The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum - formerly the Fort Smith Art Center - was housed in the Vaugh-Schaap House at 423 North 6th Street for four decades. The beautiful home is one of the few remaining examples of Victorian Second Empire architecture in Fort Smith, and was the first home in the Belle Grove District to be fully restored and listed on the National Register of Historic Homes.
The Fort Smith Art Center showcased work in a variety of media by regional and nationally recognized artists. The permanent collection of contemporary regional art is exhibited on a rolling basis, and visitors enjoyed annual photography and art competitions from artists across the country. Children and adults alike enjoyed art classes and educational opportunities at the Victorian house and artists often painted in the gazebo.
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.
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! Renovation of the new buidling at 1601 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith is underway!
Until the big move, RAM is now temporarily located at 701 Rogers Avenue in downtown Fort Smith.
For information about the new facility and how you can help, check out the Capital Campaign page here.