The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville announced it has received a $7 million grant from the nonprofit Walmart Foundation to continue free admission at the museum.
The money from the charitable arm of Walmart Inc. will also support operations at the Momentary, a contemporary satellite of the museum.
More than 10.8 million people have visited Crystal Bridges and the Momentary since the museum opened in 2011 thanks to Walmart’s initial investment in the free admission endowment, the museum said in a news release.
“We’re grateful for the Walmart Foundation’s commitment to making art accessible to the people of the Heartland and beyond,” Rod Bigelow, executive director and chief diversity & inclusion officer at Crystal Bridges, said in the release. “With their support, we can continue to expand access to Crystal Bridges and the Momentary, and welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature.”
The grant comes after Crystal Bridges launched a major expansion project that will increase the size of its current facilities by 50%. The new space will increase its capacity for presenting art and exhibitions, as well as expand educational and outreach initiatives, cultural programming, and community events.
The Momentary is also undergoing a “transformation,” according to the release. Visitors will begin to see a reimagined space later this summer.
“It is a privilege to support the continued growth of Crystal Bridges and the Momentary so that more people can come together to enjoy the beautiful architecture and nature these places have to offer,” Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation, said in the release.
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