16-06-2025
Crystal Bridges and food bank collaborate at farmers markets
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank are teaming up to bring awareness to their organizations at rural farmers markets, prime community gathering spaces.
The big picture: Crystal Bridges and the food bank will be stationed together at the museum's mobile art lab to reach those who may not otherwise interact with the art museum.
Likewise, the food bank will be able to reach those who need access to food as well as those who may be able to donate or volunteer, food bank director of programs Sabrina Thiede told Axios.
The intrigue: Although Crystal Bridges seeks to make art accessible to everyone with its free permanent collection, the museum still might be out of the comfort zone of those served by the food bank, Thiede said.
How it happened: The effort is part of the museum's Arts and Social Impact Accelerator Program, spokesperson Michelle Moore told Axios.
The program is designed to cultivate partnerships that "incubate ideas that creatively address social issues through collaboration, arts-based solutions, and socially-engaged experiences," according to Crystal Bridges.
Flashback: The two organizations previously worked together during the pandemic when museum staff helped the food bank with tasks usually performed by volunteers who weren't able to come help because of precautions, Thiede said.
What's next: The mobile art lab will be at farmers markets in Huntsville on Saturday and Berryville on July 14, Gravette on Aug. 16, Farmington on Sept. 13 and Siloam Springs on Oct. 11.
