Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Hold Your Applause
For just a little while longer
Walton Arts Center is growing! You may have noticed the construction when driving down Dickson Street or attending a performance. The familiar building has been changing before our eyes and the project is entering its final phase! In June, the facility will close for summer as construction ramps up. Once complete, the expansion and renovation of Walton Arts Center will help Northwest Arkansas be prepared for a bright future with a much greater capacity for world renowned entertainment and community events. Read on for more details on the project.
Expanded and Renovated Atrium and Event Space
The expansion of Walton Arts Center will create a more comfortable environment, where patrons can share the excitement, insights and beauty of what has happened on-stage with one another.
Additionally, the expansion will: Transform the relationship between Walton Arts Center, Dickson Street and the entertainment district with glass walls beckoning people inside. Feature the Sudduth Garden Room, a new event space that overlooks and opens to the existing Rose Garden. Add restrooms. Include the Starr Concierge Counter for patrons to easily access concessions and merchandise. Enable the venue to host seated dinners for 300 guests for weddings, corporate events and other gatherings in the new atrium. Updated Starr Theater and Backstage Space Baum Walker Hall and Starr Theater were built with the intention of being two, fully functional event spaces within the Walton Arts Center complex. Over the years, as the scale of programming in Baum Walker Hall grew it overtook the capacity of backstage spaces. Because of these capacity issues, Starr Theater has not been available for shows and events for up to 100 days each year, used instead as a storage space and dressing room for large touring shows. Adding backstage spaces will allow Starr Theater to become a fully functional theater once more. The expanded Starr Theater and backstage spaces will: Increase access to new and more intimate programming. Provide performance and rehearsal spaces to local arts groups. Serve as an event space. Add a wardrobe, wig and makeup room, increase shop and technical support space, and storage space. Create dressing rooms specifically for Starr Theater artists. Increased Accessibility and Amenities Updated technology and accommodations will enhance the audience experience. Walton Arts Center’s technical upgrades will allow the building to meet the production needs of 21st century shows, and increased accessibility will make the aged facility a friendlier destination for patrons.
Upgrades include: New lighting, audio and video systems for Baum Walker Hall and Starr Theater. New ramps and stairways throughout the lobby, plaza and theaters. Additional wheelchair seating in Baum Walker Hall. Increased leg room in the front row of the balcony in Baum Walker Hall. New seating system in Starr Theater. A catering kitchen to better serve the needs of patrons and event attendees. New General Mills Box Office between Baum Walker Hall and Starr Theater, making access to tickets for performances in either space more convenient for patrons. Parking Deck and New Administrative Offices More activity necessitates more parking. To address this, the City of Fayetteville has built a parking deck that accommodates over 200 vehicles at the corner of Spring Street and School Avenue. Walton Arts Center’s new administrative offices are located in a building on the North side of the parking structure.
Play a pART Together we’re building a better place to live! Be a part of the newly renovated Walton Arts Center by giving a gift that’s meaningful to you. Every gift is important and becomes part of the newly renovated facility.
Ways to Give
Chairs 1” x 2.5” name plates on the arms of chairs in Baum Walker Hall and Starr Theater will remind patrons of your dedication to the arts.
Bricks Personalized 4”x8” bricks will line the new Bill and LeAnn Underwood Family Plaza and pave the way to the expanded and renovated Walton Arts Center. You can commemorate your favorite Walton Arts Center artist or performance by engraving your brick with the artist name and show date (includes a second brick to be personalized), or you can personalize a brick with your name or message of choice. Act fast, there will only be one brick allowed per artist!
Visit waltonartscenter.org/ expansion to give
a gift today. Gifts may be paid in full through our secure online system, but you may also contact our Development Office by calling 479.571.2759 or emailing playapart@waltonartscenter.org to discuss multi-year pledge payment options or to discuss naming opportunities for gifts at the $10,000 level and above. The expanded and renovated Walton Arts Center will be complete in November 2016. Visit our website at waltonartscenter.org to see what’s happening this season and purchase your tickets today. 2016/17 Broadway Subscriptions are on sale now!