Art isn't just something to view—it's a catalyst for connection, hope, and transformation. That's the powerful message from Lela Davidson, Chief Operating Officer at Crystal Bridges Museum and the Momentary, who joined us to discuss the future of these remarkable institutions in Northwest Arkansas.

Davidson reveals exciting details about Crystal Bridges' ambitious expansion, adding 100,000 square feet through what museums call a "reinstallation"—not simply expanding physical space, but reimagining how visitors navigate collections and experience art relationships. Opening June 6, 2026, the expansion features a new crystal bridge structure, larger exhibition spaces, community engagement areas, and improved educational facilities. Most notably, the museum remains open throughout this extensive renovation process, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility.

What sets Crystal Bridges apart is its holistic approach to art as part of wellness. The museum campus now physically connects with the Alice Walton School of Medicine, where medical students incorporate art observation techniques into their training to develop stronger patient observation skills. This integration of art, nature, architecture, and wellness creates a unique destination experience while remaining deeply connected to local community needs.

Davidson paints a vivid picture of a museum that serves nearly 100,000 schoolchildren annually while hosting world-class exhibitions (including an upcoming Keith Haring show), outdoor sculptures, concerts, and speaker series. The expansion allows Crystal Bridges to become both a multi-day destination for tourists and a casual drop-in space for locals, all while maintaining free admission so visitors never feel pressured to "get their money's worth."

Whether you're a long-time art enthusiast or someone who simply appreciates beautiful spaces, Crystal Bridges offers something transformative. As Davidson says, "I challenge anyone to go on our calendars and not find something that they would like to do." Discover this unique intersection of art, architecture, and nature at crystalbridges.org and themomentary.org.

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More About this Episode

How Crystal Bridges Is Transforming Art, Wellness, and Community in Northwest Arkansas

When we think of art museums, we often envision quiet halls, distant masterpieces, and perhaps a once-a-year visit. But what if a museum could be something more—a space that lives and breathes with its community, changes how we understand health and well-being, and transforms not only a region’s cultural identity but its economic and social future?

That’s exactly what Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and its contemporary sibling, The Momentary, are doing in Bentonville, Arkansas. As the Chief Operating Officer of both institutions, Lela Davidson isn’t just overseeing an expansion; she’s helping lead a reimagination of how people experience art, architecture, nature, and wellness as deeply interconnected forces in our lives.

Reinstallation, Not Just Expansion

The upcoming 100,000-square-foot expansion at Crystal Bridges isn’t your typical “build more galleries” project. It’s something far more ambitious, a reinstallation. In museum terminology, reinstallation is the process of rethinking not only where art is placed but how it’s experienced. It’s about storytelling, connection, and reflection. It considers how art interacts with other pieces nearby, how visitors navigate through space, and how these narratives can invite new kinds of understanding and engagement.

For Crystal Bridges, this reinstallation means that by the time the doors reopen June 6th,2026, the visitor experience will be fundamentally transformed. The expansion includes an additional bridge (true to the museum’s namesake), a new temporary exhibition gallery with natural light innovations, and vast new community engagement spaces. These include studios, classrooms, and open gathering areas that will support programming ranging from K-12 education to private events, art classes, and maker experiences.

And all of this is designed with one principle at its heart: access.

Access Is the Mission

Access isn’t just a buzzword at Crystal Bridges; it’s the guiding force behind every initiative. From free admission to immersive programming that brings in nearly 100,000 school children annually, the goal is to make art, education, and inspiration available to everyone, regardless of background.

Davidson emphasized how the museum’s founder, Alice Walton, prioritized accessibility not just to art, but to nature, wellness, and architecture. This vision continues to unfold in thoughtful ways—like the integration of art into the medical curriculum at the new Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM), which shares the campus with Crystal Bridges and The Momentary. Here, future doctors are taught not just science, but the art of close looking, a concept from art education that sharpens their observational skills, compassion, and attention to the whole person.

This kind of holistic integration is more than symbolic. It’s redefining what a cultural institution can be: a place that heals, teaches, uplifts, and inspires on a community-wide scale.

