The University of Arkansas School of Art recently reached a new milestone – breaking ground on the final building in the Windgate Art and Design District. The occasion was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the start of construction on this pivotal structure.

Provost Terry Martin, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Dean Brian E. Raines, School of Art Director Rachel Debuque, as well as other university leaders and community members gathered on the ground-floor terrace of the school’s existing Studio and Design Center – overlooking the adjacent site and future Gallery and Foundations Building – to commemorate this important moment.

The ceremony celebrated the generous donations from Jeremy and Andrea Wilson and Brad and Jodie Goss, as well as the Windgate Foundation.

The Windgate Art and Design District has come to life in large part thanks to the generosity of the namesake Windgate Foundation. In 2017, the School of Art received a transformational $40 million gift from the foundation that created the district, followed by an additional $30 million partial challenge grant to expand and complete the district in 2021.

Located in the heart of south Fayetteville, the district is currently home to the Sculpture Building and the Studio and Design Center, a central hub for student and faculty artists and designers.

The new Gallery and Foundations Building that is now under construction will house the school’s public galleries, innovative labs, collaborative maker spaces and the Foundations program, which is the vital first year experience for all art education, graphic design and studio art students.

“By breaking ground on the Gallery and Foundations Building – the final piece of the Windgate Art and Design District and the front porch of the School of Art – we’ve reached a significant milestone and tangible example of fulfilling our land-grant mission to serve all of Arkansas,” said Brian E. Raines, dean of U of A’s Fulbright College, which is home to the School of Art. 

“We are creating dedicated space and resources to advance creative expression and student success, drive economic development, and improve quality of life for Arkansans through art access, outreach and education that will come from this final community-facing building,” he added. “Thank you to the Windgate Foundation and all who have supported this incredible endeavor.”

Pat Forgy, executive director at Windgate Foundation, said that “From the beginning, our vision for the Windgate Art and Design District has been to empower students, elevate creative expression, and expand access to the arts for the entire community.”

“Breaking ground on the Gallery and Foundations Building marks the realization of that vision – a vibrant center where innovation, inclusion, and imagination will thrive for generations to come,” she added.

Architect firms Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, based in New York, and Arkansas-based Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects have worked closely with the university and the School of Art to ensure the new building will be integrated into the community as a hub for the arts.

“This building is a cultural gateway – it welcomes the public into the life of the School of Art through dynamic exhibitions, research and outreach programs that presents the work of nationally and internationally recognized artists and designers alongside the exploratory practices of our students,” said Rachel Debuque, the School of Art’s director. “This will be a place where emerging voices and established visionaries will coexist – inspiring dialogue, discovery and connection.”

The Gallery and Foundations Building will be the entry point for the district, serving as a welcoming first stop for visitors and future students.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Debuque shared, “Today we don’t just break ground, we share our commitment to accessibility and community and a radical belief that creativity can change the world.”

While visual art education has been a part of the U of A’s curriculum since its founding 150 years ago, the School of Art became the first and only accredited, collegiate school of art in the state of Arkansas in 2017 and remains so today.

Transforming from the Department of Art to the School of Art was made possible thanks to a $120 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation and generous support from the Windgate Foundation.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the Windgate Foundation and all of the donor contributions for making this final chapter of the art and design district possible,” said Sam King, associate director of the School of Art. “We envision this district and this final building as a place for connection – connection between disciplines, between the university and the community, between students and their futures.”

The school plans for the Gallery and Foundations Building to host several of its outreach programs and, with the additional space, hopes to expand current programming like the Summer Arts Workshop and ArtLab, as well as create new activities and events for the Arkansas community.

“This new space allows us to deepen our connection with the community and broaden the creative opportunities we offer,” said Kayla Crenshaw, chief of staff and director of communications for the School of Art. “One of the most exciting aspects of this new building is the gallery spaces. The school has long held a commitment to public-facing exhibitions, and we’ve missed having dedicated space during the building of the district and renovation of the Fine Arts Center.”

Marty Maxwell Lane, associate director of the School of Art, echoes these sentiments.

“We take the responsibility to increase access to art and design to heart, from outreach and public service to research and curriculum,” she added. “With this facility, alongside additional spaces and endowment funding, the School of Art, University of Arkansas and partners like Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art continue to establish Arkansas as a destination for the arts and arts education.”

For more information about the Windgate Art and Design District and progress on the Gallery and Foundations Building, please visit art.uark.edu.

About the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences: The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit at the University of Arkansas with three schools, 16 departments and numerous academic programs and research centers. The college provides the majority of the core curriculum for all U of A students. Get the inside scoop on all things Fulbright College by subscribing to the digital Fulbright REVIEW publication.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.