Fort Smith Regional Art Museum — Attraction in Fort Smith

I absolutely loved this museum. The outside was fresh and fun with beds of flowers and a few very cool sculptures.

Parking was effortless, it was easy to find, and admission was free. All good things 👍😎

Inside, I was greeted warmly and given a basic rundown of the current exhibits. There are three levels total. An impressive 16,000 total square feet of indoor space.

When I was there, the basement level had an impressive collection of hand made, painted porcelain scriptures from the artist Boehm. Beautiful works of art. Lots of birds.

The entry level had a variety of mixed media artistic renderings of an artists representation of how the Covid pandemic affected their lives as artists. Some very powerful pieces there. Not all gloom either, despite the subject matter. Far ranging.

The topmost level was a showing off an artist who had won an award of a free showing. The featured artist was Dena Creamer. Her photography was amazing. Seriously. Absolutely beautiful shots of the local area, nature captured in ways that truly move a person. I'd highly encourage you to look up some of her work.

Overall, a fantastic experience. Every part of it. If you are the kind of person who genuinely loves art and art museums and you live near Fort Smith Arkansas, it's well...

I arrived a little before closing on a Thursday evening. The staff was really welcoming and explained they had an interactive photography exhibition with a tablet. The photos were really big, super vibrant, and breathtaking. It's one of the best photography exhibitions I've ever seen. I'd definitely recommend going soon.

Then I went upstairs to a different exhibit. It was really nostalgic. Growing up in the south I can relate to seeing nature, livestock, and old equipment. There were elements of military and other cultural influences in the artwork as well.

The lower level was full of student work and the porcelain gallery. It was very beautiful and meticulously crafted. Definitely a must see. I saw a lot of potential in the student work and some that were really good.

The building was nice, really clean, and the restrooms were well kept. They have done a good job with the place and the...

If you’ve got 1-3 hours to fill, I recommend checking out this museum! The nicely maintained, quiet building is a perfect place to stop for a minute, catch your breath, and soak up some art. It’s VERY accessible - I use a walker and took my grandfather who uses a cane, and we were both able to view the entire museum and all exhibits with zero issues. There are a few places where the floor raises about an inch - like the gift shop - but otherwise the floors are flat, doorways wide, and the elevator can comfortably hold four adults. There is seating available in every gallery and signage is clear and easy to read.

I appreciate their focus on local artists (it is a REGIONAL museum, after all). They change exhibits fairly often so if you haven’t been in a few months, check back to see what...