FORT SMITH — The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is participating in NWA Gives, an online fundraising day being held Thursday. The giving website, www.nwagives.org, features more than 300 nonprofit organizations in seven northwest Arkansas counties. Donations to strengthen RAM’s educational outreach may be made at the website from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.
RAM features free educational activities and art viewing in four galleries and welcomes more than 10,000 art enthusiasts a year. RAM’s history stretches back 71 years; it was formerly known as the Fort Smith Art Center.
During the social distancing period caused by the COVID-19 virus, RAM is continuing to serve the public. The museum staff is sharing art and art activities through its social media sites.
“Our toddlers and homeschool students, their parents, and all of our members and visitors are our extended family, and we want to continue to feed everyone’s artistic passions,” Daleana Vaughan, education director, said.
Weekly, RAM will present art history lessons geared toward ages 5 to 18 through its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. RAM’s art studio is normally filled with homeschool students of this age, and their parents, from a wide region on the second and fourth Tuesdays.
“Our ‘Art History 101 with RAM’ lessons provided through social media will be a welcomed activity for these students and families, as well as for all interested students who are at home during this time,” Vaughan says.
For toddlers age 18 months to 4 years who have been enjoying RAM’s free Toddler Tuesdays, RAM will provide downloadable coloring pages.