January 10, 2007

In the 1980s, the Sam Walton family donated a gift toward the construction of a performance space for the University of Arkansas (UA) in Fayetteville (Washington County). At about the same time, the City of Fayetteville was considering a similar facility. Negotiations led to the formation of the Walton Arts Council, the goal of which was the construction of an arts center. Over $7 million was raised from private donors, and ground was broken on May 19, 1992, as seen in this photograph. The center has hosted many national touring shows and is considered a showplace of northwest Arkansas.