Fayetteville to reveal Walton Arts Center expansion proposal
Photo: Todd GillIf you’ve been waiting to see what the City of Fayetteville has up their sleeve to entice the Walton Arts Center to build their expansion in town, your wait is almost over.
According to a city staff email, officials will unveil the city’s proposal at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 29 during a press conference in front of the Walton Arts Center.
Update: There will be no press event Thursday morning. The city will instead release details about its proposal sometime Monday, Aug. 2.
WAC officials announced Tuesday that they’ve received more than 20 proposals from municipalities, individuals, and developers thus far, and that they expect to receive submissions up until the deadline on Aug. 2.
All of the proposals will be available to view on the art center’s website the following day.
Mayor Jordan has said on numerous occasions that making sure the WAC expansions occurs within Fayetteville’s city limits is a priority for his administration. Last month, he indicated that he was very confident in the city’s proposal, even after the Walton Family Foundation released a letter stating that they did not see themselves “being the lead donor for a new performing arts facility in a location other than Bentonville.”
Ward 2 Alderman Matthew Petty has also expressed confidence in the city’s proposal in comments here on the Flyer.
The details of the city’s proposal have been kept under wraps thus far, and for obvious reasons. Each of the four major municipalities in Northwest Arkansas are working a proposal, and no one wants to show their cards until it’s too late to respond.
Members of the Walton Arts Center Board of Directors Facilities Committee will begin reviewing the proposals based on the 15 site selection criteria released in February. The Facilities Committee is expected to present one to three sites to the full board for final consideration before the end of December.
If you’ve somehow missed all of this, here’s a link to more of our coverage of the Walton Arts Center’s expansion plans.
Comments
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Daniel Maner
July 27, 2010
There seems to be confusion about what the WAC is and what their plans are. The WAC is the organization that has a contract with the City of Fayetteville to operate the facilty on Dickson Street. This facilty is now and has been the premier performing arts center for the entire region since it was built. It is the linchpin of the entertainment and cultural hub of NWA and had much to do with the rebirth of central Fayetteville. It’s importance as an economic draw and quality of life resource for the city is unquestioned.
What the WAC erroneously calls an expansion is in reality a replacement- the new facilty will be the premier performing arts center for NWA. It has been established that NWA is not large enough for two major performing arts centers. The new facilty will be the only major peforming arts center for the region. The current facilty will be a second rate venue that diminishes Fayetteville’s standing as the entertainment and cultural hub for NWA if the new facilty is built away from the city.
The WAC officials have attempted and in large part succeeded in framing this discussion in terms favorable to their position. Using words like “expansion” and phrases like “Fayetteville is the WAC’s home and always will be” they have managed to divert attention from what is actually happening- the probable removal of the region’s premier performing arts center from Fayetteville.
If the decision is to build the replacement facility away from Fayetteville then it is essential that the WAC organization not be allowed to control the present facility. I believe their main goal in keeping control of the present facilty is to eliminate competition for ticket sales and financial support for the new facilty. Fayetteville needs to be free to attract whatever events it can to the center on Dickson Street and not be restricted by what an organization that abandoned the city allows. Between the City of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas a new, exciting start can be had for the present facilty and a new sponsor found.
mpetty
July 27, 2010
You’re wrong and you have no facts to back up your claims.
OffCamber
July 27, 2010
The plans will be released soon, but do we know the timing of WAC’s proposal selection?
If Fayetteville’s expansion plan is ultimately rejected after sycophantic support from the city, that is a huge slight.
When pay parking begins in August, I don’t think it would be fair or prudent to collect funds for WAC unless there’s a guarantee of continued focus on Fayetteville. Otherwise, this town has been played the fool.
mpetty
July 27, 2010
@Offcamber – There already is a guarantee that there will be a continued focus on Fayetteville. You just continue to choose not to acknowledge it.
burgerboy
July 27, 2010
I am excited to see the plan.
