Ten months ago, after being introduced as the Walton Arts Center’s new president and CEO, Peter Lane told a room full of reporters that the arts center was near its capacity and that a new facility would indeed be built.
The next words out of his mouth, however, were, “And no, we don’t have a location in mind yet.” The crowd sighed.
The news of the center’s needed expansion was nothing new at the time. In October 2008, the Walton Arts Center Council announced the completion of a facility feasibility study which cited the need for $180 million in expansion and proposed a 2,200-seat theater, a 600-seat multi-use space, and a 100-seat black box studio.
No, the arts center is not going to move. New facilities would not replace the existing space, but complement it.
“Clearly, location of new facilities is a very hot issue,” said Willem Brans, vice president of Arts Consulting Group, Inc., the organization hired to conduct the three-phase study. “And while we had hoped to make a more specific recommendation, we do not believe that there is a clear answer at this time.”
Brans’ team did, however, indicate that the most opportunistic location would be either adjacent to the current WAC facilities in Fayetteville or near the site of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.
Tonight, many of those same reporters who sat on the Baum Walker Hall stage last April awaiting some insight into the center’s new location, will gather once again – with fingers crossed – in hopes that some more solid information will be provided this time around.
A media advisory was issued yesterday with a subject line of, “Walton Arts Center holds press event to announce criteria and timeline for new site selection.”
The time? 5:45 p.m. today. The place? The Walton Arts Center lobby. The news? We shall see.
well, i hope it’s in fayetteville, since they just asked the city council for funding.
well we all know that they are itching for Benton County…but the truth is…Fayetteville has given alot to Walton Arts Center and they have given to Dickson Street. Its a nice partnership…but in all honesty, if they move to Benton County…we should all strongly reconsider supporting them. It is a partnership between WAC and Fayetteville…and we need them. They have both used and supported us…and we have returned the favor. Now with the economy…we need them more than ever…and a move should be taken as a slap in the face, if it happens. I do wonder if this size argument is simply a way to validate their desires to move. Please recall that you cant remove the WALTON influence from WALTON ARTS CENTER.
They have mentioned having more than one “campus,” with the current WAC still utilized, and another, larger, theater at another site. With unlimited parking.
dont forget, the WAC also partnered with nt only the City of Fayetteville, but also the University of Arkansas, when they decided on the Dickson Street location. Has anyone considered a larger facility near I540 on the south side of town? Easy access and ample room for growth.
Put it on MLK by the Mill District. That would be amazing.
They should just save all the money they are spending to justify the inevitable and just come out and say that the Waltons want their arts center back. While I’d love to see a single campus facilities in Fayetteville, I can also live with a little performing arts center that may be regarded as the inferior brethren just as Fiesta Square cinema is to the new fancy pants Carmike cinema. I personally prefer the smaller shows here anyway and in the end, its still a very nice facility. They’re loaded up there and as long as that is the case then they will get whatever they want-thats just how things roll. I’m over it, let the new money McMansionites McHave their Bigger is Better performing arts center. Fayetteville has SO much else going for it.
They’re announcing CRITERIA for the new site – not the actual location. That hasn’t been decided.
Is their a committee that I could join to suggest certain acts come play at the Walton Arts Center?
…and my last comment wasn’t written to suggest that I don’t appreciate the current/previous acts scheduled at the WAC. I’ve dreamed of certain artists playing their, and I would love the opportunity to make it happen.
I no longer reside within NWA but I still see the Downtown Fay area as the best place for this. This is b/c of the history of the Center (Fay & UofA), the fact that so there are so many support businesses, and the Northern cities are finally getting their cultural venues. If the WAC moves then it will be a concentration of Arts in one area. Fay has the UofA to require any sort of concentration of Arts.
I hope they keep it in Fay. But will admit to some advantages of the Northern cities getting an expansion. Better 540 access, more centrally located if placed in Lowell (though not likely), technically a lot of funding already comes from the area, could cooperate with the new museum to increase usage (though I don’t see this being effective).
I wonder how many people travel from FSM and points to the south to attend WAC events? If looked at in that manner, Fayetteville is still a central location in some ways.
I can’t imagine driving to Bentonville to attend WAC events. If anything, a smaller, secondary venue should be put up there. In spite of Crystal Bridges, Bentonville will never be the cultural hub of NWA.
Who needs to be a cultural hub when you can be a distribution and logistics hub?
Less booze, but fun for some.
