FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –For Jim and Joyce Faulkner of Little Rock, the perfect opportunity to combine their passion for the arts with their desire to support the needs of the University of Arkansas came in the form of the proposed performing arts center in the Old Field House on Garland Avenue.

The Faulkners’ gift of $6 million promises a state-of-the-art venue for exhibiting the musical and theatrical talents of students and faculty at the University of Arkansas.

“Joyce and I have been involved with music and other arts as far back as our grade school years in Malvern and Benton,” said Jim Faulkner, class of 1954. “In high school, we were both clarinet players in our bands. For my first couple of years in Fayetteville, I was in the Razorback Band, and that is a great memory for me. During our time in Little Rock, we have been involved with the Arkansas Symphony, the River City Men’s Chorus, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, the Arkansas Arts Center and several other groups. So when it was suggested that we might help in creating a new performing arts center for the university, it seemed like a good opportunity to combine our appreciation of the arts with our love for the University of Arkansas.”

The center, awaiting formal approval from the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees, is planned to offer seating for more than 650. Musical groups to perform in the new facility would include the University Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Schola Cantorum, Concert Choir and Master Chorale. Theatrical performances would be staged by the University Opera, Music Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre and Boars Head Summer Theatre. The facility would also host the popular Summer Chamber Music Festival as well as provide space for public lectures, such as the recent appearance by President Bill Clinton, who delivered the inaugural presentation in the Dale and Betty Bumpers Lecture Series.

On-campus musical performances currently are hosted in the 238-seat Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, now the site of more than 300 concerts annually. Theatrical productions are staged in the 250-seat University Theater.

>“While our current venues have served the university well, their limited capacity is no longer sufficient,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “When almost every institution of higher education and many high schools have performance venues offering more capabilities than these, it is obvious that improvement is needed if the university hopes to continue competing for top-flight fine arts students and faculty. In addition, we have submitted a proposal to the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission requesting financial support. We believe its investment in this project is consistent with the commission’s mission: to promote Fayetteville’s cultural, recreational and economic vibrancy. This project is a win-win for both the city and the university.

“With the incredibly generous support of our close friends Jim and Joyce Faulkner, the dream of having a facility that better serves our students and faculty is coming true,” continued Gearhart. “I appreciate their sincere belief in this project and their vision for better serving our campus and the state of Arkansas.”

The experiences of the campus community as a whole will be improved by the new center, and the possibilities for students and faculty involved in the arts, specifically, will be greatly enhanced.

“As a Fayetteville native, a U of A alumna and a current graduate student, I’m really excited about the campus and community having access to a cutting-edge performance hall,” said Mary Margaret Hui (B.A. 2009, M.A. 2011). “It will foster a more complete college experience, and it demonstrates the University of Arkansas’ commitment to the arts.”

Not only will the new center serve current students and faculty, it will further position the university as a leader in the arts, directly impacting recruitment efforts.

“The new center will benefit the music and theater programs by providing a great new facility to showcase students’ talents, but we hope it will also be an attraction for those in Arkansas high schools who are considering these areas for careers,” said Joyce Faulkner.

The Faulkners are long-time supporters of the university. In 2011, they led the effort to purchase new uniforms for the Razorback Band by offering to match others’ gifts. The challenge was met and exceeded in a matter of weeks. They have funded Chancellor’s Scholarships in several fields of study and were involved in the restoration of Old Main. The Faulkners are A-plus Life members of the Arkansas Alumni Association and are recognized as Towers of Old Main, a cumulative giving society of the university. All five of their children attended the University of Arkansas, and they expect to have more Razorbacks in their family as their grandchildren grow up.

The Old Field House was dedicated in February 1938 and was part of a building boom that occurred on campus in the 1930s, thanks to the federal Public Works Administration. The construction of a performing arts center will involve renovation of the interior space, and the building’s exterior will be preserved.