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The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel

Experience
Museum-wide
$25 ($20/members, discounts and add-ons available)
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Moving. Meditative. Magical.
Experience an immersive vision of art-infused wellness

Rendering depicting a red heart with yellow dotted lines surrounding it above Crystal Bridges building

Join us for an immersive journey at the intersection of music, wellness, technology, and art created by four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and mental health pioneer Jewel!

Presented as a collaboration between Jewel and Crystal Bridges, The Portal features one-of-a-kind, 200-piece aerial drone shows choreographed by Jewel and set to an original score by the artist, a meditative art walk featuring works by prominent contemporary artists, a never-before-seen painting and sculpture by Jewel, and chef-crafted dining options as part of a complete experience for the body, mind, and spirit.

From the seven-foot hologram of Jewel welcoming you to the experience to the culminating choreography over the museum’s central pond, each element of the experience invites us to explore Jewel’s concept of the Three Spheres of human existence: the inner world, outer world, and the unseen world.

Encompassing our experiences of mind, body, and spirit, Jewel has meticulously crafted each aspect of The Portal to harmonize the Three Spheres, creating a dynamic space and experience where inner thoughts, external actions, and hidden emotions converge.

Innovative, transformative, and just plain fun, The Portal promises a moving, restorative experience unlike any other at Crystal Bridges.

See you there!

Light Caution symbolSensory Advisory: This experience includes brightly flashing lights and atmospheric effects that might be triggering for guests with sensitivities to flashing lights or neurodiverse guests prone to sensory overstimulation. Viewer discretion is advised.
Rendering depicting a white dotted circle above Crystal Bridges building

Ticket Options

General Admission

$25 Adults / $15 Youth 11–18 / FREE Youth 10 & Under

Member General Admission

$20 Adults / $12 Youth 11–18 / FREE Youth 10 & Under

Log in to see discount options. Not a member? Join today!

Includes admission to the drone show, narrated art walk, and commemorative reflection journal booklet.

Add-ons

Charcuterie Bento Box Package: $49
Hummus Bento Box Package: $44
Each Bento Box package includes bites for two and two drink tickets. Available for purchase during ticket checkout.

Worried about the weather? Call the Inclement Weather line to check on any cancellations: (479) 657-2488.

The Portal Dinner Experience

Looking for a way to enhance your experience of The Portal? Start your evening with a curated meal embracing the arts of food and connection!

Prepared by Crystal Bridges’ team of culinary artists, this seated dinner experience features three handcrafted courses inspired by the spheres that Jewel explores in The Portal: The Seen, Inner, and Unseen worlds. Flights of curated wine pairings for each course and dedicated bottle service are also available for those looking to make the evening special.

Dinner reservation tickets include dinner, non-alcoholic beverages, and general admission to the art walk and drone show.

A tableclothed table setting for two with drink glasses and centerpiece flowers looking out onto the Crystal Bridges upper pond in winter

Menu

1st Course: Seen
Roasted Carrots & Harissa, Greek yogurt, popcorn & pomegranate, cilantro (V)

2nd Course: Inner
Chicken Roulade, sundried tomato & chimichurri, brie cream, hickory nuts, pea tendrils (GF)

or

Beet & Squash Roulade, sundried tomato & chimichurri, brie cream, hickory nuts, pea tendrils (V, GF)

3rd Course: Unseen
Almond Dacquoise Cake, white chocolate Bavarian mousse, blueberry compote (V)

The Portal Dinner Experience Package

$125 + Tax

Thursday and Friday Nights Only. Includes GA Ticket and curated, seated three-course dinner in Eleven.

Add-ons

Bottle and Beverage Service $49 / person
Wine Pairing Flight $45 / person
Bottle service includes 1 1/2 Hours of house selection of craft beers, house wine, list of craft cocktails, and house champagne.

Related Events

Attend other events that explore aspects of the experience.

Wellness Festival

Celebrate the opening weekend of The Portal with a public wellness festival across Crystal Bridges’ and the Momentary’s campuses, May 2–5!

Filled with activities exploring different aspects of whole health, mental wellbeing, and flourishing across the three spheres, the festival is the perfect way to mark the opening of The Portal.

Thanks for joining us at the Wellness Festival. If you missed any of the sessions, check out the recordings!

Woman holding ball of flowers in each hand in an offering gesture
Photo by Ironside Photography / Stephen Ironside.

About the Artist

Headshot of singer Jewel wearing a western hat and embroidered jacket in the Crystal Bridges gallery

Jewel is a four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, visual artist, actress, New York Times best-selling author, and mental health pioneer. Best-known for her musical talents, Jewel’s passion and training in sculpture, drawing, and painting began before her songwriting career. Over the years, she has continued creating, working with paint and clay.

