FAYETTEVILLE -- A $2 million grant from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation will finish paying for the Walton Arts Center's expansion, officials said Wednesday.
The gift is designated for the capital campaign Investing in Our Future: The Expansion of Walton Arts Center. The $23 million campaign added 30,000 square feet of space. The expansion includes an expanded atrium lobby that connects to Dickson Street, significant renovations and expansion of Starr Theater, increased space for back of the house technical and theatrical equipment and new administrative offices.
WAC Opening
The Walton Arts Center’s opening is set for Nov. 19. Events begin at 9:50 a.m. with a ribbon cutting on Tyson Plaza at the corner of West Avenue and Dickson Street. A Family Open House will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring music, food, interactive activities and performances. “Encore!” from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. will feature music and performances from diverse genres. All events are free and open to the public.
Source: Staff report
"The building is going to be a great experience for patrons, and it's going to be a much better experience for our crews and our production teams as well as for our artists," said Peter Lane, president and CEO of Walton Arts Center. "It's just going to have an amazing impact on our ability to do what we need to do."
Officials with the Walker Foundation said they're proud to support the center.
"We are excited to help with this latest project to increase community access to the arts, special events, gatherings and educational programming for years to come," said Mandy Macke, executive director of the Walker Foundation. "We look forward to seeing families and patrons enjoying their shared experiences in this beautiful new community space."
The Walker gift put the center's campaign over the top, Lane said. The grant will allow additional technical upgrades for the facility.
"It's the capstone to a multiyear effort to really allow us to do this incredible renovation," Lane said. "Like all of our gifts, it goes to the overall cost of the whole $23 million project, which includes the design as well as the construction."
The new atrium will be named the Walker Atrium in recognition of the gift.
"Naming this space after Willard and Pat Walker will honor the Walkers' long-lasting support and investment in enhancing the quality of life and access to the arts throughout Northwest Arkansas," Lane said. "Since opening our doors, the Walker family has generously supported Walton Arts Center and the foundation's participation in this capital campaign represents trust in our future and the future of the performing arts."
Lane noted the recent passing of Pat Walker and lauded the couple's support of the Arts Center's education initiatives, the expansion and the Walmart AMP.
"I think the impact of what they've brought to this community as a whole -- and it's not just us, it's the university and hundreds of other organizations both in health care and arts and culture -- it's truly a classic American story," Lane said.
NW News on 10/20/2016