Olivia Walton on Making Bentonville an Arts Destination

Former TV journalist Olivia Walton, who became board chair of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in 2021, discusses the museum's role in transforming Bentonville, Arkansas into a cultural destination. She advocates for mass audiences over cultural elitism, emphasizing that art can take many forms. Crystal Bridges offers free admission, a model now spreading nationwide. The museum is doubling its public space with an expansion opening in May 2026, coinciding with its 15th anniversary and America's 250th birthday. Walton will moderate a 'Building Bridges' conversation series featuring guests including President Obama, Ken Burns, and Justice Barrett. She cites Katharine Graham's memoir 'Personal History' as an inspiration.