bladesmithing, leather-tooling, and needle-work.

Founder's Award Nomination

In 2001, Marie Martin, the Center's founder, was nominated for an Arkansas Governor's Art Award. She was recognized for her work in community development.

Art Shows and Exhibits

The Elberta Arts Center often hosts different art shows. These shows feature various artists and their unique works.

• On July 11, 2002, famous cowboy artist Bob Tommey showed his art at the Center.
• Dr. Frank Latimer from UACCH presented his "Reclaiming Space" exhibit on June 1, 2006.