Spiva Center for the Arts

Spiva Center for the Arts The mission of Spiva is to create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience, make, and share art.
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The mission of Spiva is to celebrate the creative experience. Our vision is to be a community catalyst, joining culture, community, education, business, and the arts as one, endeavoring to be a model for art centers across the nation. Spiva Staff:
Executive Director: Heather Lesmeister
Education Director: Des Hernandez
Exhibits Director: Shaun Conroy
External Affairs Director: Chase Burgess
Admini

strator: Paige Mock
Bookkeeper: Arthur St. Onge
Guest Experience Specialist: Kris Strausbaugh
Special Projects Coordinator: Kaitlyn Summers

The award winners for 66 Stories: Attractions, Oddities, and Americana are here! Thank you to all of the artists who are...
05/30/2026

The award winners for 66 Stories: Attractions, Oddities, and Americana are here! Thank you to all of the artists who are exhibiting unique, vibrant, and whimsical work in this exhibit celebrating 100 years of Route 66.

• 1st Place | Cynthia Marcoux, Motel 66
• 2nd Place | Jason Lanegan, Reliquary for a Butcher Shop
• 3d Place | Jason Williams, Hard Traveling on Route 66
• Honorable Mention | Daniel Roth, Hillbilly Whirlygig

Explore more about this exhibit celebrating Route 66 at https://spivaarts.org/exhibition/66-stories-attractions-oddities-americana/

Next up are the Watercolor Honor Society designated awards, chosen by WHS members Mary Jane Mooneyham and Debora Reed✨ C...
05/30/2026

Next up are the Watercolor Honor Society designated awards, chosen by WHS members Mary Jane Mooneyham and Debora Reed✨ Congratulations to all exhibiting artists!

➤ Cash Prizes Awarded by Watercolor USA Honor Society:
• WHS Board of Directors Award – $500 | Melisa Van Egdom, Enlightened Curiosity
• WHS Board of Directors Award – $500 | Cindy Kopenhafer, Carmel
• WHS Board of Directors Award – $500 | Yidan Guo, Lin Yang
• Sandra Schaffer Memorial Award – $300 | Mami Weber, Where the Light Learns to Stay
• Robert L Mejer Award – $500 for Abstract or Non-Objective Painting | Kathleen Conover, Crossing the Bridge
• Robert L Mejer Memorial Award – $300 | Kelly Eddington, Guardians Of Each Other’s Solitude
• Susan Amstater Schwartz Memorial Award – $300 | Cindy Brabec-King, Chasing Wind
• Reita Walker Miller Memorial Award – $300 | Lee Walter, The Feeling Was Mutual
• Ellen Murray Memorial Award – $300 | Bev Jozwiak, Girl with the Curl
• Award Of Excellence – $300 | Dan R. Kirchhefer, Northern Ireland
• Award Of Excellence – $300 | Sarah Gatewood, Cool Dood
• Award Of Excellence – $300 | Alicia Farris, Intonation of Nature
• Award Of Excellence – $300 | Megan Ripke, Eight of Clubs
• Linda Buechting Memorial Award – $300 | Alisa Shea, The Rising Tide
• Richard Clubb Memorial Award (Charter Member) Donated by The Clubb Family – $300 | Lea Magruder, Nuns at St. Anthony’s Bazaar
• Celia Clark Memorial Award – $300 Donated by Daughter | L.S. Eldridge, Remnants of Enchantment

➤ Merchandise Prizes Awarded by Watercolor USA Honor Society ($500 MRSP value):
• Fabriano Paper Award, Provided by Chartpak | Gregory Effinger, Chilly Hunt
• Daniel Smith Watercolors Award, Provided by Daniel Smith/JCC Industries | Marilynne Bradley, Three Sheets to the Wind
• Escoda Brushes Award, Provided by Escoda/Barcelona | Gail Delger, Bird Neighborhood

Explore more about Watercolor USA's history and this year's details at https://spivaarts.org/annual-exhibits/watercolor-usa-2026/

We are honored to announce the Watercolor USA 2026 award winners🌟 Here are the top four placing works in this prestigiou...
05/30/2026

We are honored to announce the Watercolor USA 2026 award winners🌟 Here are the top four placing works in this prestigious exhibit, which were chosen by this year's juror, Carol Carter.

