About the Arts Center

The first meeting of the Stuttgart Brush and Palette Guild was held on February 28, 1957. The object of the organization was to study and practice painting, promote local exhibits, and the arouse community interest and appreciation of the arts. The new organization quickly organized an Arts and Craft exhibit the following fall. This tradition continues today as we are to hold the 70th Annual Grand Prairie Arts Festival in 2026. The Stuttgart Brush and Palette Guild formally established themselves as the Grand Prairie Arts Council in 1964 to better represent the members from the Grand Prairie area not just Stuttgart proper. Local artists, authors, business leaders and educators, continued to promote the arts in Stuttgart and surrounding counties and establish a permanent facility with classrooms and exhibit space with a director to oversee programs and development. These goals were met with the purchase of the present facility centrally located from the downtown district in 1982. The primary focus has been to promote the arts through education and public involvement, festivals and classes that benefit the entire community while demonstrating the social and economic benefits that the arts provide.

The Grand Prairie Arts Council represents a work force with backgrounds in city government, education, real estate, and business.  These affiliations help target and identify needs within the community for programs, potential funding, volunteers, and staying connected with the community. In addition to service to the Arts Center many of our Board also serve professional, civic and community organizations that all work together within the community.

About the Director

Elizabeth Hoskyn, PhD a longtime resident of Stuttgart, Arkansas was named the Director of the Arts Center of the Grand Prairie in October of 2025. She is enthusiastic about her role in this position and plans to use it to strengthen the community by creating a welcoming space for cultural and social development.

Be looking for information about the beginning of the “Summer of Enrichment” in 2026 that includes partnerships with UA-PCCUA.

Building improvements needed at the Arts Center of the Grand Prairie include new flooring in the entry, main gallery and hallway, repair of the ceiling tiles, permanent shelving in the classrooms, and a new ramp to the main entrance. The formation of the Auxiliary Grand Prairie Arts Council will help with these endeavors as well as future programming for the center. If you would like to participate on the council or donate please contact us!