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Life imitates art for new Crystal Bridges board chair Olivia Walton

Life imitates art for new Crystal Bridges board chair Olivia Walton

Olivia Walton is also enthusiastic about Northwest Arkansas’ place in the national arts conversation.

“I think we’re on the map; I think Bentonville is up there with Marfa,” she said, referencing the small west Texas town that’s known as an arts hub. “Whenever I’m on the coasts, people know of Crystal Bridges, and they respect what Alice is doing. They admire the collection, and I think we’re on the shortlist for top art destinations in the country.

New Crystal Bridges board chair Olivia Walton is on a mission to expand the definition of art

New Crystal Bridges board chair Olivia Walton is on a mission to expand the definition of art

Olivia Walton, the new board chair for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, is full of hints of what’s to come. Named in mid-November to the post, she takes over for museum founder Alice Walton in that role. Olivia Walton, a former technology reporter for Bloomberg and NBC, is married to Tom Walton, grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. Her background in the arts stems from childhood through college to her adult work.

Bentonville concert series a lift for Northwest Arkansas creative economy

Bentonville concert series a lift for Northwest Arkansas creative economy

Northwest Arkansas’ creative economy is getting a boost through the Momentary’s Courtyard Sessions concert series following a year of venue closings and programming restrictions because of the covid-19 pandemic, coordinators say. The series began June 27 and features free, live music by Northwest Arkansas artists from 4:30-7 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 26 in the Momentary’s Arvest Bank Courtyard, said Pia Agrawal, curator of performing arts.

Roadtrip! OZ Art ARkanvas mural experience is a new reason to tour the state

Roadtrip! OZ Art ARkanvas mural experience is a new reason to tour the state

Once again, world-renowned artists have ventured to The Natural State, unleashing an explosion of creativity in the form of vibrant murals with positive messages. This time their creations were not limited to a specific city; the entire state became their ARkanvas. Twelve muralists embraced nine cities, crafting works of art to inspire and spark conversation, following a theme to promote “Unity.” OZ Art orchestrated this latest public art endeavor, partnering with award-winning art promoter Unexpected and recruiting assistance from international art-networking specialist JustKids as curator.