Land acknowledgement: Art Ventures acknowledges and pays respect to the Osage, Caddo, and Quapaw people and elders past, present and future, offering deep gratitude to their ancestral land stewardship of the land we live upon, dating from time immemorial. It is within the responsibility of Art Ventures’ educational mission and our commitment to diversity and inclusion that we disseminate knowledge about Native peoples and our history with them.  Art Ventures works to build authentic and lasting relationships with Native American communities through our programs, art exhibitions, partnerships, community service and cultural education efforts.

Legacy of slavery acknowledgement: Art Ventures acknowledges that we all live in a house that slavery built, perhaps not literally in every case, but generally true for this nation in which we live. We accept responsibility of this national debt that we owe to enslaved peoples and their descendants for over four hundred years including especially all those that contributed to the economies of Northwest Arkansas. Art Ventures works to build authentic and lasting relationships with descendants of enslaved people and all African-Americans through our programs, art exhibitions, partnerships, community service and cultural education efforts.

Legacy of nuclear bomb testing acknowledgement: Art Ventures acknowledges the deliberate exposure of inhabitants of the Marshall Islands to nuclear fallout. Many of these peoples and their descendants have chosen to live in Northwest Arkansas and have made significant contributions to the economy of NWA. We welcome them and extend our acknowledgement and respect. It is within the responsibility of Art Ventures’ educational mission and our commitment to diversity and inclusion that we disseminate knowledge about Marshallese Island peoples and our history with them. Art Ventures works to build authentic and lasting relationships with Marshallese communities through our programs, art exhibitions, partnerships, community service and cultural education efforts.

Our Values

• Quality of life is greatly improved through exposure to art.
• The universal language of art facilitates learning and cross-cultural communication.
• Individuals and communities participate in creative learning practices when they can identify culturally.
• Opportunities for cultural micro-communities to share their stories serve to enrich our entire population, send a direct message of inclusiveness, and encourage education and public engagement across diverse communities.
• Developing young artists adds value to the community.
• Supporting and educating artists and providing exposure for their work allows them to work to the highest standards.