Established in 1971 to develop and implement a coordinated and comprehensive statewide program for the support of the arts in Arkansas, the Arkansas Arts Council provides services and grants-in-aid supporting arts endeavors that encourage and assist artists in achieving standards of professional excellence. In addition, the Arts Council assists other relevant arts projects to include surveys, research and planning for the arts. To contact anyone on the Arts Council staff in Little Rock or for district arts council member information, see the list below.

The Arkansas Arts Council is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and shares the goals of all seven Department of Arkansas Heritage agencies, that of preserving and enhancing the heritage of the state of Arkansas. The agencies are: Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Old State House Museum. Funding for the Arkansas Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State of Arkansas and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Staff

Joy Pennington
Executive Director
(501) 324-9770
joy@arkansasheritage.org

Carolyn Dowling
Assistant Director
(501) 324-9772
carolyn@arkansasheritage.org

Jess Anthony
Grant Programs Manager
(501) 324-9768
jess@arkansasheritage.org

Faye Croy
Administrative Asst.
(501) 324-9766
faye@arkansasheritage.org

Angie Dean
Public Information Officer
(501) 324-9782
angie@arkansasheritage.org

Cynthia Haas
Arts in Education Manager
(501) 324-9769
cynthia@arkansasheritage.org

Janet Harney
Expansion Arts Program Manager
(501) 324-9767
janet@arkansasheritage.org

Cheri Leffew
Special Events/Projects Manager
(501) 324-9349
cheri@arkansasheritage.org

H.L. McGill
Community Development Program Manager
(501) 324-9775
hlm@arkansasheritage.org

Randy Smith
Grants Administrator
(501) 324-9781
randys@arkansasheritage.org

Sally A. Williams
Artist Services Manager
(501) 324-9348
sally@arkansasheritage.org

Teena Woodworth
Fiscal Officer
(501) 324-9780
ghbenjamin@cox.net

Arts Council Member List

District 1

Mary Benjamin
Siloam Springs, AR
ghbenjamin@cox.net

Ed Clifford
Bentonville, AR
eclifford@bbvchamber.com

District 2

Terri Bruhin
Mountain View, AR
terri.bruhin@arkansas.gov

Brenda Casteel
Newport, AR
jaybe@ipa.net

District 3

Sarah Easley
Forrest City, AR
easleys@sbcglobal.net

Bobbi Dodge
West Memphis, AR
bdodge1104@hotmail.com

District 4

Donna Young
Van Buren, AR
ddyoung@ipa.net

Lori Cravens
Fort Smith, AR
ljcc1123@aol.com

District 5

Ken Futterer
Russellville, AR
ken.futterer@mail.atu.edu

Bess Sanders
Hot Springs, AR
besssanders@hotsprings.net

District 6

Garbo Hearne
Little Rock, AR
pyramid@aristotle.net

Michael Tidwell
Little Rock, AR

District 7

Anne Douglas
Texarkana, AR
adouglas@douglascomp.com

Michael Malek
Hope, AR
mikemalek@cablelynx.com

District 8

Debbie Shea
Dumas, AR
mkshea@seark.net

Mildred Franco
Pine Bluff, AR
mfranco@chicomputers.com

At Large

Janice Taylor
Little Rock, AR
taylorjan@comcast.net