Brick District makes plans for bigger, better 2014

A man observes a piece of artwork during the sneak preview of the Art House in downtown Fulton in December. Its grand opening event will take place today.
A man observes a piece of artwork during the sneak preview of the Art House in downtown Fulton in December. Its grand opening event will take place today.

With the opening of the new Art House and infrastructure improvements on the way, the Brick District Board has plans to make 2014 a big year for downtown Fulton.

Brick District Board President Tom Riley said much of the group's focus over the next few months will be getting the Art House - which has its grand opening today - and some associated programming up and running.

In addition to housing two businesses and work from local artists, Riley said arrangements are in the works to put on fine art classes taught by area artists and professors as well as fun classes "where we'll have drinks and music and art."

"Ultimately, we may have it every Thursday, and the First Thursday events will become a weekly thing," Riley said. "We're also going to have classes on Sundays and encourage some other businesses to be open ... to get more people downtown who are working during the week and can't get away.

"The gallery itself is to help the art community, and it's also a Brick District effort to bring more tourists in and have something else to do."

Part of that effort, he said also includes talks with Callaway's tourism board about partnering with the National Churchill Museum to draw in bus tours.

Although the Art House is a big project for the committee right now, Riley said another important effort involves planning for infrastructure improvements such is "additional and better outdoor seating."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.