SouthWest Artists, Inc. was founded in 1945 and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains and National Forest of Arkansas, it is known for its diverse natural beauty, consisting of an area of 1.5 million acres. The county in which it exists is recognized by the Arkansas Parks and Tourism as a top location and popular haven for Plein Air painters, as well as a popular tourist area.
With a beautiful gallery as headquarters and hub of the Mena Arts District, SWA actively promotes the arts through educational programs and competitions for a variety of 2 and 3 dimensional mediums. Topping the list are the two, highly successful National shows; the SWA Small Works National Competition in May and The Art of the Heartland National Competition in October.