Anyone looked at the criteria they released? The only thing missing is the clause requiring the new site to have a name that rhymes with Dentonpill.
http://www.waltonartscenter.org/pdfs/download.php/Site%20Selection%20Criteria%20Definitions,%2001.28.10.pdf?asset_id=291&revision=
“Neigborhood characteristics or experiential quality” is one that we win on.
I really think our only option is going to be to offer something on MLK.
Direct I-540 access. Easy to find. Proximity to other cultural offerings.
Man, if only there was a way to put it next to the developing Mill District. A whole new “Dickson Street” could evolve down there.
Seems like I remember a Coody era plan of revamping 6th Street into a boulevard with trees, etc ala the College Avenue Improvements.
If this happened, it would be a huge step towards making Fayetteville even better.
How about the old Sale Barn property? Meh, could never happen, but man, what a boost for that area of town it would be.
Seems like that was 9 or 10 acres….
I thought about the Sale Barn, too, but think the Mill District is a better fit, except it has many property owners.
I also noticed the idea of a millage tax to the support the Center was weighed heavily. We should think about referring something like that this October.
Matt, I agree, ideally it would be something “IN” the Mill District, preferably along MLK.
If the Sale Barn property were feasible, the new WAC could spur the rapid redevelopment of everything north of it into the Mill District, and make the Mill District a real district.
Surely there are enough visionary planners and architects in Fayetteville that a collborative team could put together a real vision for using the Sale Barn property and then master plan the entire area to develop our second entertainment district.
Here’s what I envision.
A new WAC campus, adjacent to the National Cemetery. Initially lots to the south and east are purchased and used as heavily landscaped parking areas.
The Mill District’s remaining vacancies quickly become restaurants, shops and coffee houses, with some live music venues.
The old Co-Op Mill Tower is revamped via Marlon Blackwell into an iconic South Fayetteville mixed use tower, with the new Mill District logo discretely placed at the top, which is lit by LED, solar powered lighting at night, serving as a beacon to all to visit South Fayetteville.
The Frisco Trail becomes a lit, stone-path pedestrian boulevard of sorts with throngs of people strolling its well-lit, safe cobbles to and from Dickson and the Mill District, with vendors, performers, art-walks, and the like.
Walker Park redevelopment explodes with artists, hipsters and *gasp* even teh gays.
Think big, people.
Finally, in an upturn, the A&P funds go to a total revamp of the MLK corridor including streetlamps, landscaping, pedestrian improvements, providing the most visible entrance to the University and Fayetteville with a huge facelift.
Given the incredible synergy of U of A events and NuvoWAC events along MLK, all those casual and fine dining joints which are currently targeting Rogers start buying up parcels on MLK, and build new, urban, City-Plan 2025-approved versions of themselves in South Fayetteville to take advantage of the neverending stream of visitors.
City cashes huge sales tax checks, buys Springdale, bulldozes it and plants a giant peace garden.
There’s nothing left to say. Bravo, sir.
And the whole thing becomes a great rallying point for our three or four annual motorcycle festivals!!!
The gays would OWN the Mill District!
Burger…great vision!
Unfortunately, the only thing that will matter in this discussion is what Alice Walton wants.
No one can compete with the Walton family’s foundation money!
If Alice gets it in her mind that she wants the new WAC next to her museum, that is where it will happen. She convinced everyone of her brothers and sisters to make the dontation to happen on Crystal Bridges. Unless Mayor Jordan or some other Fayetteville supporter has a relationship with the family to influence their decision, it will not matter what the residents of Fayetteville want. We have to get the University has to have a stronger voice in the discussion.
As much as I am a supporter of the WAC and our town, we cannot compete Billions….with a “B”, in the suburbs.
Personally, I think the District at Pinnacle Hills in Rogers would be an amazing location. Easy access, new great roads, and tons of potential for expansion. The area has already been largely cleared and it’s easily accessible from several points. Prime location, ease of access, and work has already been started on clearing the area for development. I think it very easily meets the criteria.
@Tiffany – Actually it doesn’t. Just imagine driving up there and seeing a show. Then you want to go get a drink or a meal, so you get in your car drive to another place. Plus, everyone else is trying to get out of the parking lot and drive to the same places, so you can’t avoid dealing with terrible traffic over and over again.
It’s this sense of place and supporting services that no one besides Fayetteville can offer. That’s not to say that the expansion, if located in Rogers or Bentonville, wouldn’t change the area in a positive, walkable way, just like it did to Dickson St over the last thirty years.
But how long should we be willing to wait to have the option of walking to dinner after a show? A decade? What do other WAC patrons want when they visit? I think the walkability of the environment the Center is located in is very important to them.