Arts Council seeks nominations for award

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2019 Arkansas Living Treasure Award.

“Preserving our state’s traditional crafts and recognizing their importance to our culture is essential to building and maintaining a creative economy in Arkansas,” said Patrick Ralston, executive director of the Arkansas Arts Council. “In the past, we’ve recognized artists from sculptors to luthiers. The diversity in craft and folk art in Arkansas is amazing and should be celebrated.”

The Living Treasure program recognizes an Arkansas artist who excels in the creation of a traditional craft and who preserves and advances his or her craft through community outreach and by teaching others. Nominations for next year’s Living Treasure will be accepted until Nov. 16.

An independent panel will select the recipient based on his or her quality of work, contributions to traditional craft fields and efforts in the community. The awardee will be honored during a ceremony in May as part of Arkansas Heritage Month.

Nominees must be Arkansas residents who have lived in the state at least one year prior to being nominated. A list of criteria is available at arkansasarts.org.

For more information, contact Robin McClea at (501) 324-9348 or robin.mcclea@arkansas.gov.