➤ Cash Prizes Awarded by George A. Spiva Center for the Arts:
• 1st Place | Kenneth M. Shuck Memorial Award -$3,000 | Stephen Zhang, The Last Country Vet
• 2nd Place | Greg G. Thielen Memorial Award – $2,000 | Ben Wang, Analog Body, Digital Mind
• 3rd Place | Bill Armstrong Memorial Award – $1,500 | Karen Frey, Quiet Harbor
• 4th Place | Robert E. Goodier Memorial Award for Traditional Transparent Watercolor, Given by his Children, Winslow & Elizabeth – $1,000 | Mary Jansen, Mary’s Muse

Explore more about Watercolor USA's history and this year's details at https://spivaarts.org/annual-exhibits/watercolor-usa-2026/

05/29/2026

Art on Tap is Saturday, June 6th, 6-9pm!🍻 Check out Heather chatting with The Rewind 104.3 / American Media about our 18th year of brews, bites, and community cheer! The best part? Members get in FREE!

Check out details of a GIVEAWAY with AMI Radio for tickets to Art on Tap in the vid!

Explore more at https://spivaarts.org/event/art-on-tap/
Not a member yet? Join today at https://spivaarts.org/membership-levels/

Feeling unsure about how to create artwork for an electric box wrap? Have all the ideas and talent but also persistent a...
05/28/2026

Feeling unsure about how to create artwork for an electric box wrap? Have all the ideas and talent but also persistent anxiety and perfectionist tendencies (calling out every artist I know, lol)? 👀

You are not alone, and we are here to help!

Join us for an informal info session on Monday, June 1 at 4:30 pm at Spiva Center for the Arts, located inside the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex at 212 W 7th St in downtown Joplin!

We’ll walk through what artists should consider when creating artwork for a three-dimensional utility box, including scale, composition, visibility, and how artwork may wrap around the sides.

You do not need to know how to use design software or fit your artwork perfectly into a template to apply. The templates are simply a guide. It's not as serious as all that, for real. If your artwork is selected, we will work with you to prepare the final piece for production.

Bring your questions, your ideas, or just come learn more about the process.

This session is open to artists, students, teachers, parents, and anyone interested in submitting work for the call.

Art Outside the Box: Artist Info Session
Monday, June 1
4:30 pm
Spiva Center for the Arts

Did you ever take classes or participate in activities when Spiva was living in the Zelleken House?👀🩷 Comment below and ...
05/27/2026

Did you ever take classes or participate in activities when Spiva was living in the Zelleken House?👀🩷 Comment below and share your story and connection to this time in Spiva's history - we want to hear!

You can become a member of the Joplin Victorian Society, which assists the development and continuation of the Joplin Historical Neighborhoods Museum and its programs.🏠⭐️

Join here and support this historical resource: https://joplinhistorical.org/membership/

Have you explored Spiva's summer camps yet?🎨 These 9 weeks of camps sell out fast - and they are a blast!🎉 From fibers t...
05/27/2026

Have you explored Spiva's summer camps yet?🎨 These 9 weeks of camps sell out fast - and they are a blast!🎉 From fibers to clay and ages 2-18 years, we’ve have camps designed for everyone. ⋆˚꩜｡

We can't wait for another incredible summer full of new creations! Register at https://spivaarts.org/camps/

Build your perfect camp day! This year, Spiva Center for the Arts is offering multiple ways to spend the day at camp, from a full-day creative experience to morning-only and afternoon-only options. Sessions run for 2-3.5 hours during the morning and afternoon, with a 30 minute lunch (Lunch Club) in between camps.
Thanks to a generous donor, a limited number of camp discounts are available to be used during check out! Discount codes are available for those who need them - see all info on our Camps page.🌟

Galleries are currently closed for installation! Check out four brand-new exhibits, including Watercolor USA 2026 and 66...
05/26/2026

Galleries are currently closed for installation! Check out four brand-new exhibits, including Watercolor USA 2026 and 66 Stories: Attractions, Oddities, and Americana, beginning this Saturday, May 30th🌟
Explore what's coming up at https://spivaarts.org/exhibition/

Exhibit artists and Spiva members - join us at the opening reception this Friday, May 29th from 5:30-7:30pm.

Something to celebrate🥳 Thank you Joplin Historical Neighborhoods, Inc. for highlighting and sharing the love for us and...
05/26/2026

Something to celebrate🥳 Thank you Joplin Historical Neighborhoods, Inc. for highlighting and sharing the love for us and our history!🎉🎨🩷

05/22/2026

Tina Arnall (Watercolors by Tina, LLC) has a piece titled "161" that memorializes the 161 lives lost in the 2011 Joplin Tornado. It is a heartfelt and delicate tribute to an event that changed our community forever.

This original piece as well as a limited amount of smaller print versions are available to view and purchase now in the Spiva Gift Shop inside the Cornell Complex.

Tina is also our current featured print artists, so check out her floral watercolor pieces as well as her incredible ink and watercolor cards.

Address

212 W. 7th Street
Joplin, MO
64801

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+14176230183

Website

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