Fayetteville Underground

The mission of the Fayetteville Underground is to promote the visual arts in Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas, support area artists working to high standards, and contribute to the advancement of Fayetteville as a destination city for the arts.

After a soft opening in August 2012, Fayetteville Underground artists and board members celebrated the organization’s return to the Fayetteville Square and move into new gallery and studio spaces in September 2012.

Founded in 2009, the original Fayetteville Underground leased the basement of One East Center — the site of many large opening receptions, great exhibitions, hard work, and camaraderie. The group lost the lease in December 2011. Soon after, several artists started meeting once a week to plan the return of the Underground and communicated their efforts to former Underground artists. Today, the group of about 25 regional artists includes several veterans as well as new members.

The reorganization efforts received a huge boost in May 2012 when the city’s Advertising and Promotion Commission awarded the organization a $55,000 grant to help with the move into a new space at 101 W. Mountain on the corner of Mountain and Block, maintaining a spot on the Downtown Fayetteville Square. The artists spent over two months renovating a section of the former Woolworth’s department store and Washington Hotel.

While the non-profit retained its name, it is no longer located underground; galleries and studios are at street level. Each month new art is made and displayed, while featured shows from new visiting artists change. The building currently features five galleries and seven studios of diverse working artists. Art is for sale, and artists welcome visitors into their working studios.

In addition to monthly art shows featuring artist members and visiting artists, the Underground believes in working with other local arts organizations to plan events such as concerts, readings, and performances. The gallery welcomes increased multidisciplinary arts collaborations to utilize the space most effectively and to enliven the visual art created and displayed by artists.

Fayetteville Underground board: Ralph Nesson (president), William Symes (vice president), Hank Kaminsky (treasurer), Sabine Schmidt (secretary); Bo Buelow, Dayton Castleman, Sharon Killian, Gregory Moore, and Lisa Jo Outlaw.