Todd Gill
July 27, 2010
I’m with @burgerboy. Although I haven’t yet heard any details about our city’s official plan, @mpetty and other city officials’ optimism has made me much more curious than suspicious. Plus, I’ve seen no hard evidence to back up any of the theories that suggest Fayetteville is being duped.
VHF
July 27, 2010
@mpetty link this guarantee please, I would like you to back up your claim.
Monroe Jesuser, Jr.
July 27, 2010
All the proposals that are submitted will need to address two things:
1. The current primary funding entity has specifically expressed a desire to scale back the original “expansion” plans and a desire to see new facilities in Bentonville.
2. THE premier museum of American art is currently being constructed in Bentonville. With that and the new 21C museum hotel, it will be an easy sell to locate a new performing arts facility adjacent to these two new properties.
Obviously, Mr. Petty is highly confident (almost to the point of zealotry) that the Walton Arts Center organization will remain, AND EXPAND, its operation in Fayetteville.
I hope it does. I just don’t have a high level of confidence that it will. There are/will be many advantages to locating a new performing arts center in Bentonville, and several disadvantages that can be enumerated for the organization to “expand” in Fayetteville.
Without seeing any proposals, it is, of course, difficult to assess the situation accurately. There isn’t enough information. Soon we will see.
I, too, have the question: The proposals are due August 2. But when will the decision be made and announced to the world?
Just my opinion. To which their own everyone has the right.
Fayette-nam resident who works in Bville
July 27, 2010
mpetty & all- the writing has been on the wall for a long time. The “expanded” WAC will be in Bentonville along with the pre-eminent new museum in the US. Don’t be delusional. I love Fayetteville as much as the rest of us but the power shifted north a long time ago. Embrace it: Fayetteville = Eureka + U of A
Fayette-nam resident who works in Bville
July 27, 2010
Dang- left this comparison off my last post:
The WAC, as we know it, becomes WAC II, Electric Boogaloo aka Eureka Springs Opera Hall or center for performing arts
New WAC Bentonville = The Kennedy Center or Carnegie Hall… Take your pick for the comparison.
Fayetteville isn’t being “duped”… It’s just the way it is. We live down here with our heads in the sand. It is no longer 1982 folks— there is no more FYV- it’s XNA … Wake up! Hoffbrau and Cafe Sante Fe are closed. It is now bonefish and Eddie haskell’s. NWArk Mall is now Promenade+Pinnacle Point. (c’mon, Gymnastic Joes in the mall… Really?). The Hilton on the square became the crappy radisson and now the cosmopolitan and Rogers has the embassy suites. Fayetteville had the promise of the “new” Mountain Inn and Bentonville has the 21C. Paradise Valley is now shadow valley… Fayetteville country club is now Pinnacle… The Blessings is, er, well, still the bad ass Blessings. Benton County has their sweet new high schools, we have…indecision and an inability to make a decision to move forward… You get the picture.
We do have our good stuff…aka Kitsch- Kingfish, Rogers Rec, Clardy’s Shoes, Central UMC, Original Flying Burrito, Fayetteville Public library, the farmers’ market, Hugo’s, George’s etc. I appreciate these things but we have evolved to a new stage in life…. Headed for white dwarf status, Amigos, and I’m OK with that. I’m pretty fond of Eureka.
burgerboy
July 27, 2010
A really fantastic place for the WAC would be the corner of MLK and Razorback Road, in that huge parking lot. If you build a giant parking garage behind it, then the U of A could share some of the cost. Pay parking could be shared by U of A for sporting events, etc.
My preference would be in the muni lot next door to the current facility, built up to the street, with fine dining and galleries fronting the streets.
I hope there is a rendering. I loooooooove renderings.
roger
July 28, 2010
I’m guessing the Fayetteville residents who care the most about this are paid to care. The WAC shows are geared towards the wal-mart crowd who already live in Rogers and Bentonville, so obviously the shift makes sense and seems reasonable to lessen driving. Why hasn’t the WAC tried to cater to younger crowds and actual residents? This is a taste matter that makes complete sense. Are Fayetteville residents supposed to embrace this corporate version of artist culture the same way we’re supposed to embrace forced bike/bbq culture.
