Building Bridges: An Evening with Ken Burns

Building Bridges: An Evening with Ken Burns

As part of our year-long celebration of America at 250, Building Bridges honors the American spirit of meeting in the middle—with curiosity, courage, and care. Hosted by Board Chair Olivia Walton, the series brings together thought leaders, artists, and thinkers with differing perspectives to model civic dialogue and the power of meaningful questions.

From our home in Bentonville, Arkansas, we invite our neighbors—and the nation—to gather at our bridge: a place that connects what’s divided and carries us forward together.

The conversation features acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns as he shares his latest documentary, The American Revolution. In conversation with Olivia Walton, Burns will explore how America’s founding ideals continue to shape conversations about democracy and governance today.

At a time of deep political polarization, this program invites a renewed civic dialogue rooted in the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the enduring pursuit of a more perfect union. The evening will begin with a welcome from Jeffrey Rosen, CEO emeritus of the National Constitution Center, include brief clips from the documentary, and conclude with the conversation.

Tickets are $50 ($40 for members), reserve your spot online or with Guest Services at (479) 657-2335 today.

Ken Burns

Ken Burns is an acclaimed American documentary filmmaker whose work has profoundly shaped public understanding of U.S. history and culture. A co-founder of Florentine Films, Burns is best known for his signature storytelling style—combining archival photographs, film footage, music, and first-person narration—to create deeply human, accessible histories. His landmark documentaries include The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The Vietnam War, Country Music, and The U.S. and the Holocaust, many of which have aired nationally on PBS and reached millions of viewers. Over his career, Burns has received numerous honors, including multiple Emmy Awards, Academy Award nominations, and the National Humanities Medal. His work often centers on themes of democracy, social change, artistic expression, and the complexity of the American experience. Burns is widely regarded as one of the most influential documentary filmmakers of his generation, with a career spanning more than four decades.

Olivia Walton

Olivia Walton lends her voice and leadership to advocacy for the arts, childhood wellbeing, and economic empowerment in America’s Heartland. In November 2021, she was named board chairperson for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Olivia also serves as executive board chair of the Momentary, principal of Ingeborg Investments and is a co-founder of the Heartland Summit. In her personal philanthropy, Olivia focuses on promoting the arts as an economic driver; improving the wellbeing of children in Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas/Mississippi Delta; and women’s empowerment. Olivia leads the vision for OZ Art NWA, which support the regional arts scene with its own collection on view throughout Bentonville and collaborates with regional and national artists to bring outdoor art to parks and trails. Olivia’s curiosity, interest in big ideas, and desire to make a difference come from her years of experience as a national journalist for NBC News and MSNBC, and as an anchor for Bloomberg Television in New York and London. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her master’s degree from the London School of Economics. Olivia lives in Bentonville, Arkansas with her husband, Tom, and their two daughters and son.

Jeffrey Rosen is a leading constitutional scholar, writer, and public educator, and has served as President and CEO of the National Constitution Center since 2013. In this role, he oversees the nation’s leading nonpartisan institution dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution through exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives, and digital resources. Rosen is also a professor of law at George Washington University and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. His books include The Supreme Court, Conversations with RBG, Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet, and The Pursuit of Happiness, which explore constitutional interpretation, civil liberties, and American democratic ideals. Widely respected for his ability to translate complex legal ideas for broad audiences, Rosen is a frequent commentator on constitutional issues in national media. His work emphasizes civic education, civil discourse, and the enduring relevance of constitutional principles in contemporary life.