(a)

(1) The Arkansas Arts Council shall be the official agency of the State of Arkansas for the development and coordination of a comprehensive statewide program for the arts.

(2) In general, but not by way of limitation, the Advisory Council of the Arkansas Arts Council shall have and exercise the following powers and duties:

(A) To advise the Governor and General Assembly on matters relating to the arts;

(B) To hold both public and private hearings for the purposes of furthering the objectives of this subchapter and to promulgate and adopt rules for the performance of its duties under this section;

(C) To enter into agreements for any purpose consistent with the objectives and purposes of this subchapter with:

(i) Other states or with the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States having duties or functions similar to the Arkansas Arts Council;

(ii) Private associations or corporations;

(iii) Private or public colleges or universities;

(iv) Any public or private school; or

(v) Individual persons; and

(D) To do any and all other acts or things as may be deemed necessary and convenient by the Advisory Council of the Arkansas Arts Council to foster and promote the development of the arts in this state.

(b) Through the Advisory Council of the Arkansas Arts Council, the Arkansas Arts Council shall establish and carry out a program of grants-in-aid to groups or, in appropriate cases, to individuals engaged in or concerned with the arts for the purpose of enabling them to provide or support in Arkansas, as follows:

(1) Productions that have substantial artistic and cultural significance, giving emphasis to creativity and the maintenance and encouragement of professional excellence;

(2) Projects that will encourage and assist artists and enable them to achieve standards of professional excellence; and

(3) Other relevant projects, including surveys, research, education, and planning in the arts.

(c)

(1) The Arkansas Arts Council shall be the sole and official agency of this state to receive any funds allocated and disbursed to the State of Arkansas by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof pursuant to the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 951 et seq., as well as funds received for any program related to the arts and not expressly designated for some other state agency and to disburse the funds in accordance with the terms and conditions, if any, relating to the grants.

(2) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Arts Council shall be the Governor's liaison officer to implement the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 951 et seq.

(3) All programs of grants-in-aid as described in this section shall be administered by the executive director.

(d) The Arkansas Arts Council shall be the sole and official agency of this state authorized to accept and receive, in addition to federal grants, any money and real and personal property donated, bequeathed, or devised for any purpose relating to the development and expansion of the arts and not expressly designated for some other state agency and to disburse and utilize those gifts for the purposes of this subchapter.

(e) (1) The Arkansas Arts Council is authorized to establish and collect reasonable fees for, but not limited to:

(A) Advertising in newsletters;

(B) Requested mailing list labels; and

(C) Conference registration.

(2) The fees collected shall be deposited in a financial institution in this state and shall be used to support services that conform to the purposes of this subchapter.

(f) The Arkansas Arts Council shall submit an annual report to the Governor as of June 30 of each year, summarizing the Arkansas Arts Council's activities, expenditures, and grants of money or property from all sources for the preceding year. This report shall include recommendations directed toward furthering the purposes of this subchapter as the Arkansas Arts Council deems appropriate.