Visitor’s Guide to Crystal Bridges Campus

A 134-acre campus where you can wander from museum galleries to forest trails, step into Heartland Whole Health Institute, and end up on a rooftop garden at a medical school sounds in Bentonville, Arkansas. We sit down with Jennifer Dunham, Senior Director of Communications at Art and Wellness Enterprises, to share an insider’s guide to the Crystal Bridges Campus for art and wellness and how to experience it even if you’re short on time.

We break down how the campus organizations fit together, from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary to the behind-the-scenes work of Art Bridges Foundation and the Alice Walton Foundation and talk about the campus “pillars”: art, architecture, nature, education, and wellness. We close with what’s coming next, including the Crystal Bridges expansion and more. Learn more about each entity here: Home - Art & Wellness Enterprises

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Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

Beth Bobbitt 0:02

This is a new American town. I'm your host, Beth Bobbitt, and I'm happy to welcome Jennifer Dunham, Senior Director of Communications with Art and Wellness Enterprise. So glad you're here, Jennifer.

How The Campus Organizations Connect

Jennifer Dunham 0:15

Hi, Beth. Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here as well. Yes. So we've got a lot to cover today. We're talking about the Crystal Bridges campus, and that does cover 134 acres right here in the heart of Bitonville on J and Museum Way. So for listeners that may not know, Art and Wellness Enterprise is a service organization that supports Alice Walton's various art and health entities. So your role is expansive. And you just mentioned you work mostly behind the scenes. So this is a fun new thing for you. But I'd love to hear just a little bit more about each organization and your own background. What brought you to Bentonville? So let's start there. Okay. Well, I moved to Bentonville in 2004 with my husband, who took a job for Walmart. That's a shock for people, I'm sure. During what we thought was the first boom of Bentonville. I had no idea what was to come. And, you know, he was working, I was working in a different nonprofit, and in 2009 had the opportunity to join Crystal Bridges.

Beth Bobbitt 1:21

Exciting. So you were there from the very beginning. If you could just take us through each organization, because there is a footprint of every organization on campus, which is what we're talking about today. So let's just mention each organization for some grounding.

Jennifer Dunham 1:36

Sure. Well, it is the Crystal Bridges campus for art and wellness. And so Crystal Bridges is the anchor, if you will. It's been there the longest. It's the biggest draw for who comes to our campus. But we like to talk about the other ones now together. So Crystal Bridges is the Museum of American Art, and they have their extension, The Momentary, just down the road. And then also on campus is Art Bridges Foundation, which is focused on getting art out of museums. They work very much behind the scenes, trying to get art out of bigger museums and into smaller museums across the country. And then the Alice Walton Foundation is a small group, a mighty team of four, who work inside the Heartland Whole Health Institute as well. And their mission is to provide financial support in ways that increase access to the arts, education, and wellness across Northwest Arkansas and beyond. And then the newest addition, the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, is a four-year MD program reshaping medical education with a whole person approach. And then Heartland Whole Health Institute is a nonprofit working within the healthcare industry in the development of whole health care delivery models and payment reform. That's a mouthful. Yeah. And then our own organization, Art and Wellness Enterprises, is also inside the Heartland Whole Health Institute, which is a service organization, shared services to support the work of all of the organizations I just mentioned.

Planning A Visit Around Your Time

Beth Bobbitt 3:04

Thank you for that. So much impact packed in, you know, a small aggregated amount of space. So yeah, let's talk about the spaces. So a scenario here. Say I have a friend visiting from out of town. They've never seen or heard of any of these organizations, but want to just experience them physically. What's like the insider's guide to that? Where do you start?

Crystal Bridges Highlights And Expansion

Jennifer Dunham 3:28

So funny. When I worked at Crystal Bridges, I'd get that question a lot. Someone would just stop and say, like, what should I see? I have 30 minutes. And I used to joke, you should go to the library because not only is it a beautiful space, they have computers, and you can book yourself another trip back to Bentonville because it's going to take longer than 30 minutes. Yeah, exactly. But in reality, people do have schedules and time constraints. And it's, it's um, I think it's a beautiful thing that you can curate the experience to the visitor. So I always just ask a lot of questions like what's important to you? What do you want to see? Because we have a little bit of everything. There's things for art lovers, there's things for architecture lovers, there's things for outside nature lovers. There's so much to see, and you you can get all of it in any one of our spaces or walking in between the spaces. So it's a beautiful experience to

Speaker 1 4:18

have.

