Prairie Arts Center
Home of the Historic Federal Building in North Platte, Nebraska.
Connecting our Community
Through Arts
The Prairie Arts Center is a nonprofit rooted in the rich history of the downtown Canteen District in North Platte. Housed in a beautifully restored historic building, it reflects the area’s cultural heritage while continuing to evolve as a creative hub.
Today, PAC provides opportunities for artistic expression through exhibits, classes, concerts, and community events. Discover how it all began and learn more about its story.
.jpg)
.jpeg)
HISTORY
ABOUT THE PRAIRIE ARTS CENTER
The Prairie Arts Center is housed in a historic 1913 federal building that once served as a post office before being reimagined as a space for the arts. In 2008, the building was acquired and began an ongoing restoration through community support and volunteer efforts, transforming it into a vibrant creative hub that continues to preserve its rich architectural and cultural legacy.
In The Skies of the South Pacific 1943
In the Skies of the South Pacific: 1943 invites visitors to step back into World War II through a remarkable private collection of military memorabilia and custom-built ship and aircraft models by Andy Miller. On display in the Impact Gallery at the Prairie Arts Center in North Platte, Nebraska, this exhibition highlights the history, craftsmanship, and stories behind the military presence in the South Pacific during 1943. From detailed model recreations to historical memorabilia, visitors can explore a pivotal period in aviation and naval history through one collector's passion for preserving the past.
Live Demonstrations:
Join Andy Miller November 17–20 and December 14, from 12–3 PM, for live demonstrations and a closer look at the artistry and detail behind the collection.
It Takes A Soul To Love The Prairie
It Takes a Soul to Love the Prairie celebrates the beauty, resilience, and spirit of Nebraska through the work of Nebraska artists inspired by the writings of Willa Cather. This exhibition invites viewers to experience the prairie as more than a landscape, but as a living presence and a relationship built on empathy, humility, and care. Through subtle shifts of light, movement, and stillness, the artwork explores the emotional and spiritual connection between people and the land. It is an invitation to slow down, look beyond the scenery, and discover the prairie not only with your eyes, but with your soul.
Sheldon Statewide Exhibit: Hyphen American
The exhibition “Hyphen American” explores the many ways art conveys themes of identity, gender, race, ethnicity, and class that reflect the diversity of the American experience. Presented during the United States' two-hundred-and-fiftieth celebration, the artists in “Hyphen American” examine how individuals represent themselves and others, depict histories and struggles, and create communities and rituals that shape personal and collective identities.
This presentation of Sheldon Statewide is adapted from the exhibition “Hyphen American: Intersection of Identity, presented at Sheldon Museum of Art in the spring of 2026, organized by Christian Wurst, associate curator for exhibition.
This exhibition is part of Sheldon Statewide; an annual program started in 1987 with the purpose of sharing the collection of the Sheldon Museum of Art with the people of Nebraska. During the 2026-2027 school year, “Sheldon Statewide: Hyphen American”* *will visit eight venues and will be seen by thousands of people. The communities hosting this exhibition are Chadron, North Platte, McCook, Grand Island, York, Beatrice, Fremont, and Falls City. We encourage you to take part in this community event.
Sponsored by Nebraskaland Bank
In the Galleries
.jpg)
