Fort Smith Regional Art Museum
It's really happening!
Thanks to Arvest Bank, the musem will have a new home at 1601 Rogers Avenue. Watch our progress.
With these changes comes a new name:
Fort Smith Regional Art Museum - RAM!
Want to help? Contact us today!
Big Changes on the Way for RAM
The Fort Smith Art Center is currently located at 423 North 6th Street in the Vaughn-Schaap House, one of the few remaining examples of Victorian Second Empire architecture in Fort Smith. It was the first home to be restored in the Belle Grove Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a beautiful old house but the museum has long outgrown the house's significant limitations.
In a once in a lifetime gift, Arvest Bank has donated a 15,000 sq. ft. building strategically located just before Garrison Avenue - the entrance to downtown Fort Smith. A campaign was born to raise the funds to renovate the building to museum standards. Thanks, Arvest!
The new museum will be climate-controlled and equipped to facilitate traveling exhibits and handsomely display the museum's permanent collection. A spacious community room is planned where education programs and activities can flourish.
Accordingly, the Fort Smith Art Center is in an exciting transition to be reborn as the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum - "RAM" for short! During this transition, the organization will be bringing art out to the viewing public instead of vice versa. Look for our exhibits near you!
Although there will be no events or exhibits at the Vaughn Schaap House after June 8, the museum is open and the hours of operation are Thursday-Saturday - 9:30 a.m.-4:30 pm.
