Introducing Arkansas Originals: A New Nonprofit Celebrating the State’s Creators, Culture, and Communities

Launching with a major music heritage program, Arkansas Originals will spotlight  Arkansas-based musicians, artists, growers, and makers.
LITTLE ROCK, AR (August 2025) | A new nonprofit organization, Arkansas Originals, is launching with a mission to develop and celebrate Arkansas-based creatives and innovators
whose work shapes the cultural and economic identity of Arkansas. Rooted in cultural storytelling and creative entrepreneurship, Arkansas Originals connects
past, present, and future through a dynamic slate of community-based programs across signature categories, where the nonprofit will create awareness of individuals,
communities, and other organizations that are at the heart and have helped cultivate a thriving entrepreneurial culture across The Natural State. Foundational areas to be curated
are:
• Music – honoring heritage and supporting emerging musicians
• Art – promoting visual, folk, traditional, and contemporary artists
• Craft – sharing small batch creators and visionary makers
From a creative who is changing the face of town walls as a beautification project, a small batch crafter sharing their talent as a career and not just a hobby, to talents that transform
musical genres and American history.
“It’s not about the by-product with Arkansas Originals, it’s about the people, their perseverance, and purpose behind their product,” Daniels says.
First Program Launch: The Arkansas River Delta Blues Trail
The nonprofit’s first initiative, The Arkansas River Delta Blues Trail, will unveil historical markers honoring six influential blues musicians from the Delta region. The Trail will span
Keo to Pine Bluff and feature interpretive signage, public events, and educational resources.
For and By Arkansans
Led by creatives, educators, and community leaders across the state, Arkansas Originals is committed to serving rural and urban audiences alike with inclusive storytelling and
economic opportunity.

To learn more, donate, or get involved, visit arkansasoriginals.org. A Kat Daniels Original.