FAYETTEVILLE -- After 23 years on Dickson Street, the Walton Arts Center is about to begin its second act. But first, a brief intermission.
The arts center is scheduled to temporarily close its doors July 1. That's when workers with CDI Contractors will start heavy construction on a new lobby and entryway to the 51,000-square-foot building at 495 W. Dickson St. The center will open in late October or early November, in time for "Pippin," the first performance in a full, five-show Broadway series.
Web Watch
Go to waltonartscenter.or… for a virtual tour of the Walton Arts Center’s $23 million expansion and renovation project.
Source: Staff Report
Heavy construction will resume on the southwest side of the building, where Starr Theater is being expanded, next summer, with all work expected to be done by fall 2016.
When complete, the expansion and renovation project will add roughly 30,000 square feet of space, including the larger lobby, expanded Starr Theater, more backstage space and new administrative offices.
"There will be things that you can see, like restrooms and ADA improvements, and there will be quite a few things you can't see, because they're just for the artists: new storage; new production; new crew amenities," said Peter Lane, arts center president and CEO, during a unique groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday.
There were no shovels or dirt at the event. Instead, the ceremony was capped off by trumpet solos, a chorus line and even choreographed tractors.
Several dozen members of the center's council and foundation gathered with elected officials and other dignitaries to watch the groundbreaking from the lawn on the west side of the building.
"Dickson Street and the Walton Arts Center have grown up together. This first transformed Dickson Street and contributed in no small way to helping transform Northwest Arkansas," Greg Lee, chairman of the council, said. "With our 30,000-square-foot expansion, we look forward to welcoming even more patrons, more events and, yes, more of our children to the arts center. Investing in Walton Arts Center will now form the base for the new wave of cultural and entertainment growth on Dickson Street, and it's a gift for generations to come."
The expansion project was designed by Boora Architects and is being built through a $15.9 million construction contract with CDI Contractors.
A 240-space parking deck being built on the south end of the arts center property is a separate municipal project, backed by fees and fines from the city's paid parking program.
The center renovation is being paid for with a combination of private donations and local hotel, motel and restaurant taxes.
"Thank you citizens of Fayetteville for your strong and long-term support of this institution," Lane said Tuesday.
"Today is not only about bricks and mortar," he added. "It is about celebrating Walton Arts Center and the countless individuals who have partnered with us in order to make the arts an integral part of Northwest Arkansas."
Lane mentioned several major donors, including the Walton Family Foundation; Walmart Foundation; Marti and Kelly Sudduth of Bentonville; Tyson Foods; J.B. Hunt Transport; General Mills; and Billie Jo Starr, her family and the Starr Foundation in particular.
He said, as of Tuesday morning, arts center officials had raised over $20.5 million, or roughly 89 percent, of their $23 million fundraising goal.
Lane also recognized Pat Walker, a longtime supporter of the center, as recipient of the Helen R. Walton Distinguished Achievement Award before inviting attendees to join him inside the air-conditioned Starr Theater for a champagne reception.
In a meeting before Tuesday's groundbreaking, members of the centers' council and foundation approved the organization's $18.3 million operating budget for fiscal 2016.
The budget anticipates $12.7 million, or roughly two-thirds, of the center's revenue will come from "earned" sources, including ticket sales, fees, leases, concessions and merchandise. The other one-third is "contributed" income, such as grants, donations and a $457,000 transfer from the center's $4.8 million endowment.
Tim Vogt, vice president for finance, noted growth at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in particular. Revenue from the AMP is expected to make up $7.8 million, or about 43 percent, of next year's budget. Income there is budgeted to grow by $1.4 million, or 23 percent, in fiscal 2016 compared to this year.
The Walton Arts Center Council also voted to add four members Tuesday. The expansion was made possible when the Fayetteville City Council and University of Arkansas trustees agreed to revise the center's by-laws and articles of incorporation in mid-2014.
Two Walton Family Foundation appointees -- Marti Sudduth and Michelle Gloeckler -- were ratified by members of the center council Tuesday. The City Council and university board have yet to make the other two appointments.
The restructuring brings the arts center council's membership to 23 members, 11 of whom are appointed by the Walton Family Foundation, a charitable organization guided by the descendants of Sam and Helen Walton. The city and university each have six appointees.
Future expansion of the council is possible. According to the organization's revised governance documents, members must be added four at a time with two of those members being Walton Family Foundation representatives.
NW News on 06/24/2015