West Plains named Creative Community in statewide recognition

The Missouri Arts Council has chosen the recipients of the 2026 Missouri Arts Awards, the state’s highest honor in the arts.

 

Among them is West Plains, which has been named the 2026 Creative Community. 

 

“The arts are crucial to the identity and growth of West Plains, the commercial and cultural hub of south-central Missouri. Creative businesses and special events from First Thursday Downtown Strolls to the annual Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival make for a vibrant location for residents and a year-round destination for tourists. Teamwork among the city government, West Plains Downtown Revitalization Inc., West Plains Council on the Arts, Missouri State University–West Plains, civic and service organizations, and the business community ensures that the arts are embedded in the long-term strategy for the city’s vitality,” reads the announcement. 

 

“The arts tell the story of who we are as Missourians,” said Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger. “These honorees remind us that creativity isn’t confined to one city or stage — it’s alive in classrooms, small towns, and communities across our state. We’re proud to celebrate their work and the lasting impact they’ve made on Missouri’s cultural life.”

 

An independent panel of Missourians from the statewide arts community selected the honorees from public nominations.

 

The other 2026 Missouri Arts Awards recipients are the Community Music School of Webster University, St. Louis, for arts education; City in Motion Dance Theater, Kansas City, for arts organization; Ray Harvey, New Haven, for individual artist; Erin Warner Prange, St. Louis, for leadership in the arts; and David and Thelma Steward, St. Louis, for philanthropy.

 

The 2026 honorees will be recognized in a ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol on February 4, 2026.