The artist behind a planned “monument to the unborn” at the Arkansas Capitol said Tuesday she expects fundraising for the project to reach $100,000 by the end of October.
Act 310 of 2023 authorizes the Secretary of State to place a monument recognizing unborn children aborted in Arkansas during the Roe v. Wade era. State records say at least 236,243 abortions took place in Arkansas from 1973 to 2022.
The Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission selected artist Lakey Goff’s “living wall” design of flora and fauna in late 2023. Fundraising began in May. As of Tuesday, the effort has raised $25,110, according to commissioner Michael Harry.
The cost of the monument is now estimated at more than $900,000, up from Goff’s initial projection of $250,000 to $500,000. Commissioner Stephen Bright has said he hopes to scale back the design to reduce costs to about $700,000.
Commissioner Tony Leraris said he doubts the full amount can be raised quickly. “I’m afraid with this gigantic, almost seven-digit number that’s in front of us, I think we’ll all be dead and gone before the money is ever raised,” Leraris said. He was the only commissioner to abstain from last year’s design vote, saying monuments should focus on military or government history.
Earlier this month, the Arkansas Legislative Council authorized the commission to use $20,000 of donated funds for design and construction. Bright said about $16,000 of that has gone to landscape architects with Development Consultants Inc. Little Rock contracting firm Nabholz is managing the project at no charge.
Construction cannot begin until at least 10% of the necessary funds have been raised, Harry said. Goff has proposed building the monument behind the Capitol, north of the Supreme Court building.
Goff told the commission she believes the effort has momentum. “There’s no fear here, there’s no lack, there’s no scarcity, and it’s going to be beautiful for everyone,” she said.
The commission’s next meeting is set for Oct. 7.
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