Beth Bobbitt 4:18

So let's start at Crystal Bridges because that's the anchor. Just give us a little bit of high-level mission, vision, history.

The Momentary Events And Best Views

Jennifer Dunham 4:26

Well, Crystal Bridges mission is to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature, something they've been doing for a long time now. It will be 15 years in November, as a matter of fact. So ahead of their anniversary, I think one of the biggest things to see would be the expansion, which you can't go into just yet, but you can see from one of our bridge galleries. So I think a good place to start for someone who hasn't ever been is to just go down and take a look from the overlook at all the buildings and what you want to see right there at the elevators when you come in. It's a it's a great chance to look out at the expanse of what's available inside and outside, and then understand that what all of it is is gallery space full of art. There's so much art to see everywhere, inside and out. And find what you love. You know, the the story kind of unfolds through the curator's eyes, but you can look for things that just speak to you and go read the labels and find out why you were drawn to it. That's what art is all about.

Beth Bobbitt 5:33

Right, right. And you don't have to look far for that the art because it's all over the trails as well. So you'll you'll run into it accidentally. So let's head down the street to the momentary and give us a quick synopsis of the momentary, how it relates to Crystal Bridges.

Jennifer Dunham 5:50

Yeah, so the momentary is an extension of Crystal Bridges, and together they're focused on connecting communities to great experience. They just do it in very different ways. And so the momentary is kind of that casual hangout. It's the place they want you to come back to. Not that you don't want to go back to Crystal Bridges over and over again because it changes often as well, but the momentary is like look at the calendar because there's something different every day, every week. And I think, you know, to experience the momentary, one of the favorite things for me is the tower bar view. So it's a great spot on the sixth floor of the momentary where you can look out and see all of Bentonville. It's a 21 plus experience at in the evening, but during the day it's open and has such great views. It's worth just going up and seeing it as well and taking a look at what's happening all over Bentonville. Um, but they also have galleries and you can pop in to see a different show. They they change throughout the year. Um, and then, you know, when it's seasonally appropriate, being outside of the momentary is a great experience as well. So it's got its own concert venue inside and outside. Um, and there's just great places to hang out and grab a coffee or a drink and just just be outside. Um, there's there's always something different to see. I, you know, I looked at the calendar just in the coming weeks. You can see a national geographic photograph exhibition. You could go to a supper club, which is a local favorite, a community dining experience. There's a Y2K pop party, Saturday morning cartoons, a live on stage dating event. You can adopt a dog and see Whiz Khalifa in concert.

Beth Bobbitt 7:29

Wow, yeah, such variety. And same with Crystal Bridges. There's programming all of the time. The Momentary skews more music, Crystal Bridges skews more art, but they both have a little bit of both. Correct.

Jennifer Dunham 7:42

And I think um a not to miss too that I always tell everybody is look at the calendar and see what tours there are. Yeah. Because there are drop-in tours daily. We have a new campus tour that kind of gives an overview of the full campus and everything we're trying to share and why it's connected and how we um how we look at the pillars of art, architecture, nature, education, and wellness and how those shared experiences together create um the opportunity for a better life.

Whole Health Institute Art And Architecture

Beth Bobbitt 8:10

Yeah. And as a mom, I look forward to the summer camp release because there's always amazing camps every year. So leaving Crystal Bridges in the momentary, heading out on the trails. Let's hit the Heartland Hole Health Institute. So, first give us a little glimpse into what the vision is, and then we'll talk a little bit about the building and architecture and what's happening that the public can experience.

Jennifer Dunham 8:37

Okay. Well, the Heartland Hole Institute team is, as I said, dedicated to transforming healthcare in the Heartland and across the nation. So specifically, they're working to implement value-based payment models that incentivize healthcare providers for improved outcomes, not quantity of service. It's a mindset shift in what they're trying to achieve. So you can imagine it's a lot of behind-the-scenes policy and governmental and working with healthcare providers and insurance companies to sort of look for a new path forward. When you come to that building, though, it is open to the public. So the building itself houses the staff for Heartland Whole Health Institute, the staff for the Alice L. Walton Foundation, the staff for Art Bridges Foundation, and then my own organization, Art and Wellness Enterprises. But the building is open to the public during the day. And it's it's a beautiful, it's absolutely beautiful, designed by Fayetteville architect Marlon Blackwell and Associates. It is a journey through Ozark architecture. It's it's like a view of almost feeling like cave and forest looking out into nature. So it's a beautiful structure in and of itself to see. And then there is also a rotating art exhibition inside that's worthwhile as well. It's curated by the Crystal Bridges team. And so it's got amazing art focused on health right now. Um, it's called the Art of Whole Health, and there's also a little small cafe in there so you can grab a cup of coffee or tea and walk around.

