Michael Mayton named chair of AMFA Foundation; Warren and Harriet Stephens named director emeritus

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) announced Michael R. Mayton as chair of the AMFA Foundation.

In addition, Larry Middleton, Mary Ritchey, and Miles Stephens join the AMFA Foundation as new directors. Harriet Stephens and Warren Stephens are both named AMFA Foundation director emeritus.

These announcements accompany the resignations of Warren Stephens as chair of the AMFA Foundation and Harriet Stephens as foundation director and chair of the governance committee.

“Harriet and I are honored to have served the museum in many different leadership capacities over the years,” said Warren Stephens. “With the transformation and opening of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts building and grounds, we are confident that AMFA has a bright future that will continue to educate and inspire all Arkansans and visitors to our state.”

Harriet and Warren Stephens have supported AMFA for over 40 years, most recently as co-chairs of the “Reimagining the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts” capital campaign, which raised $176.6 million to support the construction and opening of the new AMFA while strengthening the critical funding needed for future operations.

In addition to their previous roles on the AMFA Foundation, the Stephens formerly served on AMFA’s Board of Trustees as president and chair. Harriet Stephens chaired the AMFA Building Committee, which for seven years has been integrally involved in every aspect of the new building’s design, construction and relaunch.

In recognition of their longstanding dedication to AMFA, Harriet and Warren Stephens were awarded the organization’s Winthrop Rockefeller Memorial Award in 2005. Named for the former governor of Arkansas, an instrumental figure in AMFA’s establishment, the award is the highest honor for service bestowed by the museum.

“Warren and I are delighted the directors appointed Mike Mayton as the incoming chair of the foundation,” said Harriet Stephens. “In my capacity as chair of the building committee, on which Mike served for seven years, I can speak firsthand to his dedication, perseverance and knowledge of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. This experience combined with his roles as foundation director and chair of the art committee uniquely positions him to lead the foundation and support the work of the museum.”

“AMFA has a special role in our community and state,” Mayton said. “The museum is not only an arts and culture hub, but it serves as a place to inspire the next generation through visual, performing and educational experiences. I look forward to continuing to serve on the AMFA Foundation and now as chair in support of the museum’s mission.”

The AMFA Foundation is a nonprofit entity that owns the 14,000 works of art in the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection. The foundation board manages the endowment’s investments, supports the museum’s ongoing operations and growth, and oversees art acquisitions and care of the collection.

AMFA Foundation directors include: Michael R. Mayton, chair; Ben Hussman, vice chair; George O’Connor, treasurer; Victoria Ramirez, secretary; Terri Erwin; Larry Middleton; Mary Ritchey; Miles Stephens; Robert W. Tucker; Darrell Walker; John Ed Anthony, advisor; Le’Kita Brown, AMFA Board of Trustees president.

Mayton received a bachelor’s degree in public administration with honors from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, where he served as associate editor of the Arkansas Law Review.

He was a lawyer in private practice for 47 years specializing in insurance defense litigation. He is president, CEO and senior trustee of the Stella Boyle Smith Trust, is an ex-officio member of the board of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and chair of the foundation board and art committee of The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. He is a member of the board of directors of the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra National Trustees at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Middleton is an executive vice president of Stephens Inc. He serves in an advisory capacity to pensions, trusts, endowments, foundations and municipal special purpose funds.

Ritchey has more than 20 years of experience in the visual arts collaborating with leaders in hospitality, corporate and residential design, and development. Ritchey has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and communications from Northwestern University with continued education at the Corcoran College of Art and Design.

Miles Stephens is co-chief executive officer of Stephens Inc. He was previously the president and CEO of Stephens Insurance. Prior to his role at Stephens Insurance, he was a senior vice president in the Investment Banking division of Stephens Inc.