VOLUME 4

September 2026

In This Issue

We are mid-third quarter of 2026 and halfway through our Women to Watch Words Become Matter Arkansas tour. Here's what's happening through October.

The Women to Watch artists’ books exhibition is at the Kresge Gallery, Lyon's College, Batesville, from August 21st through October 3rd. Opening Night will be celebrated on September 10th at 5 pm. 

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) conference dates have changed to April 13 through 15, 2027. The 20th Anniversary of Women to Watch exhibition and the 40th Anniversary of NMWA will be celebrated on the evening of April 16, 2027. Read more about the artists selected here.

130 Arkansas women have served on the committee since its inception in 1989. A board member spotlight section will capture some of their recent achievements. Scroll to learn more about Ashley Wimberley being installed as President of Newspaper Association Managers (NAM).

WOMEN TO WATCH UPDATES

"Arkansas Women to Watch 2026: Words Become Matter" Exhibition Arrives in Batesville

The exhibition has traveled to Batesville, Arkansas. We are looking forward to the opening reception on September 10th at Lyon College Kresge Gallery in Batesville.

On view from August 21st through October 3rd, the exhibition will be open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Board of Directors of the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts invites you to a reception for the Batesville opening on September 10th at 5 PM.

For more information about the Arkansas Women to Watch 2026: Words Become Matter exhibition, please click the button to visit our website.

BATESVILLE

August 21 - October 3:

Kresge Gallery of Lyon College

2300 Highland Rd, Batesville, AR 72501

Lyon College recently shared an exciting news article detailing the arrival of "Arkansas Women to Watch 2026: Words Become Matter" at the Kresge Gallery on campus.

The full article can be found here on the Lyon website or is available below.

This is the fourth stop for the traveling exhibition, out of five stops across Arkansas.

Recap of the Opening Night at the Kline Family Foundation Gallery, The ARTSpace on Main, Pine Bluff

On July 9th, board members Gay Bechtelhiemer and Garbo Hearne attended the opening night on behalf of the Arkansas Committee at the Kline Family Foundation Gallery, The ARTSpace on Main in Pine Bluff. This is the second Women to Watch exhibition held in Pine Bluff. We appreciate their ongoing partnership and support of the arts throughout their Artx3 campus. 

DaQuaron DQ Dale, Interim Curator & Arts Engagement Coordinator, hosted the event and captured some event photos. You can see more information about the Artx3 campus here and photos from the exhibition here.

Photos from the opening reception of the Pine Bluff stop on the tour, including ACNMWA Board Members Gay Bechtelhiemer and Garbo Hearne (top left).

ANNOUNCEMENTS & SPOTLIGHTS

Board Member Spotlight

Ashley Kemp Wimberley, Executive Director of the Arkansas Press Association, marked her 21st work anniversary with the organization and was installed as President of Newspaper Association Managers (NAM) in August 2026. 

About the Arkansas Committee National Museum of Women in the Arts:

Founded in 1989 and celebrating its 37th year, ACNMWA is a nonprofit volunteer organization that highlights the accomplishments of Arkansas women artists and shares the groundbreaking work of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, D.C., with a statewide audience. For more information, visit acnmwa.org.

National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) visit nmwa.org.

ACNMWA.ORG