Beth Bobbitt 10:14

It's one of my favorite workplaces.

Jennifer Dunham 10:15

It is just grab your laptop and uh it's I'm so glad to hear that because it is just a it's a relaxing space. It's kind of like a quiet hidden treasure, although it is hopping because there is a large event space in there, and depending on when you are there, it could be very quiet or it could be bustling with an event taking place. And then, like one of my um pro tips is to take the architecture tour, it happens on Fridays right now, and it's it gives a great overview of what Marlon and his team were trying to achieve in the building. And there's also a secret little hidden space, the meditation room on the second floor. It's one of my personal favorites.

Beth Bobbitt 10:54

Love it. And I will say that, you know, by design, when you enter the building, you have this moment of like shoulders down. It's you know, the wood, the natural light. It it is just a beautifully relaxing reset moment when you go into that entryway.

Jennifer Dunham 11:14

It's a privilege to work there every day and look out at nature and and have the light cascade in the shadows during the day. It's beautiful.

Beth Bobbitt 11:24

Love it. Okay, so uh awesome, affectionately known as awesome, the School of Medicine, welcomed its inaugural class in July. So this is all still very new. Tell us about how the med school is different from a traditional medical education.

Jennifer Dunham 11:41

So uh the biggest thing is that it is a traditional four-year MD program, but they're educating the students with a whole health approach, including arts and humanities. So there's arts integration, they're working with the team at Crystal Bridges to help the students connect to art and all of the things that can help their own well-being, as well as considering how it could help future patients and using the campus as part of their education.

Beth Bobbitt 12:11

And again, another beautiful space. Tell us a little bit about the building, the grounds. You know, it's not often that a medical school is so visitor friendly, but this one in fact is. Yes, exactly.

Jennifer Dunham 12:24

Um, most of the student activities are behind closed doors, but again, it's open to the public, so you can go in and see the building. It is amazing architecture from Polk Stanley Wilcox, another Arkansas architecture firm. But I think what's beautiful there is there is another exhibition. It will be rotating. Currently, it's called Invisible Landscapes, and it's a photography exhibition organized by Artbridges colleagues. So you can start to see the thread of connection across all of the campus. But the architecture is amazing. Again, it's another shoulders down, just calming place. I I wish I had gone to school somewhere that looked like that. It was so beautiful. And I think who steals it though is the outside, the rooftop park. The garden outside, actually, there are gardens, so there are healing gardens. There's an actual functioning garden for the students to use vegetables and plants in in their own daily activities. There's a rooftop garden that has thousands of species of native plants, and it kind of ascends up this hill with a lovely view as well. And you can just wind your way along the path and experience um all that that space has to offer. Another cafe that you could grab a smoothie or a snack and sit outside and enjoy those spaces.

Beth Bobbitt 13:46

Beautiful. Um okay, and not to miss the parking structure. I mean, we call this the campus parking plaza because there's more to it than just the structure itself. Tell us a little bit about the activations for the parking structure.

Jennifer Dunham 14:02

It's like the coolest parking structure of all time. Yes. I mean, the a lot alone, the art on the second floor that you can just stand out. Again, it's another place to reflect and look outside. There's a lot of inside-outside reference across our campus. Um I mean, it's primarily a place to park and access the shuttle that runs to the museum throughout the operating hours. But it does have a splash pad seasonally for kids to play in. And there's a seasonal cafe. So that's like another great spot to stop and grab something and just enjoy the lounge areas, the seating areas. And then there's a, I think the insider tip is to go all the way to the sixth floor. Because if you go to the sixth floor, you can look out. Again, it's another tall point on the campus where you can look. You know, to the north you can see the School of Medicine, to the west, you can see Crystal Bridges, to the south, you can see the Heartland Whole Health Institute. You can overlook some of the construction happening on the new to come Ozark Discovery Canopy, which is going to be a play space that is coming in June with the expansion. And it's it's just great to see like this this connection throughout the campus that's happening. Right.

Beth Bobbitt 15:18

Wow. So much happening. Uh well, you mentioned the Ozark Discovery Canopy and the Crystal Bridges expansion. Is there anything else coming online that we should know about or pay attention to?