Art as a Catalyst for Regional Transformation

The presence of Crystal Bridges has catalyzed a cultural and economic shift in Northwest Arkansas. Before the museum opened its doors, art in public life was relatively sparse. Now, it’s everywhere, from murals on buildings to public sculptures along bike trails and urban paths. This transformation has rippled into the local economy, attracting tourism, new businesses, and residents who value creativity and connectivity.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Crystal Bridges helped put Bentonville on the cultural map—not just regionally, but nationally. And the museum’s growth is only amplifying that impact.

Beyond the Galleries: Programming That Engages

What makes Crystal Bridges and The Momentary particularly unique is their expansive approach to programming. Beyond traditional exhibitions, the institutions offer:

  • Live music performances in world-class venues like the Tower Bar and the Roadhouse Studio, the latter lauded by artists as one of the best sound environments they’ve experienced.
  • Speaker series featuring national thought leaders and icons like Mia Hamm.
  • Interactive educational programming, with robust offerings for schools and families.
  • Ceramics and maker spaces for hands-on learning and artistic expression.
  • Outdoor sculpture trails that invite contemplation and play amid nature.
  • Private event spaces that accommodate weddings, conferences, and community gatherings, all while preserving public access.

And in true Crystal Bridges fashion, this programming is available in formats that allow visitors to engage for an hour, an afternoon, or an entire weekend. With the addition of new dining spaces and courtyards, a visit becomes not just an outing, but a full experience.

A Campus Built for Connection

One of the most visionary aspects of Crystal Bridges is how it embodies physical and philosophical connectivity. The museum isn’t a stand-alone entity—it’s part of a larger cultural and wellness ecosystem that includes The Momentary, AWSOM, and the Whole Health Institute. They all share a single campus designed to encourage what Alice Walton calls “collisions”—unplanned moments of connection between people from different disciplines, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Whether it’s a medical student encountering a sculpture on their way to class or an art educator collaborating with a physician on empathy-building curriculum, this integration fosters a new kind of interdisciplinary synergy. It’s in the architecture, the programming, and even in the landscape itself.

Healing After the Storm

When a tornado tore through the area, damaging parts of the campus, it could have been a devastating setback. But instead, the recovery process became a powerful example of resilience and innovation. Staff not only restored the trails and forest areas, but they also reimagined them. New sunlight now reaches places that were once dense with shade, creating opportunities for planting flowers and encouraging new ecosystems. “Sapling parties,” as one team member called them, became joyful acts of reforestation.

In many ways, the tornado recovery mirrored the museum’s broader mission: to turn adversity into opportunity, and to do so with beauty and intention.

What Will the Future Hold?

As Davidson looks ahead to the 2026 grand reopening, she’s most excited about the evolving visitor experience. Whether you’re a local popping in with your kids for an hour or a tourist making a multi-day trip to soak in the full spectrum of art, nature, music, and food, there will be something new, vibrant, and uniquely Bentonville waiting for you.

And perhaps that’s the magic of Crystal Bridges: it doesn’t ask you to be an art expert, a wealthy patron, or even someone with an itinerary. It simply asks you to come as you are. Walk in from the bike trail, take a breath, and look out the window. Let the art, the architecture, and the landscape do the rest.

Why You Should Visit

If you haven’t visited Crystal Bridges or The Momentary yet, here’s what you can expect:

  • Free admission to world-class art and architecture.
  • Immersive exhibits, including the upcoming Keith Haring: 3D show in the new temporary gallery.
  • Live performances and artist residencies that highlight both regional and global talent.
  • Art is integrated with nature, with stunning trails, sculpture gardens, and seasonal beauty.
  • A community-centered atmosphere, where you’re just as welcome in hiking boots as in heels.
  • Educational opportunities for kids, teens, and lifelong learners alike.
  • Access to one of the most forward-thinking intersections of art, wellness, and community in the country.

Final Thoughts

Crystal Bridges isn’t just growing in size; it’s growing in purpose. With a bold commitment to access, community engagement, and reimagined experiences, it’s setting a new standard for what museums can and should be. And as it continues to transform not only its own galleries but the entire region around it, one thing is clear: the art of connection is alive and thriving in Northwest Arkansas.

Whether you're a first-time visitor or a lifelong fan, the future at Crystal Bridges invites you to slow down, look closely, and experience something truly extraordinary.