Nation’s Highest Museum and Library Honor Recognizes AMFA
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) is among ten institutions nationwide to receive the 2025 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, presented annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). For only the second time in the award’s 25-year history, an Arkansas institution has been named recipient of the award — the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.
Members of the National Museum and Library Services Board, the presidentially appointed advisory board for the IMLS, review nominations and make recommendations to the IMLS Director, who selects the winners each year. As Acting Director of IMLS, Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling selected the five museums and five libraries honored with the medal this year.
In an IMLS release dated February 18, 2026, Sonderling stated, “I am honored to have had the opportunity to award the National Medal for Museum and Library Service to these exceptional cultural institutions. They truly represent some of the best that the museum and library fields have to offer America and its citizens.”
AMFA will receive the medal at an in-person ceremony this summer, and a financial award in recognition of the Museum’s extraordinary civic, economic, environmental, and social contributions. AMFA is using the award to support Family Fest: American Summer, a free, museum-wide celebration for families on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Inspired by the spirit of Independence Day, this event celebrates the voices and creativity of communities across Arkansas.
“This award recognizes and represents years of hard work and dedication by AMFA leadership, staff, volunteers, artists, educators, and community partners who make the Museum what it is today — a vibrant cultural hub where all are welcome to discover, learn, and find joy in the arts,” notes AMFA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Victoria Ramirez. “This recognition strengthens our resolve as we charge ahead with ambitious plans for an even brighter future.”
About the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Founded in 1937, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is the largest cultural institution of its kind in the state, offering a unique blend of visual and performing arts experiences. AMFA is committed to featuring diverse media and artistic perspectives within its permanent collection as well as through rotating temporary exhibitions. AMFA’s international collection spans eight centuries, with strengths in works on paper and contemporary craft, and includes notable holdings by artists from Arkansas, the South, and across the United States and Europe.
With a vibrant mix of ideas, cultures, people, and places, AMFA extends this commitment to diversity through the innovative Windgate Art School, a dynamic children’s theatre and performing arts program, and community-focused educational programs for all ages. Located in Little Rock’s oldest urban green space, MacArthur Park, AMFA’s landmark building and grounds are designed by Studio Gang and SCAPE, in collaboration with Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects.