Happy New Year! Another year full of arts and cultural activity has come and gone – and Connect2Culture (C2C), Joplin's community arts agency, has captured these memorable moments every step of the way. With high hopes for 2026, let’s look back at some of the moments in 2025 we'll never forget…
➤ NEW FACES
Say Hello To...
The Joplin arts and cultural community welcomed several new faces over the past year. Left to right from the top: Spiva Center for the Arts hired Kearstin Mattox as their Director of Engagement. Downtown Joplin Alliance welcomed Leann Halsey as their Empire Market & Facilities Manager. Madison King was named Heartland Opera Theatre’s General Director. The Missouri Southern State University Office of International Education hired Becca Shriver as their Executive Director. And Joplin Little Theatre added Andrew Parker Greenwood, Managing Director, to their team. Make sure to say, “hello!”
➤ NEW PUBLIC ART
"Route 66 Tri-State Corridor"
In April, Visit Joplin unveiled a new addition to the Route 66 Mural Park in downtown Joplin. Route 66 Tri-State Corridor, a tile mural by Carthage artist Andy Thomas, depicts 25 notable landmarks located along the Mother Road in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Just in time for Route 66's 100th anniversary in 2026!
Location: Route 66 Mural Park (617 South Main Street)
"Ground Boss"
Early this spring, Joplin Rotary Sculpture Garden added its 29th sculpture to the trails of Mercy Park. Ground Boss, commissioned by Henry Robertson and created by sculptor Garland Weeks, pays homage to the mining past that helped build Joplin.
Location: Mercy Park (28th St and S Picher Ave)
HeartJoplin Murals
Since 2021, artist Eric Haun has been painting hearts on the walls of local businesses and buildings across Joplin to inspire a sense of community. This year, Haun added to the growing list of HeartJoplin locations, including Tropicana Bar & Grill, Missouri Southern State University, Suzanne’s Natural Foods, Counseling Associates of the Four States, the Cosgrove Building, and the Runaround Running & Lifestyle.
Locations: Tropicana Bar & Grill (2402 S Main St) Missouri Southern State University (3950 E Newman Rd) Suzanne's Natural Foods (3106 Connecticut Ave) The Cosgrove Building (222 W 3rd St) The Runaround Running & Lifestyle (303 S Main St)
Leadership Joplin Community Mural
Every year, the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Joplin program mentors area professionals and cultivates their leadership skills. As part of the program, each class facilitates a project to give back to the community—and the Leadership Joplin class of 2025 chose to brighten up downtown Joplin with a colorful mural on the back of Creative Car Audio. The mural was created by artists Austin Clay and Derek Wieberg, and was painted by the community. The result: a vibrant, collaborative tribute to Joplin’s mining history!
Location: Creative Car Audio (629 S Main St)
Route 66 Street Art
After painting three different 3D murals on the sidewalks outside of the Cornell Complex in 2024, the World Street Painting Festival returned to Joplin this summer to add more mind-bending street art to the city. Ten international artists created 10 new mind-blowing murals at Shcifferdecker Park during the beginning of June. The murals, which commemorate Route 66’s 100th anniversary, are just the start, with more planned for next year.
Location: Schifferdecker Park (7th Street & Schifferdecker Ave)
"All Aboard"
All Aboard, painted by Sandra Dawn, is a vibrant mural on the south side of Smith's Floor Store in downtown Joplin. Commissioned by the Joplin Arts District in partnership with Allo Fiber and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, the mural depicts 33 children of diverse backgrounds traveling together on a train, with the phrase “You Belong Here” floating in the clouds above them, greeting visitors as they drive down Main Street.
Location: Smith's Floor Store (814 S Main St)
(Another) Mural at the Market
Joplin Empire Market isn’t just a great place to buy local produce and artwork, it’s also a great place to experience public art! This year, the Market commissioned artist Amber Mintert to paint a colorful mural in the building’s entryway. The mural depicts local flora and fauna, and ultimately highlights the importance of locally grown and sold items.
Location: Joplin Empire Market (931 E 4th St)
“Hey”, MSSU!
In January, Missouri Southern State University’s (MSSU) Department of Art & Design invited sculpture artists from across the country to share their work on campus. This fall, the oxidized metal sculpture Hey by Russell Whiting was installed outside of MSSU’s Student Life Center. Whiting hopes the sculpture will encourage students to take up metalworking.
Location: Missouri Southern State University (3950 E Newman Rd)
“Outward Bound” Returns
After a sinkhole threatened their safety, two bronze deer, called Outward Bound by Mike Boyce, were removed from the Joplin Rotary Sculpture Garden in Mercy Park. In November, after the sinkhole was stabilized, the iconic sculptures were returned to their rightful place! Location: Mercy Park (28th St and S Picher Ave)
➤ ARTS UPDATES
Cynthia Schwab's Passing
At the beginning of 2025, Joplin’s arts and cultural community mourned the loss of one of its own. Cynthia Schwab, founder of Pro Musica and a fierce advocate for the arts, passed away in January. Cynthia had an indelible impact on a variety of arts organizations in the area and she will be deeply missed.
Camp Crowder Mural Restoration
In 2024, the Neosho Arts Council discovered a mural created by an unknown soldier who was stationed at Camp Crowder during World War II. In May of this year, the organization began the restoration and preservation of the 80-year-old mural, and is still seeking donations to help with the process. Click here to learn more.
The Show Must Go On
Joplin Little Theatre’s Park Playhouse, a longtime cultural institution in the community, experienced structural issues this year, including cracks and sagging beams. While repairs are underway, JLT has continued presenting plays at venues across Joplin and is expected to return home in 2026. Funds are still being raised to support the repairs. Click here to learn more.
➤ COLLABORATIONS
Third Thursday Posters
Downtown Joplin Alliance teamed up with art students from Joplin High School this spring to create posters for this year’s Third Thursday events. The winning design, by Zazie Kim, was used on promotional posters that were distributed throughout the community.
"The International Art and Design Exchange Special Exhibition"
No matter where you go, art is a universal language, something students at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) and Zhejiang International Studies University (ZISU) discovered this fall. Artwork from more than 20 MSSU design students and alumni was featured in The International Art and Design Exchange Special Exhibition, which was displayed at ZISU in Hangzhou, China.
Halloween at Freeman's NICU
Parents with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can’t celebrate holidays with their children like most families. However, Fiber Arts students from Joplin High School partnered with Children’s Miracle Network and Freeman Health System to create adorable Halloween costumes for NICU patients, helping families celebrate the holiday during an otherwise challenging season.
➤ ANNIVERSARIES
artCentral Carthage
Est. 1985
artCentral Carthage has served Carthage, its surrounding communities, and its artists since 1985. The nonprofit promotes, exhibits, teaches, and fosters an appreciation for the arts. With three galleries, a gift boutique, library, and classrooms, artCentral’s doors are open for anyone—from professional artists to the average Joe—to begin or continue developing their love of art. Here's to another 40 years of artCentral!
Historic Murphyburg Preservation, Inc.
Est. 2005
Since 2005, Historic Murphyburg Preservation, Inc. has been dedicated to restoring, maintaining, and protecting the elegant homes that once belonged to Joplin's most influential families. These tangible pieces of the past, located west of downtown Joplin, are often the center of Murphysburg's events, which allow area residents to experience their grandeur and learn about their fascinating history.
➤ NOTABLE EVENTS
Mini Makers
This spring, Spiva Center for the Arts revived its Mini Makers program, a weekly art class where children ages 2 to 5 participate in hands-on art activities that encourage exploration, improve fine motor skills, and boost confidence. Since its return, the class has been a huge hit for little artists and their families!
Downtown Poetry Reading & Open Mic ft. David L. Harrison
Each month, Downtown Poetry meets at Joplin Avenue Coffee Company to share their love of poetry with the community. Every event includes a featured poet as well as an open mic portion. This September, Missouri’s seventh Poet Laureate, David L. Harrison, was the featured reader, sharing poems about a fly in the bathroom, going through a loved one’s clothing, and homegrown green beans.
"River Stories: Remembering the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
In November, Missouri Southern State University’s (MSSU) Division of Theatre presented River Stories: Remembering The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The play was a fresh retelling of Mark Twain’s classic tale, written by MSSU professor NaTasha J. O’Brien.
➤ AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Main Street America Special Recognition
Downtown Joplin Alliance
In August, Missouri Main Street Connection provided special recognition to Downtown Joplin Alliance (DJA) for the Joplin Arts Fest Field Guide. Part arts magazine, part festival program, and part whimsical sketchbook, the forty-two-page, spiral bound booklet was a collaboration between DJA, Connect2Culture, Post Art Library, Joplin Regional Artists Coalition, and Spiva Center for the Arts for Joplin Arts Fest in 2024.
Rotarian of the Year
Wally Bloss
A dedicated supporter of Joplin’s arts and cultural community was named Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Joplin this October. Wally Bloss, an active member of Missouri Citizens for the Arts, MSSU Choral Society, Pro Musica, and more, was recognized for his dedication to “service above self”, the motto of the Rotary Club. Congrats, Wally!
Lowell Milken Family Foundation’s ARTEFFECT Ambassador
Jessi Vacca
This November, Jessi Vacca, a Studio Art teacher at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, was selected for the Lowell Milken Family Foundation’s 2025–2026 cohort of ARTEFFECT Ambassadors, a competitive, online visual arts fellowship for middle and high school educators. Vacca, the only Ambassador from Missouri, will participate in professional development sessions and develop a learner-centered, visual-arts-based capstone project. Well done, Ms. Vacca!
