The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced grants totaling more than $3 million from the Windgate Foundation in support of arts education, acquisitions for the university's art collection, and efforts to address childhood poverty.

The funding includes a $1.56 million grant to UA Little Rock Children International, a nonprofit established in 1994 as a partnership between UALR and Children International with the aim of helping children break the cycle of poverty. The organization will receive $1.5 million to create an endowed fund to finance education and outreach programming and a $60,000 bridge grant to cover expenses over the next year.

A second grant of $1 million will be used to create an endowed art acquisition fund for UALR — $500,000 to acquire contemporary craft art from living artists and $500,000 to acquire other art forms from living artists. And a third grant of $470,713 will provide continued support for arts education outreach efforts to high school students and art teachers through December 2024.

"These three grants from the Windgate Foundation will go a long way to support art education and outreach programs in our community," said UALR chancellor Christina Drale. "We are thankful to the Windgate Foundation for their continued dedication to artists, art educators, and students across the state."

(Photo credit: University of Arkansas at Little Rock)