Our History
Since its inception in 1986, The Foundation of Arts (FOA) has been at the heart of artistic and cultural development in Northeast Arkansas, serving the Jonesboro area and surrounding communities. With a mission to provide live entertainment and education in theatre, music, and dance, the FOA has become the premier arts organization in the region.
The foundation was born from the alliance of three organizations: The Jonesboro Fine Arts Council, The Northeast Arkansas Symphony, and The Friends of the Forum. Together, they united to form the FOA, with its primary home being the historic Forum Theatre—a movie house originally built in 1926 and known as The Strand. In the mid-1970s, the building was sold to the City of Jonesboro and renovated into a modern performance venue. Since then, thousands of local and touring artists have performed on its stage, continuing the legacy of arts in the community.
In 2001, the Northeast Arkansas Symphony moved to Riceland Hall at the Fowler Center on the campus of Arkansas State University, while the FOA remained in downtown Jonesboro at The Forum to continue its mission of providing accessible, high-quality arts programming. In addition to its live performances, the FOA expanded its educational offerings, establishing The Arts Center on Main Street to provide year-round arts classes in visual arts, theatre, and dance.
Milestones
The Foundation of Arts remains dedicated to the vision of its founders—enriching the quality of life in the community through the arts. With an emphasis on making the arts accessible to all and fostering individual artistic development, the FOA continues to serve as a vital part of the cultural fabric of Northeast Arkansas.