Location: Eureka Springs
Organization Type: Arts Education & Support, Music, Performing Arts
Mission: A summer music festival and training program for aspiring opera professionals, Founded in 1950.
It’s one of the most respected small opera training programs in the U.S.
Attracts young artists nationally and internationally.
Tickets are affordable and popular with locals and visitors to Northwest Arkansas

Find Organizations

Submit An Organization

Opera in the Ozarks

Location: Eureka Springs
Organization Type: Arts Education & Support, Music, Performing Arts

Events

January 2026
Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture

September 13, 2025 - January 26, 2026

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR

The roar of the stadium. The green of the field. A held breath erupting into victory—or defeat. Is it any wonder that sports inspire artists? With our latest exhibition, Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture, experience how today’s artists and designers respond to the drive, passion, culture, and systems surrounding...

$15
Watercolor Basics II: 3-Class Mini Series

January 6 @ 6:00 pm - January 20 @ 7:30 pm

NWA Healing Hub 524 W Sycamore St Suite 2, Fayetteville, United States

In this 3-part series, you’ll build on essential watercolor techniques with step-by-step instruction. You don’t need to have taken Watercolor Basics I to join—if you’re familiar with preparing paint mixtures, loading your brush, and cleaning your brush (whether through your own practice or another teacher), you're ready to participate. Throughout...

$108.55
Ozark Mountain Music Festival

January 15 - January 18

Basin Park Hotel 12 Spring St, Eureka Springs, AR

Celebrate the 12th year of the Ozark Mountain Music Festival Weekend! With a unique vibe of an outdoor music festival on indoor stages, this up close and personal music festival is held over four days brining American Roots and Modern Folk Music to the cool town of Eureka Springs, AR....

$199

Mission

A summer music festival and training program for aspiring opera professionals, Founded in 1950.
It’s one of the most respected small opera training programs in the U.S.
Attracts young artists nationally and internationally.
Tickets are affordable and popular with locals and visitors to Northwest Arkansas

About

History of Opera in the Ozarks
Origins (1930s–1950)

The story begins with Inspiration Point, a scenic bluff near Eureka Springs.
In the 1930s, Charles Mowers, an inventor, started building a castle-like structure there but abandoned it during the Great Depression.
In 1938, the unfinished site was purchased by Henrietta and Charles “Doc” Wertz, musicians who envisioned a place for arts education.
Educator and musician Dr. Henry Hobart “Doc” Wicht soon helped develop it into the Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony (IPFAC).

Early Program Development (1950s)

The first formal music camp opened in 1950, offering vocal and instrumental training.
Opera became a central focus quickly, with young singers performing staged productions for the community.
The rugged, scenic site became known for its mix of serious training and natural beauty.

Growth and Reputation (1960s–1980s)

The program expanded into a full summer opera workshop, attracting university-level singers from across the country.
Alumni began joining major opera companies, raising the festival’s national profile.
By the 1980s, it was recognized as one of the leading small opera training programs in the United States.

Formalization and Modern Era (1990s–Present)

The opera program eventually formalized under the nonprofit Ozark Family Opera Company, doing business as Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point.
Productions became more sophisticated, adding orchestral performances, surtitles, improved staging, and expanded repertoire.
Today, it offers:
3–4 fully staged operas each summer
A rigorous Young Artist Program
Performances both at Inspiration Point and on tour in Northwest Arkansas