At 10 in the morning today, the Arkansas Arts Center will host a ceremony to officially break ground in MacArthur Park on the upcoming $128 million expansion and renovation of the facility.

Participating in the ceremony will be Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Harriet and Warren Stephens, Studio Gang Founding Principal Jeanne Gang, SCAPE Founder and Design Director Kate Orff, Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees President Merritt Dyke, Arkansas Arts Center Executive Director Victoria Ramirez, and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr.

In February 2016, Little Rock voters approved a capital bond program which, in part, would provide funds towards this project for the Arkansas Arts Center. In December 2016 Studio Gang was selected to be the lead architect for the project.  SCAPE was subsequently chosen to be the lead landscape architect.  Polk Stanley Wilcox of LIttle Rock was chosen to be the associate architect for the project.

On June 30, 2019, the AAC closed its galleries in anticipation of the project. Over July and August staff relocated to the AAC Riverdale at 2510 Cantrell Road.  Museum School classes commenced in that facility in September.