The reason Joe Martin stage races and ALL OUT JUNE were successful is because they represent a real, and growing aspect of Fayetteville.
I hope the proposal somehow embraces better, more diverse shows, surely there is room to grow artistically as well as financially.
Michael
July 28, 2010
Actually Roger, most people who work for Walmart’s corporate office live down in the Fayetteville area which is why north bound traffic is so bad on I540 in the morning.
Concerned Citizen
July 28, 2010
Roger:
“The reason Joe Martin stage races and ALL OUT JUNE were successful is because they represent a real, and growing aspect of Fayetteville.”
500 people makes an event successful? All hail our new overlord, the AMP.
“Are Fayetteville residents supposed to embrace this corporate version of artist culture the same way we’re supposed to embrace forced bike/bbq culture.”
Haters gonna hate.
roger
July 28, 2010
@michael. true.
i meant wal mart crowd not meaning employees but people in general who enjoy middle of the road, mediocre things. i.e. people who see the blue man group.
roger
July 28, 2010
@concerned citizen.
we probably have different definitions of success.
what i mean to say is those events represent Fayetteville in a real and meaningful instead of being excuses to buy fried turkey legs and look at shiny stuff.
also, yes i’m guilty of hating lame events. it’s one of many character flaws that i have
You
July 28, 2010
Roger is one of those people who hate (and will hate on) anything that a lot of other people like. If Roger deems an event “lame” its most likely because a lot of people (who work at evil corporations) show up, spend money, have fun, maybe enjoy a laugh or two with some friends and generally enjoy life. The whole time Roger and his posse are in the corner, pissed off at everything and making fun of everyone.
That being said, I am looking forward to seeing the presentation from Fayetteville. While the majority of the shows the WAC brings in do not appeal to me, I am not too snobby to realize the many people enjoy various things that I do not. I am also recognize the economic importance of the money the people who go see Blue Man Group spend in our fine city.
Me
July 28, 2010
I am not in the wal mart crowd at all but I am way more excited about Blue Man Group than All Out June (I’m not a homophobe either) or Joe Martin stage race
Todd Gill
July 28, 2010
@all Per the update above, there will be no press event tomorrow. Instead, the city will release details sometime on Monday.
Clarity
July 28, 2010
Actually, I cannot afford to attend anything at WAC anyway, so it all matters little to me.
Daniel Maner
July 28, 2010
@Clarity- more than a few Fayetteville residents seem to feel that same way- that because they don’t attend events at the WAC it has no affect on them. That isn’t true at all. Imagine a business leader in California or even in Stockholm or Tokyo scanning the Blue Man Group tour page online. They see a stop in Fayetteville, AR. and wonder how a place in Arkansas rates an event like that. A quick search online and they discover a city in which to set up their new recyclable packaging design center. Green jobs come to town and everybody benefits. The sales and property taxes generated will help fund city services and education. The economic impact is huge.
Word of mouth from performers, entourages and tour agents all help Fayetteville get positive exposure in this manner. This exposure will go away if the new WAC facility is built away from Fayetteville.
Michael
July 28, 2010
Roger would appear to be fully embracing of the hipster lifestyle.
Q: How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: It’s a pretty obscure number, you’ve probably never heard of it.
Dr. Henry McCoy
July 28, 2010
Am I the only one that has seen a show at the Walton Arts Center for a reasonable price? The Starlight room has shows there all the time for $20 or less. Now, don’t get me wrong that’s more than a $5 cover at a bar on Dickson but you gets to see nationally, sometimes internationally, recognized artists.
You
July 28, 2010
@Doc
Most on here choose to ignore those facts bc it goes directly against their standard “WAC is evil, only for the rich, only brings terrible shows” talking points.