In spring 2024, Jewel will make her debut in the art world at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in Bentonville, Arkansas with The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel, featuring her own painting and sculpture. Throughout her art, Jewel combines her passions for storytelling, experimentation and democratizing mental health. For the past 21 years, Jewel’s Inspiring Children Foundation and Jewel Inc. have brought specially-designed mental health programs to at-risk youth and to leading corporations. Jewel created SELLA, a language arts curriculum for schools integrating social and emotional learning and mental health practices, and recently co-founded Innerworld, an innovative virtual mental health platform.

Jewel’s remarkable journey has taken her from a childhood with no running water on an Alaskan homestead to becoming a multi-platinum recording artist and mental health advocate. She has released 13 studio albums, including her latest release Freewheelin’ Woman, and will embark on a national co-headlining tour with Melissa Etheridge this summer.

Frequently Asked Questions


What exactly is The Portal?

  • The Portal is an immersive art experience created by Grammy-nominated artist Jewel. This experience includes a life-sized hologram, an art walk, a never-before-seen painting and sculpture by Jewel, followed by a 200-piece drone show. It is intended to be a slow, meditative experience centered around the three spheres.

When is The Portal open?

  • The Portal is open in the evening after sunset. Hours will vary based on when twilight occurs. Scroll up to click on the day you’d like to attend, then check the available time blocks for that day. Please note that The Portal is often open after the museum is closed.

What time does the drone show begin?

  • The drone show portion of the experience begins approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes after your ticketed time. For the months of June and July, the 7:45 p.m. ticket drone show will begin at approximately 9 p.m. The 9:15 p.m. ticket drone show will begin at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Can I take photos?

  • Yes, taking photos and videos is encouraged. However, flash photography is prohibited—the flashes will interfere with the light experience and artwork.

What should I wear?

  • This experience is located both inside the museum and outside on Walker Landing, so we recommend checking the weather for your ticket date and dressing accordingly.

There are storms in the forecast—will The Portal close?

  • The drone show portion of the experience won’t operate in certain weather conditions. If the drone portion of the experience is canceled, please contact Guest Services so that you can attend a different day at no additional cost.
  • Please call the Inclement Weather line to check on any cancellations: (479) 657-2488.

Are pets allowed?

  • Pets are not allowed as this experience is considered inside the museum. Service animals are an exception.

Is there an age restriction?

  • The experience is designed for all ages. If you have accessibility needs in your party, please see the Accessibility section of this FAQ for more information.

Are there any concerns for guests with sensory sensitivities?

  • The drone show includes lights that turn on and off and change rapidly, which might be triggering for guests who have sensitivities to flashing lights or neurodiverse guests prone to sensory overstimulation.

Where should I park?

  • Parking is free for all guests by the museum, so there’s no need to reserve passes or register your car. Just cruise on in and park in any available space. Additional parking can also be found in our new Campus Parking Garage. Note: that there is limited clearance in the garage of 8 feet, 4 inches.

Why should I purchase my ticket ahead of time?

  • Tickets can be purchased on-site, but your preferred times may be full. We recommend purchasing your ticket in advance to ensure you can enjoy the experience at your desired time. Walk-up tickets are available if capacity allows. Adult member tickets are limited to 2 tickets per member purchase.

There is a time on my ticket. What does it mean?

  • The time on your ticket is when the galleries will open for the art walk portion of the experience. This is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes before the drone show is scheduled to begin.

Are my tickets refundable?

  • All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. If the experience is canceled due to weather, we will credit your account so that you can attend a different day.

Where can I buy a ticket?

  • Purchase tickets online, through the Guest Experience call center at (479) 657-2335, or Guest Experience desk when you arrive at the museum.

How many times can I visit the experience with the same ticket? Can I leave and come back?

  • Your ticket is valid for one visit to the experience only. Re-entry is not allowed.

Can the exhibition coupons given out at festivals and to school tour groups be used for free entry to The Portal?

  • No, the exhibitions coupons given do not apply to The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel.

Are there restrooms?

  • Yes, restrooms are located inside the museum and are wheelchair accessible.

Will there be food once we’re inside?

  • Yes. There will be light snacks and drinks available for purchase. If you purchased a culinary package along with your tickets, it can be picked up on Walker Landing.

Can we bring snacks or drinks into The Portal?

  • No outside food, drinks, or coolers will be allowed inside.

My kids and I love souvenirs—will there be merchandise for sale?

  • Yes! Stop by the museum store to pick up a unique gift.

Why can’t I visit the experience during the day?

  • The Portal is designed as an immersive, nighttime experience. The drone show uses light and illumination, which cannot be seen during the day.

Is The Portal accessible to all?

  • Yes. This experience is located inside the museum and on Walker Landing. There are elevators that take you from the entrance to the museum lobby and throughout the museum. There are also wheelchair-accessible restrooms available inside the museum.

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