Celebrate the Arts in Little Rock

Day 1 

Downtown Galleries

With nearly 20,000 square feet of gallery space, the newly renovated Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts offers visual and performing arts as well as educational experiences. The museum is located in MacArthur Park in downtown Little Rock. View their 14,000-object permanent collection, attend a lecture or play or dine in their modern restaurant.

From there, make your way south over I-630 to one of Little Rock's hippest new neighborhoods, the South Main Street District, locally known as SoMa. This is where you'll find North America's only museum dedicated to the art of the handbag, the ESSE Purse Museum, which explores women's history through the things they carried and wore. Down the block at South Main Creative, browse vintage wares as well as new art or sign up for one of their DIY classes. Trendy lunch options abound in the area. You'll find even more local treasures in the gift shops at the Historic Arkansas Museum and the Old State House. 

Hop aboard the River Rail Trolley and head across the Arkansas River to the Argenta Arts District in downtown North Little Rock. Here you’ll find visual and performing arts venues including the THEA Foundation Center for the Arts Gallery and the Argenta Community Theatre. Dinner at one of the many restaurants downtown rounds out the day.

Day 2 

Historic Little Rock

Today spend the day in the Hillcrest and Heights Historic Districts. Begin in Hillcrest which is located along the lower portion of Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little Rock. 

In the Hillcrest District you’ll find Gallery 26 which features emerging local and regional artists with galleries updated on a regular basis.

If you’re ready for lunch, grab a bite to eat at any of the many fine restaurants in the district, ranging from U.S. Pizza and Café Bossa Nova to Leo’s Greek Castle.