VHF
July 28, 2010
@Mpetty I guess you don’t care to link this guarantee you were claiming.
mpetty
July 29, 2010
@VHF – No, I’m just not online all day every day, and to be honest I’m getting tired of explaining the same facts over and over again. :p
The Walton Arts Center themselves says all of the existing theatre space will continue to be used, including Nadine Baum studios, and the Walton Family says they will continue to support the Fayetteville facilities at their current level regardless of what happens with the expansion.
And there are many more reasons to believe that Fayetteville will continue to be well-served by the Walton Arts Center. Use the search bar and dig through some of the Flyer’s old threads.
roger
July 29, 2010
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to bring up the fact that WAC shows are out of touch with the city that’s funding them. If UA students paid fees to bring Tony Bennett to campus, surely questions would arise? I know a lot of people have to read about good plays in the Times or online when those shows could be brought to the WAC. I would love to be able to support the WAC by seeing a David Mamet or Sam Shepherd piece, or any quality production.
TennisGuy
July 29, 2010
@Roger- I agree. Why not a mix? I saw Blue Man Group in Vegas when they were at Luxor. Loved it. I saw True West circa 2000 when P.S. Hoffman and John C. Reilly would switch parts every other night and had the privilege of going two nights in a row. Loved that also. I doubt True West or Speed the Plow would fill a 2500 seat venue in NWA and be anywhere close to profitable though.
WACS
July 29, 2010
For the Love of God WAC!!! Do you see and feel the trouble you are causing this great city? Please, please, just pack up and move on up the Benton Co. where you belong and give us our building back!!!!
Fayette-nam resident who works in Bville
July 29, 2010
@WACS if they packed up and left and gave us our building back it would turn out like the OPO building- empty, decaying with tumbleweeds blowing by- what ever happened at the OPO? I used to love going there in the 90s.
Daniel Maner
July 29, 2010
By being free of the control of the WAC organization the Fayetteville Performing Arts Center could host a wide range of events. The University fine arts and music programs could have a first class theater to stage events in. Local theater groups like Theater Squared and the Boar’s Head Players could use it. Other non-profits could be invited to use it. Arts groups that don’t even exist yet could see an opportunity to come together. Music acts that might otherwise skip the area could be booked. Dickson Street and Fayeteville are two well known names in the entertainment scene of Arkansas and beyond. The present facility would carve out it’s own niche and be very successful.
VHF
July 30, 2010
@MPetty, “@Offcamber – There already is a guarantee that there will be a continued focus on Fayetteville.”-MPetty
I was looking more for a “link” of a public document for this guarantee.
WAC/Family can say this or that verbally, but I am a let me see it in writing person, that to me is what a guarantee means. I was just hoping you weren’t too tired and all to give me something that you knew of that was a official public release.
Todd Gill
July 30, 2010
@VHF
- Paragraph 4 in this press release
- Paragraph 7 in this quote from WAC president and CEO Peter Lane
- Paragraph 2 on this FAQ page the WAC set up
Finally, here’s a link to all of our WAC expansion coverage if you’re interested.
chance chapman
July 30, 2010
@Todd – good stuff
WhyNot
July 30, 2010
Michael Feldman and What-do-you-know had to start somewhere…
Daniel Maner
July 31, 2010
The guarantees offered in the press releases and in person are worthless without a written contract backing them up. It is easy to “guarantee” what is needed to gain support for one’s position now and then change that promise when the support is no longer needed and more pressing issues come up, i.e. ticket sales are lagging and donations are down.
The WAC’s website cites the present facility as “Arkansas’ premier center for the performing arts and entertainment”. The definition of the word premier is “first in importance, rank, etc”. There can’t be two premier centers for the performing arts and entertainment in NWA. The new facility will replace the current facility but if the WAC officials were straightforward about that it would be more difficult for them to make their pitch.
VHF
July 31, 2010
Thank you Todd for the links. After reading through them all I still could not see where it said that a focus to keep the expansion in Fayetteville as a guarantee was cited. Yes basically all of them talked about keeping the current WAC in place, but nothing about the expansion staying in Fayetteville as a guarantee, only a possibility. Unless I am reading all of them wrong.
