2025 Arkansas Living Treasure Has Been Announced

The Arkansas Arts Council has announced the 2025 Arkansas Living Treasure. The award this year goes to Stephen Driver in recognition of his dedication to the craft of pottery.

There will be an official announcement on Saturday, April 26 at Historic Washington State Park at the James Black's Bowie Heritage Festival.

Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism said in a press release,

Stephen Driver is doing valuable work with his mastery of craft, building a community for pottery in Arkansas. With 52 years of experience, Mr. Driver has touched many lives by building deep roots in The Natural State and is a true Arkansas Living Treasure.

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Driver has taught at international workshops, has had exhibits throughout the country and overseas. He has also taught his craft at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of the Ozarks. Last year he received the Arkansas Arts Council's Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist. Driver lives in Northwest Arkansas and owns his own pottery company called Mulberry Creek Pottery with his creations inspired by the Arkansas landscape. He is also the subject of a documentary called Ozark Wabi.

The Arkansas Living Treasure program honors an artist yearly who has excelled in a traditional craft or flok art while also teaching their craft to others to help preserve their traditional art forms so it doesn't become a lost art like so many crafts and skills have in the past.