Fort Smith Regional Art Museum puts heart in art

Tell us about your organization:

The Fort

Smith Regional Art Museum —

“RAM” for short — has a 72-year history in the

River Valley.

RAM is housed in a 16,000-square-foot building, previously the Superior Federal Savings and Loan, in downtown Fort Smith and features four galleries.

Up until 2009, RAM was called the Fort Smith Art Center and was housed in a literal home — a circa 1853 restored Victorian home in Fort Smith’s Belle Grove Historic District.

Today, RAM welcomes more than 10,000 art enthusiasts through its doors each year, including students of all ages and those who come simply to view the rotating exhibitions of national and regional art. RAM also features a permanent exhibit that includes Arkansas’ largest collection of Boehm porcelain.

• Mission: To foster art appreciation in the community through diverse exhibitions, educational programming, dynamic events and cultural partnerships.

• Services provided: RAM provides art-viewing experiences with national and international traveling exhibits as well as exhibitions featuring the work of our region’s artists. We also provide a full education program for ages beginning at 18 months. We have now moved to an online format for our art classes, fsram. org/education. RAM also features a wonderful gift shop with unique items and art by local artists. We are in the planning stages of forming special interest groups for our members to help them delve more into the areas of art that appeal to them, from art history to photography.

• Who is eligible? RAM is a free museum. Entry is free, and the education program is free. RAM is accessible to all. Our building features an elevator that leads to all three floors.

• How can services be accessed? RAM is open for touring Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. We have installed hand-sanitizer stations, physical-distancing floor decals, and we offer free masks. With our newly emphasized digital programming, RAM provides its education program through Facebook, Instagram and our website (www.fsram.org), plus new YouTube channel (fsramREVAMP).

• What are your organization’s most pressing

needs? RAM is a charitable organization; we are always working to gain new members and new sponsorships in order to fund our programs and operations. The pandemic certainly affected our fundraising, with a canceled annual fundraising gala and many other events. And so, we need donations!

Donations in the form of memberships or sponsorships will help RAM continue to provide excellent art opportunities in the form of exhibitions, new online art classes, accessible to all, and facility maintenance, including the conservation of the 300-plus artworks in our permanent collection. We have two special funding goals: an upgrade of our dehumidification system, and a reconfiguration of our second floor in order to create a Permanent Collection Gallery.

• Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization? What are they? RAM needs and loves volunteers. A new group called “Friends of RAM” meets monthly to help plan events and to ensure that our membership program is rewarding. Through this group and also through our website, we share all of our volunteer needs, which also include art class helpers, administrative assistance and more.

• What other ways may people help? Enjoy the art we share by staying tuned to our social media channels, share about RAM with your friends, and become a member.

Meluso