Jennifer Dunham 15:30

I think those are the biggest things. The expansion and the Ozark Discovery Canopy are the biggest things coming soon. And remind us the timeline on the expansion. June 6th and 7th of this year, 2026. Everything I think is going to align with that expansion. So, in addition, for those who are familiar with the space, the Orchard Trail is a trail that leads from the parking area to walk down to the museum. And it is undergoing some um, I guess the best word is renovation following the tornado damage that happened a couple of years ago. They're reconfiguring the space. There's now a lot of light where there were a lot of trees, and so they're reimagining what that space could look and feel like for guests coming down. It's your entryway into the museum and replanting. Lots of replanting.

Hidden Gems For Quiet Reset

Beth Bobbitt 16:25

I love it. Already a gorgeous campus, so I can't wait to see how that adds to it. Okay, so switching gears, usually we ask guests about their favorite spot in Bittenville, but because the campus is right here, I'd love to hear about some hidden gem locations. Like, where do you go to have your reset moments?

Jennifer Dunham 16:46

So, one of my favorites is to take a walk down to Crystal Springs Trail. So that's the origin source of the water that feeds the ponds between the buildings for Crystal Bridges. And it's a loop trail, it's an easy walk, and it just is a reminder of even though we're in the middle of all of this growth and buildings, like it's very much outside. You can walk past the Frank Lloyd Wright House, you can try and identify where the water's coming from. You know, there are fish and and the cassama balls in the spring. So it's just a lovely spot for me to get outside. Um, there are so many outside. I just, I mean, I I really going outside and taking a walk is my preferred way of winding down. So that's what I try to do when I can. But inside, I love the reflection spaces. I think Moshe Softy's idea of creating these moments in between the galleries to stop and look outside. You know, we hear so much now, even about those of us who work on screens all the time, stopping and looking up and looking out at something for a period of time. It's the same concept as you're walking through and you're maybe overwhelmed, or it's there's a lot of art, there are a lot of stories. You can take a beat to just stop and look outside and remember, you know, nature does everything so well, um, no matter the season. So those reflection spaces, my favorite one is just outside the temporary gallery inside Crystal Bridges where you can see the the Chihuli. And um, if there's snow, it's one of the first places I try to go. Um, it is one of my favorite spots. And then I I think the library is not to be missed. I mean, the view from the library is is gorgeous.

Beth Bobbitt 18:32

And a lot of people don't know there's a library. It's a way, yeah. So you you get on the main elevator or tell us the best way to Yeah.

Jennifer Dunham 18:40

So um just if you're in the lobby, just turn the corner and there's a little elevator that that indicates that you can go up and go see it. It's just a beautiful spot, beautiful views, friendly volunteers. It's just a it's a great

How To Follow Updates And Membership

Speaker 1 18:54

spot.

Beth Bobbitt 18:54

Okay. Well, thank you for all the tips and tricks. There's so many ways to sort of stay updated with all the various entities, but give us the highlights here.

Jennifer Dunham 19:04

Yeah. Well, each organization has its own website. And if you kind of want the overview story, artandwellness.org actually is meant for people who might be looking to come join one of those organizations to find employment. But it's got an overview of each of them and links to each of them, so it's a good place to start. And then the individual websites themselves have all have links at the bottom of their home pages where you can subscribe if there are email updates. You're welcome to do that if you'd like. Um, they also list their social media accounts where they exist, and there's a variety of those and ways that you can follow them on social media to understand what the latest happenings are. And we'll link all of those websites to the show notes. And then the Crystal Bridges and Momentary calendar events, that's they're the most robust way to understand everything happening on campus. And they they are reflective of campus-wide events when when applicable. So if there's a festival that's going to include all of the buildings and all of the organizations, they will be the primary source of where those are listed.

Beth Bobbitt 20:11

Right. Yes. And I want to plug membership because it's such a great deal and it's such a good way to stay connected, get early access. There's so many benefits.

Wrap Up And Stay Connected

Jennifer Dunham 20:23

Absolutely. We hear often things selling out, and it's because our members are so in the loop, in the know, and they get that information first, and they have access to discounted tickets to events and free access to the exhibitions that come with the charge all the time. So you can go back over and over again. Yeah. Great.

Beth Bobbitt 20:45

Well, thanks, Jennifer. This has been fun. Anything else we want to wrap up with? No, thank you for having me. Whether you're visiting or call Bitonville home, Visit Bittenville is here to help you stay connected to what's happening in our new American town. Check out the show notes for links to our website, social channels, and newsletter. Thanks for listening.