A little more than a year ago, the Eureka Springs School of the Arts launched a capital campaign to raise $850,000 for the purchase of property adjacent to the school’s existing campus, located five miles west of Eureka Springs. The expansion will allow ESSA to create a new, safer entrance and improved signage, while also providing flat land for future growth — including additional teaching studios, artist- in-residence spaces, community gathering areas and more.

Momentum surged in November 2024 when the Windgate Foundation pledged a $175,000 challenge grant, matching all donations dollar for dollar. On Sunday, Sept. 7, ESSA hosted the “Backyard Bash,” raising more than $15,000 and bringing the campaign within $6,000 of completing both the match and the full $850,000 goal.

Guests enjoyed lively tunes from local band Redbird while savoring delicious dishes generously provided by local restaurants and members of the ESSA Board of Directors. Adding to the fun, ESSA offered a community art activity creating paintings on mini canvases for the 2026 Artrageous Parade, an event hosted by ESSA each year on the first Saturday in May.

ESSA Executive Director Kelly McDonough shared her gratitude, saying: “This exciting new phase of growth is built on the foundation laid by all who have championed ESSA from the very beginning, and the community support that we have received toward our matching grant goal has been inspiring. A generous lead gift from CS Bank helped launch the matching funds campaign, and the momentum has carried us here today. We are deeply grateful to be so close to the finish line.”

Completion of the current capital campaign will allow ESSA to move forward with the next phase of campus development that will have a generational impact.

To learn more about ESSA’s capital campaign, visit https://essa-art.org/capital-campaign/ or call McDonough at 479-253-5384.