➤ IN 2025 C2C HAS...
- Collaborated with 40+ arts and cultural organizations
- Sent subscribers weekly and monthly emails detailing arts and cultural activity in Joplin
- Given voice and identity to the Joplin area arts and cultural community through social media posts, monthly updates on local television, and more
- Promoted 1,000+ arts and cultural events offered in the Joplin area
- Strengthened the arts and cultural community through C2C Roundtables benefiting arts organizations/businesses, cultural institutions, artists, and citizens
- Hosted MO Arts Advocacy Training in preparation for MO Arts Advocacy Week
- Traveled to Jefferson City to advocate for Missouri Arts
- Facilitated and hosted the Poetry Out Loud Regionals for southwest Missouri
- Celebrated National Poetry Month with Post Art Library and Pub Hound Press by distributing hundreds of poems throughout Joplin
- Hosted the second annual Liberty Celebration!
- Hosted the fifth annual JOMO Jammin' Music Festival
- Hosted the tenth annual Joplin Arts & Cultural Preview with 25 organizations presenting
- Partnered with Bright Futures Joplin (BFJ) to collect 556 granola bars for BFJ's Snack Pack program in conjunction with Maddi's Fridge
- Hosted two Open Mic Nights (with more to come in the new year!)
- Partnered with Joplin Humane Society to collect pet supplies for shelter animals in conjunction with Mutts Gone Nuts
- Presented 38 performances or school shows in its home theater at the Cornell Complex
- Facilitated 63 rentals throughout the Cornell Complex
- Received funding from 7 different grant programs
- Secured 75 individual and business sponsors for its 25-26 Performance Season
- Raised $10,000+ through its End-of-Year Giving Campaign to bolster its children's programming
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
Help C2C Do More in 2026
As a nonprofit, Connect2Culture relies on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and organizations to ignite a passion for the arts, culture, and entertainment in the Joplin area. Consider making a tax deductible charitable gift to ensure C2C continues carrying out its mission in the new year!
Watch the Tenth Annual Joplin Arts & Cultural Preview via C2C's YouTube! Complete with timestamps to help you navigate to your favorite organizations.
Thank you for supporting C2C and #JoplinArts!
DID WE MISS ONE OF YOUR FAVS? Let us know by creating a post via Facebook and/or Instagram. Be sure to include the hashtag #JOPLINARTS2025 so we can share.
All featured photography courtesy Connect2Culture, except...
- Kearstin Mattox - Spiva Center for the Arts
- Leann Halsey - Downtown Joplin Alliance
- Madison King - Heartland Opera Theatre
- Becca Shriver - Missouri Southern State University
- Andrew Parker Greenwood - Andrew Parker Greenwood
- "Route 66 Tri-State Corridor" - Michael Wallis and Paul Whitehill
- "Ground Boss" - Joplin Rotary Sculpture Garden and KSMU Ozarks Public Radio
- HeartJoplin Murals - Missouri Southern State University, HeartJoplin, and Visit Joplin
- Leadership Joplin Community Mural - Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and Andy Neher Photography
- Route 66 Street Art - World Street Painting
- "All Aboard" - Joplin Regional Community Foundation and Visit Joplin
- (Another) Mural at the Market - Joplin Empire Market
- “Hey”, MSSU! - City of Lakeland, Florida
- “Outward Bound” Returns - Joplin Rotary Sculpture Garden
- Cynthia Schwab's Passing - The Joplin Globe and Pro Musica Joplin
- Camp Crowder Mural Restoration - Neosho Arts Council
- The Show Must Go On - Joplin Little Theatre
- Third Thursday Posters - Joplin Schools and Joplin Schools Art Department
- "The International Art and Design Exchange Special Exhibition" - Missouri Southern State University
- Halloween at Freeman's NICU - Freeman Health System and Joplin Schools
- artCentral Carthage - artCentral Carthage
- Urban Art Gallery - Urban Art Gallery and Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce
- Historic Murphyburg Preservation, Inc. - Historic Murphyburg Preservation, Inc.
- Mini Makers - Spiva Center for the Arts
- "Missouri Wildflowers" by Ken Southwick - Ken Southwick and Newstalk KZRG
- Downtown Poetry Reading & Open Mic ft. David L. Harrison - Springfield News Leader and Downtown Poetry
- "River Stories: Remembering the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - Missouri Southern State University
- Main Street America Special Recognition - Missouri Main Street Connection
- Rotarian of the Year - Roger Nomer and Missouri Southern State University
- Lowell Milken Family Foundation’s ARTEFFECT Ambassador - Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School