Art builds bridges between neighbors and strangers.

Artists 360 supports a community for creatives

“A lot of the time, as an artist, you feel alone. . . . [Artists 360] reminded me, ‘Okay, you’re not alone. We all have something in common.”

That’s Michael Day, an Arkansas filmmaker and one of the artists selected for the sixth cohort of Artists 360, a program that provides artists with funding, professional development, and peer connections to help them succeed and grow.

In 2024, Artists 360 awarded a total of $230,000 in practice-based grants to 26 Northwest Arkansas artists, bringing its total six-year investment in that region to over $1 million.

This year’s awards included 14 grants to practicing artists, 6 grants awarded to student artists, 5 grants to community activators, and a $25,000 Creative Impact grant, awarded to Lakisha Bradley for her contributions to the region’s cultural ecosystem.

“It’s amazing that the Walton Family Foundation and Artists 360 tapped into this area to ensure artists not only have a voice, but also some money so they can continue to fund their dreams,” says Mike.

Artists 360 is made possible through the generous philanthropic support of Tom and Steuart Walton through the Walton Family Foundation.

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Art connects us with the earth’s rhythms.

Through Longleaf, Loop38 deepens our connections to land and place

“Art brings a unique angle to conservation and ecology in that it creates an immersive environment for people to experience,” says Ben Morris, a composer and professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Through a 2024 Artistic Innovations grant, Ben was invited by Loop38, a contemporary music ensemble from Houston, Texas, to create Longleaf, a multimedia project that brings the endangered longleaf pine forest to life through music, video, and soundscapes.

“What’s really special about working with living composers is that they’re writing about the things that are relevant to us today,” says Caitlin Mehrtens, Loop38’s harpist and marketing manager. “They’re creating art that is influencing their lives, which are also the things that are influencing our lives.”

M-AAA’s Artistic Innovations grant program, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, supports in-region artists and organizations in creating new, experimental works.

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Artists give voice to stories untold.

Popol Vuh has been compared to The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh

Museums are magical spaces where forgotten or overlooked stories come to life.

The Irving Archives and Museum (IAM) in Irving, Texas, with its deep commitment to community, unearthed a powerful tale long lost to time: Popol Vuh, the sacred creation myth of the Quiché people.

“It’s important for us to preserve and protect, but also document and reflect Irving as it is today,” says Jennifer Landry, director of museums for the City of Irving.

IAM partnered with artist and Texas native Jaime Arredondo to curate an exhibition around this forgotten story. And that’s when Jennifer knew more people had to see this history and this exhibition. She reached out to ExhibitsUSA, M-AAA’s traveling exhibitions program.

Together, Jaime, IAM, and M-AAA transformed this ancient narrative into a traveling exhibition. This collaboration ensures that Popol Vuh, a story of perseverance and cultural survival, reaches audiences across the nation.

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Art sparks curiosity and fuels life‑long learning.

M-AAA explores K–12 arts education

How can we work together, across the region, to improve access to arts education?

Mid-America Arts Alliance tackled this question in the first-of-its-kind Arts Education Landscape report with the goal to better understand K–12 arts education in our six-state region and outline a path to improving access to the arts for all our students.

The report examines K–12 arts education across our region which encompasses 2,800 public school districts and 8 million students. With input from diverse stakeholders—in leadership, policy, advocacy, and program development—the report identifies over 100 actionable ideas and potential partnerships that could enhance arts education.

Moving forward, the report will serve as a key reference for M‑AAA leadership and helps set the stage for informed discussions and FY26–28 strategic planning.

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