Moderated by Nate Freeman, Global Arts Correspondent, Vanity Fair
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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges will kick off its expansion opening celebrations on Friday, May 29, with By Design: A Conversation on the Crystal Bridges Expansion. The event will feature a conversation with Founder Alice Walton, Board Chair Olivia Walton, and Moshe Safdie, founding partner of Safdie Architects. The trio will explore the ideas, ambition, and impact behind the major milestone.
Moderated by Vanity Fair Global Arts Correspondent Nate Freeman, the discussion will offer insight into the broader cultural significance of the expansion. Freeman is known for his “True Colors” dispatch and previously served as a senior art business reporter at Artnet.
The conversation will be held at Heartland Whole Health Institute on the Crystal Bridges Campus. Tickets for By Design: A Conversation on the Crystal Bridges Expansion are $15 ($10 for members).
WHAT: By Design: A Conversation on the Crystal Bridges Expansion
WHEN: Friday, May 29, 2026 | 4:00 PM
WHERE: Heartland Whole Heath Institute | 850 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712
WHY: Hear from the museum’s Founder Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges Board Chair Olivia Walton, and Moshe Safdie, founding partner of Safdie Architects, as they explore the vision, ambition, and impact behind the Crystal Bridges expansion.
HOW: Tickets are $15 ($10 for members). Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Box Office at (479) 657-2335.
Crystal Bridges’ Talks and Lectures are sponsored by Cadillac of Bentonville, Trott Family Philanthropies, Kelly and John David Rainey, Stella Boyle Smith Trust, Cathy and Mike Mayton, Trustees, Demara Titzer, 1828 Capital & Partners, AMP Sign & Banner, Rebecca Hurst and Jim Smith | Smith Hurst PLC, Andrea Albright and Patrick Bannon, Jim and Susan von Gremp, Marsha and Jon Phillips, and Omer and Evren Tore.
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About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 15 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization by philanthropist Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions.
The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities, and is the home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program. Some 558,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools.
Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), a venue for the music, art, and food of our time. Crystal Bridges’ 114,000 square foot expansion will open to the public June 6 and 7, 2026, allowing the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
About Crystal Bridges Campus
Crystal Bridges Campus in Bentonville, Arkansas features 134 acres dedicated to art and wellness. It is home to three landmark institutions designed by acclaimed architecture firms: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Safdie Architects), Heartland Whole Health Institute (Marlon Blackwell Architects), and Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects). Envisioned by founder and philanthropist Alice Walton, the campus unites art, architecture, nature, education, and wellness to create transformative experiences that foster learning and enhance health and well-being. More than five miles of trails connect the iconic buildings, featuring art installations both inside and outside. The campus terrain varies from Ozark forest to display gardens, and includes streams, ponds, and Crystal Springs. In 2024, the campus received Arboretum accreditation. The campus is open daily from dawn to dusk. Additionally, the Momentary, an extension of Crystal Bridges, is located 1 mile south of campus.
Media Contact
media@crystalbridges.org