Jonesboro, Ark. – The Bradbury Art Museum (BAM) at Arkansas State University has been awarded the 2026‑27 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant, making it the only organization in Arkansas to receive this distinction. The grant, part of a nationwide competition that selected 71 nonprofit groups, provides more than $1 million to support community‑wide reading initiatives.
Program focus and partnership
BAM will center its programming on Joy Harjo’s poetry collection An American Sunrise and the companion children’s book The Girl Warrior. Over the academic year, the museum will collaborate with A‑State academic departments, local libraries, schools, and other nonprofit partners across Northeast Arkansas to present exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and family‑friendly activities.
Director Julia Wintner said the award reflects the museum’s long‑standing commitment to making literature, art, and culture accessible throughout the Mississippi Delta. “We are deeply honored to receive this award,” Wintner said. “Being selected as Arkansas’s only NEA Big Read organization reflects the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to making literature, art and culture accessible throughout our region.”
Planned events and resources
The grant will fund free copies of both books for community members, teacher workshops, classroom resources, family literacy and printmaking activities, public lectures, panel discussions, poetry readings, interdisciplinary arts programming, student exhibitions, and creative responses inspired by the texts. BAM also plans to work with libraries, schools, museums, and other nonprofit organizations to broaden the reach of the program.
The initiative will launch with the opening reception of BAM’s fall exhibition “More Than Human” on September 24 at 4 p.m., which will serve as the kickoff event for the NEA Big Read. The program will culminate with a special visit by Joy Harjo on March 2, when she will deliver a keynote presentation as part of the A‑State Lecture Concert Series, giving students, educators, and community members a chance to engage directly with the poet.
Impact on the region
As the only art museum within an 80‑mile radius, the Bradbury Art Museum serves both the university and the broader Mississippi Delta community. By distributing free books and offering a range of educational activities, the museum aims to strengthen cultural connections and promote literacy throughout the region.
Community members are invited to pick up a free copy of the books at BAM, attend the public programs, and join the conversation throughout the year. For updates, event announcements, and participation details, readers can visit the museum’s website or follow its social‑media channels.
About the museum
BAM presents nationally recognized exhibitions of contemporary and historical art while caring for a permanent collection of nearly 2,000 works. Through exhibitions, education, research, and community engagement, the museum functions as a cultural and educational resource for Arkansas State University and the surrounding Delta region.
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
