Aug 11, 2021 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has received a $10 million gift from the Pamela and Wayne Garrison Family Foundation to support family experiences. In honor of this contribution, the museum’s newly renovated lobby area will be named the Pamela and Wayne Garrison Family Foundation Lobby (Garrison Lobby). Family experiences are designed to explore art, spark imagination, and celebrate joy among multigenerational families. Activities are centered around unique museum programs and interactive art installations that are popularly appealing for all ages. “This generous gift from Wayne, Pam, and Alexandra embraces Crystal Bridges mission of welcoming all—and especially welcoming families to have fun together,” said Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges board chair. “It’s fitting that the lobby is named for this family who cares deeply about the positive role of the museum in our community.” “We are thrilled thinking about the number of families that will benefit from these kinds of experiences, and we know that Crystal Bridges, which has been offering great family experiences for a decade, will continue to spark imagination and exploration through art in creative ways,” said Alexandra Garrison Neville. “We look forward to watching families have life-changing experiences at Crystal Bridges.” Lobby Updates The Garrison Lobby has expanded to provide an improved visitor experience. Updates create a more spacious lobby, offer protection from inclement weather, and provide new programming opportunities. The lobby area and former courtyard is now enclosed in a glass dome, which has a shade to provide protection against the sun. Other renovations include: Removing doors and glass windows from the front of the Museum Store allows the space to be more open and inviting for visitors to step into and adds to the lobby experience. A new information wall features a map of Crystal Bridges, information screens, brochures, and coloring pages to enjoy. Visitors now have a path from the lobby to the elevators that lead to the Crystal Bridges Library, offering easier access. New, modern furniture will offer moments to sit and relax comfortably. New kiosks in the lobby will be installed later this summer and allow visitors easy access to check in and purchase tickets for exhibitions, events, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House, and more. In addition to the lobby updates, Crystal Bridges announced plans for a major expansion in April. This expansion will mean 50 percent more space to the current facility, adding nearly 100,000 square feet, allowing the museum to showcase its growing collection of 3,500 objects and welcome more visitors to experience the power of art, in an inclusive environment. For news updates, follow Crystal Bridges on the Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. 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 5 million visitors, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and chair of the museum’s board of directors, 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 120 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. 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. Some 280,000 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 5 miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened a satellite contemporary art space in downtown Bentonville called the Momentary (507 SE E Street). For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
