JONESBORO, Ark. – The Foundation of Arts (FOA) marked its 40th anniversary with a celebration Sunday in downtown Jonesboro, reflecting on the organization's decades-long impact on the community.
Lynette Hirsch, executive director of the FOA, said the milestone is a testament to the organization's history and significance. “Forty years of any entity is something definitely to be celebrated,” Hirsch stated. She added that the arts are vital to building a thriving community, offering unique opportunities to bring people together.
The anniversary event, held at the Forum Theater, featured a special performance preview of the FOA's current production, *House of Villains*. Jake Seale, who portrays Lord Farquaad in the show, shared how deeply connected he has become to the organization since moving to Jonesboro from Texas a year and a half ago.
“I just wanted to come be a part of it and come see what it was all about,” Seale said. “And now they’re stuck with me forever.” His father, a longtime supporter of the arts, was honored with the "Heart of the Arts" award during the event for a history with the FOA that spans nearly as long as the institution itself.
Seale reflected on how the arts hold personal meaning for different people. “For me, it looks like singing and dancing,” he said. “I always tell people I do not have an artistic bone in my body when it comes to anything but music.”
A highlight of the evening came when Hirsch debuted a redesigned logo for the Foundation of Arts, hinting at organizational changes planned for the upcoming year. While the logo signals a new chapter, Hirsch emphasized FOA's continued commitment to inclusivity. “It takes all of us—from those in the spotlight, behind the spotlight, operating the spotlight, and bringing others to enjoy it as the audience,” she said.
Founded in 1986, the Foundation of Arts serves as a cornerstone of cultural life in Jonesboro, offering theatrical performances, visual art exhibitions, and educational outreach programs that bring residents together and cultivate creativity across generations.
The event concluded with a shared optimism for the future of the arts in northeast Arkansas and the FOA’s ongoing role in building a vibrant, engaged community.