The mission of the Arkansas Humanities Council is to promote understanding, appreciation, and use of the humanities in Arkansas. The council emphasizes the importance of humanities in reflecting diverse heritage, traditions, and history, alongside the relevance of humanities in current national conditions.
The Arkansas Humanities Council focuses on supporting innovative humanities-based projects with the broader goals of connecting Arkansans to their history, each other, and various humanities disciplines, highlighting the state's diverse heritage and its relevance to contemporary life. Specific initiatives include funding for research projects on topics like Arkansas prehistory, history, and culture, aimed at benefitting both academic and non-academic audiences. They provide minigrants for both individual and collaborative research efforts that involve humanities scholars and nonprofit organizations, often in partnership with academic institutions.