A world-class collection of American art, stunning architecture, and 120 acres of Ozark forest with five miles of trails. Admission to the museum is always free.
Planning a visit to Crystal Bridges this spring? Use this guide to learn what’s on and what to expect this season.
We have something for all types of learners. From educator resources to family activities to scholars, find what speaks to you and engage with us.
There’s more to the museum than just the galleries— come enjoy hands-on creative fun with art classes for all ages and experience levels..
Crystal Bridges members receive year-round perks, invitations to member-only events, travel opportunities, and more!
Museum & Buildings
Trails and Grounds open daily sunrise to sunset.
Pianist Tomoko Kashiwagi finds great joy in playing diverse repertoire she encounters as a performer and as an educator. Kashiwagi completed her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees as well as the Performer Diploma in Piano Performance at Indiana University where she studied with Professors Shigeo and Reiko Neriki. It did not take long for Kashiwagi to realize the importance of chamber music and ensemble playing as a musician and that she truly enjoys interacting with other musicians. She is the first recipient of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Professor Anne Epperson.
Claudia Burson grew up in Fayetteville, AR. Her interest in music was sparked at an early age and she began playing piano at age eight. Classical lessons followed, along with encouragement from her uncle, Kermit Burson, who was a professional guitarist. It was a musician in her uncle’s band who first turned her on to jazz. Claudia’s musical training continued through her school years, and upon entering college she studied classical piano with Beatriz Pilapil at the University of Arkansas. In 1976, Claudia enrolled at Berklee School of Music in Boston, followed by a fruitful period of performance in Houston, TX, where she met and played with people like Don Wilkerson and Arnett Cobb to name a couple. Since returning to Fayetteville in 1998 Claudia has gained a regional following through her many performances. She anchored the house rhythm section for the North Arkansas Jazz Society’s Summer Jazz Concert Series, and was the featured artist at the Tulsa Oklahoma Women In Jazz Festival, The Walton Arts Center Jazz Series, and is the pianist with the 18-piece jazz big band, The Fayetteville Jazz Collective. Claudia’s mastery of the piano is punctuated by her soulful style and charisma. She is among the rare artists who have risen above technique to deliver her music from a place deep within. Stylistically she is equally at home with jazz standards and ballads as she is with free improvisation. Claudia teaches piano, jazz piano, and small ensembles at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Prior to moving to Bentonville in 2017, Matt Nelson had established himself as one of Chicago’s most in-demand and versatile keyboardists. Matt has performed and toured in blues, jazz, and R&B bands, original rock bands, and high-end wedding and corporate bands. He has also accompanied, produced, and arranged for comedians, choirs, big bands, string groups, singers, and hip-hop artists, both live and in the studio. For over a decade, Matt lead his own jazz trio, the Matt Nelson Trio, and their album of original jazz, “Nostalgiamaniac” was critically acclaimed and received a notable four-star rating in Downbeat magazine. Matt also spent several years collaborating and touring with Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Matthew Santos and hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco. Matt has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with the likes of John Legend, Erykah Badu, Journey’s Steve Augeri, and comedian Sandra Bernhard, among others. In early 2020, Matt completed a successful run with the Trike Theatre production, A Year With Frog and Toad. Matt can also be found performing with jazz powerhouse, the Forte Quintet; arranging and playing keys for local charitable giving singalong, Beer & Hymns; performing at various events sponsored by the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra; and as an in-demand session keyboardist at Bentonville’s Haxton Road recording studio.
The Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 2008 as the Civic Symphony of Benton County. A group of musicians and music lovers wanted to provide professional opportunities for local musicians, educational concerts for young people, and an afterschool strings program. In 2010, the name was changed to the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra (APO), and it continues to grow with Northwest Arkansas under the direction of Maestro Steven Byess.
Since the beginning, the APO has performed large masterworks and pops concerts featuring professional musicians primarily from the Northwest Arkansas region. To date, more than 46 concerts have been performed, and many world-class guest soloists have performed with the APO. With each new performance, we’re able to cultivate young minds and inspire more audiences.
NWA Ballet Theatre
NWA Ballet Theatre was founded in 2011 by Margie Bordovsky, Mariah Bordovsky, and the late Peggie Wallis. Their purpose was to provide a quality professional ballet company so talented dancers would not have to leave the state in order to pursue their dreams, local communities would not have to drive hours away in order to see high quality dance performances, and to create a company that would garner respect and bring other artists to Northwest Arkansas. The company they established is here to provide valuable artistic opportunities and experiences to enrich the creative vitality of the region.
“Creating a true world-class music conservatory, right here in the heart of NWA.” The Park Na Conservatory gives serious pre-collegiate string players the opportunity to learn in a conservatory-style setting, studying under the tutelage of founders Dr. Eun Seo Park and Prof. Dominic K. Na. A registered 501c3, our nonprofit is dedicated to providing the highest standard of instruction and opportunities to our gifted young musicians, without the financial burden that often accompanies this level of training. All students who are accepted into the Conservatory program, will automatically receive a full-scholarship award . Since opening our doors this summer, we have awarded over $24,000 in scholarships to area youth. The main goal of the conservatory is in fostering the advanced training of high-performing musicians, while providing a comprehensive platform of study in all areas of artistic development. Additionally, our conservatory is eager to serve area musicians of all ages who may not be musically ready or eligible for our Conservatory, but join us instead through Monthly Private Lesson, or through our audition based entry, Preparatory program.
The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) is the region’s leading professional orchestra. Under the musical direction of Maestro Paul Haas, SoNA presents dynamic and diverse symphonic performances to an audience of more than 20,000 people annually. Now in its 66th season, the non-profit has led artistic and educational programming throughout Northwest Arkansas since 1954. SoNA is a resident company of Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. Through its partnerships across the region, SoNA has also performed at the Walmart AMP, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary, John Brown University, the University of Arkansas, the Bentonville Film Festival, the Fayetteville Roots Festival, area schools and libraries, and other partner locations. For more information, visit sonamusic.org.
This Digital Van Cliburn Concert Series is presented in memory of Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
The Van Cliburn Concert Series Endowment Fund supported by Kelly and Marti Sudduth, Reed and Mary Ann Greenwood, Ellis and Kay Melton, Chip and Susan Chambers, and William M. Fuller Foundation. Special thanks to Tommy Smith and Steinway & Sons.
A special thanks to Robert Ginsberg and the Northwest Arkansas Jazz society for their guidance. A longtime collaborator with Crystal Bridges, the NAJS has been honored to assist as a curatorial partner in the Van Cliburn series. Information available at www.digjazz.com.
