BENTONVILLE, Ark.
Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, the contemporary art collectors behind the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, have announced the opening of the company’s third property, located just off Bentonville’s historic square and a quarter mile from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Building on its mission of sharing dynamic art with the public, the hotel incorporates 12,000 square feet of exhibition, meeting and event space and eight site-specific installations throughout the property.
“Bentonville is a particularly interesting location for our third property,” said Steve Wilson, co-founder and CEO of 21c Museum Hotels. “Hidden behind a small town is a hub of global commerce with a rapidly emerging arts, entertainment and culinary scene. The combination of municipal, private and community investment has created a renaissance in the region, and 21c will be an additional creative, educational and civic resource for the people of Northwest Arkansas.”
The 104-room hotel’s features include:
• 12,000 square feet of exhibition, meeting and event space featuring rotating curated exhibitions, multi-media installations and cultural programming such as artist lectures and live performances. The exhibition space is open to the public and free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Indoor and outdoor event spaces with the latest technology and contemporary art including the Art Yard with fire pit, flexible furniture, and site-specific art installation by Cuban artist Alexandre Arrechea titled “Orange Tree.”
• The Hive restaurant, under the direction of executive chef and Arkansas native Matthew McClure, the menu emphasizes the unique culinary identity of the state while articulating McClure’s approach to refined country cuisine.
