Harrison Art League, Inc.
A Non-Profit Corporation

Harrison Art League, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation formed in 1963. HAL held its’ first show at the Hotel Seville. It is dedicated to improving art related educational and cultural opportunities for artists and the public in this region. HAL has no paid employees; all work is done by member volunteers.

HAL was one of the first groups to come together with the North Central Arkansas Concert Association, The Theatre Company and Women's Book Club to form the Ozark Arts Council in 1996. The groups joined forces to help ensure that all arts were represented in Harrison and to develop a central organization that would handle fundraising and help with publicity to ensure that the arts organizations had more time and effort to devote to their programs. With its’ membership in the Ozark Arts Council, HAL is entitled to use of any of the OAC’s facilites and equipment, along with volunteers. HAL provides the following programs:

Art Shows
Workshops
Demonstrations
Art Scholarships
Paintings Exhibited in Local Businesses

At least one judged show is held annually, open to all artists. The show has categories from oils, acrylics, water media, mixed media, pastels, drawings, photographs and sculptures. The show also has a student section and a novice section for artists who have never shown in a professional show. There may be smaller, unjudged shows or exhibitions for members only, as well as a juried Spring Invitational Painting Show.

In 1992, HAL began an art scholarship program. Students residing in the five touching counties (Boone, Carroll, Marion, Newton and Searcy) seeking a degree in visual fine arts at Arkansas colleges or universities may apply for a $500 scholarship.

In 2001 members of the Harrison Art League spent three months patching the hole in the Hobo Art murals in the theater and restoring them, with monetary support from Arkansas Historical Preservation Grant.

Arrangements for artists to exhibit paintings at local businesses are made at the regular meetings.

Harrison Art League also has an Artist Of The Month, where each month a member artist is spotlighted on the website and in the newsletter, and also has one of their works displayed at the historic Lyric Theater for the entire month.

HAL holds a "Social Sunday" on the third Sunday of each month which usually has a pre-determined theme each month, and is held at different area locations, with directions and details posted well in advance on the HAL website. This event is free to HAL member artists and members of the community alike, with the participants providing their own materials.

Workshops may be available on occasion. Part of the cost will usually be borne by the participants.

Regular business meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month in the Parish Hall of St. John's Episcopal Church, 704 W. Stephenson in Harrison. All members are welcomed and encouraged to attend, as is the general public and those interested in the arts in our community. You do not have to be an artist to join and support the arts. Membership in HAL is $25 per year.