Arts

Recent Stories

Spring is in Full Bloom at the Garland County Library

May 7, 2026

By Annie Gerber Preparations for the huge, annual Summer Reading Program are well underway, but that hasn’t slowed down the Librarians at the Garland County Library. They’ve planned another month full of unmissable events. Find out about it all at www.gclibrary.com. Magical Creatures Night | Fri | May 1 – 6:30 PM: Calling all dragons, wizards, fairies, mermaids, gnomes, and other magical folk of all ages! Join us after hours for an evening of magical crafts, games,

Peter Pan Ballet Touts Stunning Artisan-Crafted Bird Puppets Sure to Delight All Ages

May 7, 2026

A cast of elite, pre-professional dancers has been working tirelessly to master a unique “tandem flight” technique for the “Peter Pan” ballet. Get ready to believe in magic this May! The Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Co. is soaring to breathtaking new heights with their upcoming production of Peter Pan, featuring a groundbreaking, never-before-seen flight sequence that will leave audiences spellbound. For the first time in the company’s history, this spring production introduces

Call for Artists: 2026 Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival Poster & T-Shirt Design

May 7, 2026

The Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival is now accepting submissions from artists for the official 2026 festival poster and T-shirt design. The festival, scheduled for September 25–26, invites artists to help capture the spirit, sound, and heritage of blues and roots music through original artwork. The festival highlights the rich musical traditions that have shaped American culture and is presented in collaboration with the Hot Springs Food Truck

Arkansas Books: Make a Plan to Save Your Life

May 7, 2026

Originally from South Africa, debut author Alexandra Bell now calls Hot Springs home. Her new book, Make a Plan to Save Your Life: Your Essential Guide to Surviving Medical Emergencies (self-published in February), is a practical guide born of Bell’s own life experience as a retiree, Certified Longevity Coach, and former recruitment and human resources professional who spent decades helping people prepare for comfortable retirements. Bell shares, “Drawing on my concept of ‘Intentional

About the Cover . . .

April 3, 2026

“Mystical Mayhem” Photo of Emilie Boyett by Photographer Pam Clark Courtesy of Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance, taken at Arts & The Park 2025 A huge thankyou to Pam Clark for spotting and capturing that fantastic photo of Emilie Boyett in full Mystical Mayhem glory. It’s vibrant, imaginative, and perfectly reflects the spirit of Arts & The Park and its celebration of creativity. Emilie looks like she’s having the time of her life, spreading joy

Coming Soon! Peter Pan Performance by Children’s Dance Theatre Company

April 3, 2026

Last year’s cast of Peter Pan ballet brought a bit of Neverland magic to the stage. Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Company invites you to take flight to exotic lands with a full-length ballet production of Peter Pan. Based on J.M. Barrie’s famous tale of the boy who wouldn’t grow up, this brilliant story takes audiences on a high-flying adventure to Neverland. There, Peter Pan, Wendy, John, and Michael encounter pirates, the Lost Boys, Captain

Cameo Blue

April 3, 2026

Fayetteville resident Carolyn Guinzio is this year’s recipient of Arkansas’s most lucrative and prestigious literary award, The Porter Prize, accompanied by $5,000. Guinzio is author of eight poetry collections (including, most recently, Cameo Blue), and her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, and The Nation. Guinzio was nominated by 2003 Porter Fund Literary Prize recipient and Little Rock resident Kevin Brockmeier. The Porter Fund Literary Prize is presented annually to an Arkansas writer who has accomplished a substantial and

Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Announces “Preserve Our Past” Art and Essay Contest

April 3, 2026

The AHPP “Preserve Our Past” competition is open to all Arkansas students in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, including those in public, private, and homeschool settings. The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) is accepting submissions for the 2026 “Preserve Our Past” Art & Essay Contest. This annual contest invites Arkansas students in grades five through eight to explore the state’s rich architectural and cultural history through creative expression. The

2026 Arkansas Living Treasure Award goes to Fiddler, Tim Trawick

April 3, 2026

Tim Trawick has been a staple in Central Arkansas for the fiddle community and has taught nationally recognized and award-winning fiddlers. Trawick grew up playing music with his father, who won the Arkansas Old Time State Fiddle Championship in 1979. He is a third-generation Arkansas fiddle player and continued the craft by teaching his sons, along with hundreds of fiddle players statewide and regionally. Beyond teaching, Trawick has performed fiddle statewide and

Cherry Blossom Festival Packed with Family Fun and Japanese Culture

April 3, 2026

See the dramatic Soul of the Samurai sword performance led by Yoshi Amao. The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival will return to the Hot Springs Convention Center on Saturday, April 4, offering a full day of free, family-friendly activities, cultural performances, traditional displays, and interactive experiences celebrating Japanese culture. Hosted by the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation, the festival celebrates the 30-plus-year sister city relationship between Hot Springs and Hanamaki,

Pocket Theatre’s Godspell Encourages Community

April 3, 2026

Individual tickets for Pocket Theatre’s “Godspell” and season passes are on sale now. We all wonder at some point where we belong, who “our” people are. The next main stage show at the Pocket Community Theatre (PCT), Godspell, invites audiences to explore community through the experiences of ordinary people called to a higher purpose. Godspell, conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is the hit 1971 musical

National Park College Presents the Seventh Annual Student Art Exhibition

March 31, 2026

Last year’s student art exhibition was a great success. The 2026 exhibition includes many first-time artists. By Maribeth Bueche National Park College will present the Seventh Annual Student Art Exhibition, April 13-17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Student Art Exhibition showcases students’ work in the college’s Art and Digital Media Arts programs, featuring drawings, paintings, digital art, sculpture, and multimedia projects. For many students, this is their first public show, marking an exciting

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