Photo by M Taylor Long / Enlarge

Cake was among the artists who played the Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) during the 2009 season.

The Walton Arts Center has formally announced its purchase of the Arkansas Music Pavilion.

The news comes about a week after the arts center’s board of directors voted unanimously to continue to pursue the purchase of venue located at the Northwest Arkansas Mall.

“This is a very exciting time for Walton Arts Center,” said Walton Arts Center CEO and president Peter Lane in a statement. “The purchase of the AMP allows us to make entertainment more accessible to people in Northwest Arkansas. We look forward to providing great programming for the entire region.”

Walton Arts Center staff and former AMP owner Brian Crowne have collaborated on several shows over the past year, including Tower of Power, The Indigo Girls and Chris Isaak. In this new relationship, Crowne will serve as the general manager of the AMP and continue to manage all aspects of the venue.

“The AMP will continue to program diverse and mainstream artists that music lovers have come to expect and enjoy,” said Crowne. “Under the new agreement, I will work with Walton Arts Center to expand programming and promote concerts. Our combined experience in the entertainment industry and additional resources allows us to better serve our patrons.”

» See the current 2011 AMP schedule