FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas has established an interdepartmental exhibition space in downtown Bentonville, named the University of Arkansas Student Gallery (sUgAr). The gallery will be open to the public Wednesday, Sept. 16, and the first reception will be held 5-8 p.m. Oct. 2 during downtown Bentonville’s First Friday of Oktoberfest.

The gallery is a student-run exhibition space located at 114 Central Ave. in Bentonville. The space will feature the visual research of students, faculty and visiting lecturers from the department of art, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and the School of Human Environmental Science's interior design program. This gallery will facilitate a new opportunity for the University of Arkansas’ visual art, architecture and design community to connect directly with northwest Arkansas’ creative industry.

“The University of Arkansas has always been committed to the arts,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart, “and collaborating with the northwest Arkansas community in this way brings our commitment to life. We are excited to share the work of our students, faculty and visiting lecturers with others who value and love art.”

The first exhibition will highlight faculty work from collaborating departments and will set the stage for the visual dynamism to come.

“This is an exciting time to become part of the downtown Bentonville community,” said Daniel Hintz, executive director of Downtown Bentonville Inc., “and this gallery offers a glimpse of downtown’s transformation into a significant destination for arts and culture in the region.”

Hintz added that with the future opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the expanding Bentonville Art Walk and the infusion of the performing, culinary and visual arts into events throughout the year, downtown Bentonville is poised to offer unprecedented amenities to the northwest Arkansas community.

sUgAr is made possible by the office of the provost, the Graduate School, the Honors College, the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the department of art, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and the School of Human Environmental Science's interior design program in collaboration with Downtown Bentonville Inc.