Art is in the eye of the deed-holder

The deed is done, or, more to the point, the deed was transferred from Arvest Bank to the Fort Smith Art Center.

Arvest Bank agreed to donate the former branch bank at 1601 Rogers Ave. — acquired in its $211 million purchase of Superior Federal Bank in late 2003 — to the art center in early January to expand space to exhibit art, photos and provide other services. The donation was contingent upon art center officials raising $200,000 by June 1.

In late May the art center reported it had received donations and pledges “far in excess” of $225,000.

So, on Tuesday night (July 14), John Womack and Craig Rivaldo with Arvest Bank of Fort Smith signed the deed over to the art center in a ceremony held at the new Emmy’s Restaurant in Fort Smith (formerly The Hall at Taliano’s).

Marta Jones, president of the art center board, and board member Steve Jones told the gathered audience that their goal was to create an art center that not only served the needs of area citizens, but would also be an economic development tool in the recruitment and retention of people who seek a broad culture component in a community.

“It’s time to elevate the visual arts in this community,” Art Center Director Teresa Carver said during her presentation about why art matters in a community.

Steve Jones said research shows the cultural traveler/tourist spends 36% more than other travelers. Jones said in addition to the other tourist venues in the region, the new art center “will give them (tourists) other reasons to stay here.”

Part of that attempt to elevate the arts and capture cultural tourists includes a $2 million capital campaign to pay for renovations to the newly donated building. Steve Jones said the art center will be “aggressive” in seeking public and private grants to support the campaign

Renovations to the facility will include temperature and humidity controls to make the art center capable of museum standards and the ability to exhibit and borrow art from other museums across the country. 

With the sale of the existing art center facility in the Belle Grove District, which is scheduled for July 2009, the capital campaign will top $500,000. This amount is 25% of the total amount being raised, according to art center officials.

The tough economy and at least four other large fundraisers in the area — U.S. Marshals Museum, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith capital campaign, Second Street Live, Fort Smith Museum of History — are making it more difficult than normal to raise money for the new building, Maggie Malloy, capital campaign chair for the art center, told the crowd. However, she said, all the fundraising campaigns are for worthy projects and when they are successful will do much to improve the region.