Courtesy Ark. Dept. of Tourism
Eureka Springs enjoys a thriving arts scene, with more than 250 active artists living in the community. For a town of 2,500 people, that means an impressive 10 percent of the population make their living from artwork.
Groups can experience the town’s artistic side by visiting the arts district downtown or by scheduling a stop at the Eureka Springs School for the Arts. The school offers professional training in weaving, glasswork, painting, pottery and other classic art forms. Visiting church groups can arrange for one of the school’s instructors to lead a custom-planned workshop for the group, based on its skill levels and areas of interest.
The area’s arts scene will also get a boost when the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opens November 11. Located about an hour away in Bentonville, this museum is the legacy of Wal-Mart’s founding family, which donated a collection of hundreds of pieces of American artwork, ranging from the Colonial period to the present. The Eureka Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau is working closely with Crystal Bridges and Bentonville to create art-themed itineraries that feature both destinations.
