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A. Crystal Bridges is an innovative, one-of-a-kind project. An undertaking of this significance and complexity takes time and must be done well. We continue to evaluate the project’s design and construction plans as well as the timeline needed to complete those plans. We are encouraged with our progress to date and expect to have a much clearer picture of a projected opening in the coming months
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A. Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring called Crystal Spring located on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.
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A. Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era. The museum has announced several major works, most of which are currently on loan to other institutions.
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A. Collaborating with other institutions will be an important focus of Crystal Bridges, even before the museum opens. Several institutions around the country have been or currently are displaying works loaned from the Crystal Bridges permanent collection.
Please refer to the Collections page for detailed locations.
Through these partnerships, we are able to make important works of art more accessible to the public throughout the country.
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A. Crystal Bridges will be a vibrant, engaging place that offers a variety of activities for visitors. When completed, the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. In addition to the permanent collection, additional gallery space will be dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. Sculpture will also figure prominently in the permanent collection, on view in interior galleries and outdoor gardens. A dynamic temporary exhibitions program will complement the holdings of the permanent collection.
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A. It isn’t. Crystal Bridges is a non-profit organization focused solely on creating a world class museum and cultural center for the benefit of the public. Because of Alice Walton’s extraordinary vision for Crystal Bridges and the museum’s emphasis on education and culture, the Walton Family Foundation has provided significant funding to help make the dream of Crystal Bridges a reality. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is in no way connected to the development, construction or planning of the museum or the development and ownership of the permanent collection.
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A. The new facility features two exhibit spaces and a large meeting room.- One exhibit space presents updated information about the construction of Crystal Bridges. With models, renderings and photographs, visitors are able to follow the progress of this major and complicated building project.
- A second exhibit space incorporates a gallery of approximately 900 square feet that features aspects of anticipated educational programs and the permanent collection of Crystal Bridges.
- In addition, the facility features a large meeting room for more formal educational activities such as workshops for students, teacher in-service programs, public talks and other programs.
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A. One of the museum’s primary goals is to encourage art and art history education for students of all ages by:
- Providing excellent and accessible learning programs and resources;
- Developing programs for parents and their children;
- Establishing school partnership programs; and
- Providing specific facilities and educational personnel for school tour groups, art demonstrations and art-making activities.
Much of our educational programming is still in the early stages, but educational facilities in the museum will include:
- A family learning area computer workstations and family-oriented activities;
- A significant library of American art and other notable resources accessible to museum professionals, art scholars and university-level students;
- An art reference library supporting a wide range of audiences from fine arts and art history students to the general public;
- A distance-learning studio to bring art and history education program into the schools of rural Arkansas and neighboring states;
- An on-site teacher resource center; and
- A volunteer docent program to support its education offerings.
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A. Applications can be submitted via the Careers link.
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