Take a good look, friends. This is your last chance to see an Arkansas institution in all its current glory.
The Arkansas Arts Center is closing its doors for massive renovations — an undertaking that will keep the doors closed until 2022 — beginning Monday, July 1. That means guests have this weekend alone to peruse the exhibits on display and take in the AAC before it undergoes 127,000 square feet of expansions and reconstruction.
What to expect: See the Designs for the 2022 Renovations
Here’s what to experience this weekend to bid the old space farewell.
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61st Annual Delta Exhibition
This yearly event showcases some of the Mississippi Delta region’s best artists every year, including 21 locals who made this year’s cut. The exhibition includes works in all kinds of media, so there’s definitely something for everybody.
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“Then, Now, Next: Reimagining the Arkansas Arts Center”
A blast from the past and a peek into the future, this exhibit highlights the AAC’s history with timelines, covers current initiatives and takes a deep dive into the new center designs.
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“POP! Out of the Vault”
Some of the biggest names in pop art — think Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Mel Ramos — come out to play in this AAC exhibit. Expect bold colors and even bolder characters within these 50-plus artworks.
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Brunch at Watercolor
As the AAC preps to close for a few years, its in-house restaurant Watercolor in the Park is prepping to close for good. Get your last fill of this killer brunch menu before it moves to Petit & Keet permanently.
But don’t worry, the AAC won’t be out of commission until 2022. The former Walmart Neighborhood Market location at 2510 Cantrell Road in Riverdale will be the temporary home of the Museum Shop, Museum School classes, offices and more. Get the details on the Riverdale move here.
And thanks to a partnership with the Central Arkansas Library System, you’ll still be able to see AAC exhibits across the city, tailored specifically to neighborhoods. Read more on that here.
To learn more about the Arkansas Arts Center’s renovation and programming, visit the museum’s website, and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.
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