The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) will host a series of sustainable floristry events featuring London-based designer Shane Connolly on October 24-25, 2025. The events, organized in partnership with P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm and the Little Rock Garden Club, include a cocktail reception, an interactive talk and demonstration, and a masterclass workshop.
Connolly is recognized for his artisan floral arrangements and work for institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the National Portrait Gallery in London. He is also known for his public commissions for the British Royal Family, including The Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen at Westminster Abbey in 2023, their marriage at Windsor Castle in 2005, and the wedding of The Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011. In 2024, Connolly was awarded the Royal Warrants of Appointment to both His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen, and in 2025 he received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sustainable floristry.
“In addition to calling MacArthur Park home, the Museum’s landscaped grounds and outdoor sculpture provide a constant sense of relationship to nature and the outdoors,” said Dr. Victoria Ramirez, executive director of AMFA. “Shane Connolly’s unique expertise will undoubtedly provide new insights and an abundance of inspiration for our guests. We are very thankful for our partners who made his exciting visit possible.”
Allen Smith, owner of Moss Mountain Farm, noted, “Shane Connolly’s philosophy of sustainable floristry and botanical displays reflects the values of our state: respect for the land, appreciation for natural beauty, and an eye toward stewardship. His use of native plants is especially meaningful here, as it echoes our own tradition of working in harmony with the landscapes we love and call home.”
The schedule begins with a cocktail reception on Friday, October 24 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at AMFA’s Cultural Living Room. Local designers will create seasonal floral arrangements inspired by the museum’s architecture, and guests will receive a signed copy of Connolly’s latest book. On Saturday, October 25 at 10:30 a.m., Connolly will give an interactive talk and live floral design demonstration influenced by Arkansas’s natural beauty. That afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., he will lead a hands-on masterclass workshop.
Jeanne Joyner, president of the Little Rock Garden Club, stated, “The Little Rock Garden Club is proud to support AMFA and their commitment to programming such as these Shane Connolly events, which serve to underscore the connection between art and the natural environment in our community.”
Sponsors for these events include Barbara Rogers Hoover, Belinda Shults, Hadidi Rug Gallery, Moss Mountain Farm, and the Little Rock Garden Club.
Founded in 1937, AMFA is Arkansas’s largest cultural institution. It features visual and performing arts experiences through its permanent collection, rotating exhibitions, Windgate Art School, children’s theatre, and community educational programs. AMFA is located in MacArthur Park in downtown Little Rock.
