This collection consists of material relating to Arkansans for the Arts (AFTA), which was incorporated in June 1981 by a steering committee named by the Arkansas Arts Council. The organization’s main goals were to encourage the growth and development of the arts in Arkansas and to influence public policy and opinion for the arts.
AFTA published the first issue of its newsletter in December 1981. It was created to publicize art activities and inform corporate leaders, elected officials and the general public about the needs of the arts movement within Arkansas. One of the reasons for organizing AFTA was the arrival of the Ronald Reagan administration in 1981, which sought to drastically curtail federal arts appropriation.
In August 1983, the AFTA Board of Directors was unable to reach a consensus as to an appropriate role and direction for the organization. Consequently, a number of the board members resigned leaving the remaining members functioning as an Interim Board. In February 1984, the remaining board members agreed to reform the organization in order to continue the role of legislative advocacy for the arts. The continued struggle with financial solvency caused the organization to be suspended for several years. AFTA was officially disbanded in May 1990 with the transferring of remaining funds to the Arkansas Arts Administrator’s Roundtable (AAAR) for specific use in their advocacy efforts with the Legislature for the Arkansas Arts Council.
NOTE: When requesting materials from this collection, please specify collection number (M91-1), box number, and file number.
Box 1
File 1 – Arkansas Citizens For The Arts Advocacy Materials, 1980-1981
File 2 – AFTA History and Background
File 3 – AFTA By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation
File 4 – AFTA Steering Committee Materials, 1981-1983
File 5 – AFTA Minutes, 1981-1984, Undated
File 6 – AFTA Correspondence, 1981
File 7 – AFTA Correspondence, 1982
File 8 – AFTA Correspondence, 1983
File 9 – AFTA Correspondence, 1984
File 10- AFTA Correspondence, 1985-1986
File 11- AFTA Correspondence, 1987-1990, undated
File 12- AFTA Membership Committee Materials, 1981-1982, Undated
File 13- AFTA Membership Listing, 1984
File 14- AFTA Membership Forms, 1981-1985, Undated
File 15- AFTA Membership Materials
File 16- AFTA Applications for Involvement, 1982-1983, Undated
File 17- AFTA Contributed Services, 1981-1983
File 18- AFTA Questionnaire
File 19- AFTA Artists’ Questionnaire
File 20- AFTA Resumes of Advisory and Planning Committee Members
File 21- AFTA Nominating Committee Materials, 1981-1983, Undated
File 22- AFTA Board of Directors Profiles, List, and Materials, 1982, Undated
File 23- AFTA Annual Meeting Committee Materials, 1981-1983
File 24- AFTA Conference Materials, 1981-1984
File 25- AFTA Workshop Materials, 1981-1988, Undated
File 26- AFTA Regional Meeting for Congressional District II Materials, 1982
File 27- AFTA General Materials, 1982-1990, Undated
File 28- AFTA Finance Committee Materials, 1982-1984, Undated
File 29- AFTA Financial Reports, 1981-1985
File 30- AFTA Expenses, 1982-1988
File 31- AFTA Checking Account Correspondence, and Bank Statements, 1983-1990
File 32- AFTA Bank Statements for Saving Account, 1985-1990
File 33- AFTA Tax Materials, 1982-1986
End of Box 1
Box 2
File 1 – Grant Materials (1 of 2), 1982-1985
File 2 – Grant Materials (2 of 2), 1982-1987
File 3 – AFTA Grant Application Materials- Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, 1980-1983
File 4 – AFTA- Arkansas Community Foundation Materials, 1979-1984, Undated
File 5 – GALA Committee Fund Raising Materials, 1981
File 6 – AFTA Legislative Fund Raising Receptions Materials, 1985-1987
File 7 – Lobbying Materials, 1972-1982, Undated
File 8 – U.S. Congressional Materials, 1985, Undated
File 9 – Arkansas Governor’s Correspondence, 1982-1983
File 10- Legislative Correspondence, 1981-1988, Undated
File 11- Arkansas Legislative Joint Subcommittee on Arts and Economic Development Materials,1983-1984
File 12- Arkansas Legislation, 1983-1985
File 13- Arkansas Legislative Council Materials, 1981-1984
File 14- Arkansas Legislative Materials, 1981-1983
File 15- Arkansas Candidates for Office Listings, 1984
File 16- AFTA Advocacy Committee Correspondence, 1982-1983
File 17- AFTA Advocacy Committee Materials, 1982-1986, Undated
File 18- AFTA Public Relations Committee Materials, 1981-1983, Undated
File 19- AFTA Resumes of Speakers/Participants
File 20- Arkansas Art Booklet: An Inventory of Cultural Programs, Organizations, and Facilities of Arkansas, 1981
File 21-Rachael Lambert Dance Troupe Materials, 1981
File 22- AFTA Newsletter Materials, 1982-1984, Undated
File 23- AFTA Newsletter “Arkansas Advocate” Mailing Lists, 1981-1983
File 24- AFTA Newspaper “The Arts Advocate”, Undated
File 25- Arkansas Arts Council Correspondence, 1980-1985, Undated
File 26- Arkansas Arts Council Materials, 1980-1989, Undated
File 27- Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas Materials, 1981
File 28- Arkansas Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children Materials,1979-1983
File 29- News Articles, 1981-1986, Undated
End of Box 2
Box 3
File 1 – Other States Arts Advocacy Organizational By-Laws, and Materials, 1980-1988, Undated
File 2 – Other States Arts Advocacy Organizational Materials, 1982-1990
File 3 – Other States Arts Newsletters, 1983-1989
File 4 – National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies Correspondence, 1983-1988
File 5 – National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies Materials, 1983-1987
File 6 – National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies Newsletter “Connections,” 1984-1988
File 7 – National Assembly of Community Arts Agencies Materials, 1980-1982
File 8 – National Committee for State Arts Advocacy Organizations Materials, 1984-1986
File 9 – National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Materials, 1982-1987
File 10- State Art Advocacy League of America Materials, 1986-1989, Undated
File 11- American Council for the Arts Materials, 1982-1987
File 12- Photographs
File 13- Posters and Maps
End of Box 3
End of Collection