The Ani Art Center in Stilwell opens as a 15,000-square-foot cultural hub to preserve and promote Cherokee art, funded in part by the Cherokee Artist Recovery Act (ARA). The ARA committed $4 million—up to $1.6 million for capital projects—to support artists, expand market access, and grow the collection. The center houses a growing permanent collection and an inaugural exhibit of 84 works by 66 artists, while offering gallery, conservation, and classroom space to inspire the next generation. Leaders say the ARA’s sunset should spur continued national-level investments in Cherokee artists and cultural revitalization.
Ani Art Center Opens in Stilwell, Sparking a Cherokee Cultural Renaissance
The art center also boasts 15,000 square feet of storage space to accommodate items between acquisition and placement at Cherokee Nation properties. (Photo/Cherokee Nation)
The Ani Art Center in Stilwell recently opened as a dedicated cultural hub to support, preserve, and showcase Cherokee art and artists. Named for the Cherokee word for strawberry—Ani—the center honors Stilwell's identity as the Strawberry Capital of the World and builds on the community’s growing momentum.
Purpose and Impact
The Ani Art Center is a tangible outcome of the Cherokee Artist Recovery Act (ARA). Enacted in 2022 amid the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and extended in 2025, the ARA directed meaningful resources to Cherokee artists and creative infrastructure. Under the program, Cherokee Nation committed $4 million to buy artwork, expand market access, provide direct artist support, and invest in artist-related capital projects; up to $1.6 million of that is dedicated to facilities such as the Ani Art Center.
What the Center Offers
The 15,000-square-foot facility provides space to assess, restore, and prepare works for display. It includes gallery space for rotating exhibits, reservable classrooms for cultural instruction, and conservation areas to support long-term care of the collection. The inaugural exhibit features 84 works by 66 Cherokee artists.
Program Results So Far
To date, the ARA has supported 452 artist applications, invested more than $550,000 in artist support services, and spent $1.1 million acquiring artwork. All pieces purchased through the law belong to Cherokee Nation and are held on behalf of the Cherokee people in perpetuity, with works displayed across the Cherokee Nation reservation and now housed, in part, at the Ani Art Center.
Investing In Future Generations
Leaders emphasize that the center’s greatest promise is its appeal to young Cherokees: a place where they can see art firsthand, learn from established creators, take classes, and find inspiration to become tomorrow’s artists, teachers, and cultural leaders. Whether children grow up in Stilwell, elsewhere in the 14-county reservation, or far from the Cherokee Nation capital, the Ani Art Center is intended to be an accessible place of learning and cultural renewal.
"Cherokee art and culture have helped sustain our people through difficult times in our past. Today, our artists deserve the same support in return." — Chuck Hoskin, Jr., Principal Chief
Looking Ahead
As the ARA enters its sunset period, Cherokee Nation leaders encourage using the program’s success as a springboard for continued investment in artists and cultural infrastructure. The Ani Art Center is not just a building—it is a living resource for preservation, revitalization, and a renewed Cherokee renaissance centered in Stilwell.
Key facts: Ani means strawberry; Stilwell hosted the 79th Stilwell Strawberry Festival with nearly 30,000 attendees. The Ani Art Center occupies 15,000 sq ft and opened with an inaugural exhibit of 84 works by 66 artists. Cherokee Nation has committed $4 million through the ARA, with up to $1.6 million for capital projects.
Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Help us improve.
