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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art invites the community to celebrate the opening of its expansion with free events on June 6 and 7, marking a weekend dedicated to connection and creativity. Designed by Safdie Architects, the expansion increases the museum’s footprint by 50%. This milestone reflects Crystal Bridges’ ongoing mission to provide access for all while deepening connections to art, architecture, and nature through thoughtfully curated art experiences, programming, and more.
Spanning 114,000-square-feet, the expansion increases the museum’s total size to 314,000-square-feet, creating opportunities for hands-on learning, curiosity, and discovery. The new space features two collection galleries, a temporary exhibition gallery, educational spaces, art studios, a community room, café, and an outdoor plaza, all designed to deepen engagement and broaden access.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the public into the Crystal Bridges expansion,” said Rod Bigelow, executive director of Crystal Bridges. “This expansion dramatically broadens how we can serve our community and the country through spaces to gather, explore, and discover. If you’ve visited Crystal Bridges before, you can expect an entirely new journey through five centuries of American art. We can’t wait for guests to experience everything this next chapter for America’s art museum. It’s incredibly exciting to see it come to life.”
Programming for the expansion’s Opening Celebration offers a mix of immersive, drop-in, and guided experiences that activate the museum’s new spaces—and preview the kinds of hands-on opportunities the creative learning Hub will offer year-round. Across two days, visitors will experience the expansion in full, from the Hub’s creative spaces to outdoor amenities, like the splash pad.
“Central to the expansion is the creative learning Hub, where people can make, experiment, and connect together,” said Marissa Reyes, chief learning and engagement officer at Crystal Bridges. “The Community Lounge offers an easy entry point—a welcoming space to relax and linger, read a book, meet new people, and join programs co-hosted with local community partners. From there, you can move into hands-on studios for ceramics, glass, metalwork, fiber arts, screen printing, painting and more, as well as a maker space to try the latest digital tools. No matter your age or experience, there’s a place to jump in.”
Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy live music, dance performances, wellness activities, and hands‑on artmaking inspired by Keith Haring. Guests can also meet and create art with Crystal Bridges collection artists Roberto Lugo and Bobby C. Martin, as well as teaching artist‑in‑residence Linda Lopez. Family‑friendly programming includes pop‑in artmaking across campus, gallery story time, and tours designed for visitors of all ages.
The celebration also marks the opening of Artland by internationally acclaimed artist Do Ho Suh. This immersive, participatory exhibition invites visitors to create an ever-evolving world of creatures and landscapes using Crayola Model Magic air-dry clay.
In partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center, one of the world’s leading jazz institutions, the weekend features pop-up performances across campus on both days, along with a special live concert in the Hub on Saturday, June 6.
Opening June 6 in the museum’s new temporary exhibition gallery, Keith Haring in 3D is the first exhibition to focus on the artist’s work in three dimensions. It will showcase a wide range of objects, including sculptures, totems and masks, as well as skateboards, clothing, boomboxes, paintings, and drawings. The exhibition will also feature a 1963 Buick Special, highlighting the breadth of Haring’s creative practice.
The two-day Opening Celebration is free to attend, no tickets required. Programming will take place during normal museum hours, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Parking will be available in the garages near the museum and at Campus Parking.
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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