So when saying there is a guarantee like Petty has often stated, this is why I am looking for such a statement. A statement that clearly says “the location of the expansion will remain in Fayetteville” end quote. Something like that. All I have read is we are considering locations and Fayetteville is a consideration, not a guarantee.
I am not bashing Petty, I am simply really trying to find where he sees this guarantee clearly written without having to interpret between the lines a suggested meaning.
Zapp Brannigan
July 31, 2010
@VHF – Nobody is claiming that the expansion is guaranteed to be in Fayetteville. I believe Petty is referring to the many statements by WAC that the current facility will remain open, regardless of where the expansion is. Whether you believe them is your choice; it’s clear some people here aren’t willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
VHF
July 31, 2010
Zapp whether I believe is not relevant. I was responding to MPettys claim about Offchambers remark about the “continued focus on Fayetteville” was a guarantee.
Which if you try to think about it in a somewhat logical manner, you can not have a serious focus on Fayetteville if your are considering expanding elsewhere. Any expansion away from Fayetteville is not focusing on this city. Even if you claim that “some” major shows may still come to WAC on Dickson the fact is your expansion is a bigger venue, where do you honestly think the “focus” will be at?
These are all straight foreward questions, that are not intended to flame or belittle people here on this site as is so often done. Some people believe, some don’t, not until the fat lady sings will we all know what will happen. My guess is she won’t be singing in Fayetteville, Peace.
burgerboy
August 2, 2010
So, no news yet today?
Laurie
August 2, 2010
Oh for pete’s sake! Have those of you who claim that the variety of shows offered on the WAC event calendar is small and elite actually BEEN to any of their shows??? I have see folk music acts from South America, jazz & blues performances, The Indigo Girls, children’s shows, Broadway touring companies… I’m hoping to take my family to see Blue Man Group – they are unique and creative and unlike anything we’ve seen in NWA, and I won’t have to pay for airfare to LV. It’s pricey for me, but I’m willing to save up for it like a big girl.
Why don’t you all just move to Tulsa where there are HUGE numbers of low-priced clubs and entertainment venues for you to frequent that might even offer you some free peanuts on the bar, and stop acting like you speak for all of Fayetteville. We’re not all a bunch of small-minded crumudgins who can’t fathom the appeal of nationally recognized performers. Geez. Move on.
tannshepp
August 4, 2010
Wait, what’s the complaint about the slate at the WAC? Small and elite or too broad and pop? Talk about fickle …
[@Roger, you can see a Tom Stoppard play at UARK in February. Then Shakespeare. Blue Man Group is mediocre? Wow, what do YOU do for a living?]
When I looked around at the WAC Frederica von Stade recital, I didn’t see too many people under 60. What will an audience be for a similar concert in 20 years? Itzhak Perlman not edgy enough? Or too high-brow?
On the mainstream pop side, the AMP MC Hammer concert for this summer was canceled when ticket sales stood at only 200. Lilith Fair canceled shows that would have featured Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert; even Rihanna had to cancel shows due to poor ticket sales. If people aren’t attending blockbuster shows, what can we expect for microculture?
The WAC does an amazing job of filling seats and appealing to many different tastes. When I moved here, I never would have imagined that I could hear Dave Brubeck play “Take Five” again on a local stage (WAC). [Or hear Gillian Welch at a local bar.]
I am all for critical thinking. Everything can be improved. I have to admit, though, that I am impressed by what and who this small, mid-southern college town can pull in.
If they have to move, so be it. I will haul ass up to Bentonville, but not as often. I agree @David Maner–the space could be used non-stop by native theater groups and oh, I don’t know, a certain local high school with a dinky performance space?
mpetty
August 4, 2010
@VHF – It’s sounds like we disagree on the meaning of the word “focus”. That’s semantics and it’s not worth arguing about. My point is that no matter where the expansion occurs, officials at the WAC remain committed to bringing quality programming to Fayetteville.
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