In the heart of Greenwood, a small town with big dreams, the Greenwood Fine Arts Academy (GFAA) has spent the last three years transforming the lives of young people across the River Valley. Now, the organization that has become a second home to so many students is looking to secure a home of its own.
GFAA, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in the fall of 2022, was created to fill a need long recognized in Greenwood and its surrounding communities: a safe, creative space for youth to explore the performing arts. Executive Director Gwen Martin, along with a dedicated board of directors and volunteer officers, has helped shape the academy into a vibrant hub for expression, growth, and belonging.
In communities without dedicated arts facilities, opportunities for young people to develop their talents can be scarce. GFAA has stepped into that gap—offering vocal training, acting opportunities, and performance experience that extend far beyond the stage. For many students, it is a place where they feel understood. A place to shed the pressures of adolescence. A place to find their voice.
“The impact of the arts on our youth is immeasurable,” Martin said. “Students learn to communicate, to cope, to connect. They discover confidence and resilience. For some, this is the first place they’ve ever been told that their voice matters.”
That impact has fueled rapid growth, and with it, a new challenge: space. The academy has been fortunate to share the Greenwood Performing Arts Center, but as community demand for the facility continues to rise, securing consistent rehearsal and performance slots has become increasingly difficult.
Now, GFAA is taking a bold step toward its future—a permanent building that will serve not only the academy, but the entire region.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help make that goal a reality: https://gofund.me/12e49cdfd
The proposed facility will house youth programming and also open its doors to adult community theatre productions, concerts, movies, public meetings, and special events. It is a vision for a true community hub—something the River Valley currently lacks. Without such a space, residents must often travel to Fort Smith or Northwest Arkansas for arts and cultural opportunities.
GFAA leaders believe a dedicated venue in Greenwood would do more than enrich local arts. It would support economic development, keep families engaged close to home, and strengthen community identity.
“This isn’t just about a building,” Martin said. “It’s about creating a place where we can live, work, and play together. A place that brings people of all ages together through creativity and connection.”
The academy is calling on residents, businesses, and supporters from across the region to help bring that vision to life. Every donation, they say, brings them one step closer to building the future of the arts in the River Valley.
For those who wish to contribute, the fundraiser can be found at https://gofund.me/12e49cdfd.
