FAYETTEVILLE -- A $2 million grant from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation will finish paying for the Walton Arts Center's expansion, officials said Wednesday.
The gift is designated for the capital campaign Investing in Our Future: The Expansion of Walton Arts Center. The $23 million campaign added 30,000 square feet of space. The $23 million project includes an expanded atrium lobby that connects to Dickson Street, significant renovations and enlarging the Starr Theater, increased space for technical and theatrical equipment, and new administrative offices.
"The building is going to be a great experience for patrons, and it's going to be a much better experience for our crews and our production teams as well as for our artists," said Peter Lane, president and CEO of Walton Arts Center.
The Walker gift put the center's campaign over the top, Lane said. The grant will allow additional technical upgrades.
The new atrium will be named the Walker Atrium in recognition of the gift.
Metro on 10/23/2016