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Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is expanding its craft collection ahead of its expansion set to debut next month.

State of play: The museum has acquired about 140 works from about 60 artists in ceramics, glass, fiber, metal and wood, according to a news release from the museum.

The museum previously announced an addition of Indigenous works ahead of the opening and gift of 200 works by more than 100 artists plus funding for future acquisitions to the museum.

The big picture: The largest expansion since the museum opened in 2011 is set to open to the public June 6. The 114,000-square-foot addition to the existing 210,000 square feet will allow for more gallery space and community-oriented spaces for classes, performances and artmaking.

What they're saying: "From quilts to monumental ceramics, the works span a range of materials and forms that can immediately engage our visitors," Jen Padgett, Windgate Curator of Craft, said in the news release.

"They show technical mastery while also offering compelling personal and cultural narratives that will resonate strongly with our audiences."

allow for more gallery space and community-oriented spaces

Crystal Bridges adds to collection ahead of expansion

The expansion is set to open to the public June 6.

"Bentwood Sphere" by Leon Niehues. Photo: Courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is expanding its craft collection ahead of its expansion set to debut next month.State of play: The museum has acquired about 140 works from about 60 artists in ceramics, glass, fiber, metal and wood, according to a news release from the museum.

News

Things to Do

😎 4th Friday Siloam — Siloam Springs is kicking off the summer with a block party with food trucks, live music and vendors. 3-8pm today at Memorial Park.

🎡 Carnival — The Rodeo of the Ozarks is hosting a carnival with rides and fair food today through May 31 at Parsons Stadium in Springdale. 5-10pm on weekdays and 5-11pm on weekends.

🛍️ Pop-up market — NWA Makers Market is hosting a pop-up with about 60 vendors from 10am-5pm Saturday at Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers.

Your weekend plans: Shopping, carnival, festival

Illustration of a beach chair made out of a calendar.

Get out this weekend.😎 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="4th Friday Siloam" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/events/1423938205465444?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22discovery_local_tab%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D" data-vars-content-id="1c296c1d-e16b-4577-a1d1-1ac0ba90a729" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Shopping, carnival, festival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1423938205465444?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22discovery_local_tab%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D" target="_blank">4th Friday Siloam</a> — Siloam Springs is kicking off the summer with a block party with food trucks, live music and vendors. 3-8pm today at Memorial Park.

Only one summer camp in Northwest Arkansas is accredited by the national organization that holds camps to a high industry standard.

Why it matters: Camps that aren't accredited are meeting their state's regulations, but those can vary from recommended industry standards. Unaccredited camps may or may not be meeting those standards, leaving it up to parents to know what to ask, American Camp Association CEO Henry DeHart told Axios.

Accredited camps have undergone extensive education and training and have been found by association volunteers to be meeting as many as 266 standards annually.

Driving the news: 27 girls died in a flood in 2025 at Camp Mystic in Texas, prompting investigations into staff training and preparedness. The camp, which was not accredited by the American Camp Association, will not reopen.

Texas has since updated some of its laws to prevent such tragedies in the future, and another 11 states are working directly with the association to strengthen their laws around camp safety and emergency preparedness. Arkansas is not one of those states, though the last legislative session was spring 2025 before Camp Mystic and the next one isn't until spring 2027.

What they're saying: "Parents believe that because camps serve youth that they're pretty heavily regulated. That is actually not the case in most of the country," DeHart said.

He added that many camps meet higher standards than their states require because their insurance companies require them.

Zoom in: Arkansas requires camps to obtain licenses and that staff undergo criminal background checks, which are both practices that the association recommends and not all states mandate.

Arkansas Department of Education officials did not respond to Axios' questions about camp regulations. Out-of-school facilities that offer "before and after school care, extended care during the school holiday, summer day camps and youth development programs" must have written plans detailing the procedures to follow in the event of emergencies like floods, tornadoes or fires, according to information available on the department's website. To be accredited by the association, camps must also rehearse emergency plans.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management does not require camps to have emergency preparedness plans, but highly recommends they do and offers assistance to those developing one, Department of Public Safety spokesperson Cindy Murphy told Axios. The Arkansas State Fire Marshal's Office inspects buildings to ensure fire codes are in compliance.

The state's health department permits and inspects components of camps like pools and food services, spokesperson Sarah Morris told Axios.

The latest: The organization is seeing a surge in camps pursuing accreditation following Camp Mystic, DeHart said. Nationally, about 13% of camps are accredited.

The association lists eight Arkansas camps, including Camp War Eagle in Rogers, as accredited. Camp War Eagle did not respond to Axios' requests for comment.

First summer since Camp Mystic spotlights camp safety

Only one summer camp in Northwest Arkansas is accredited by the American Camp Association.

Illustration of camping gear symbols on a trail sign.

Only one summer camp in Northwest Arkansas is accredited by the national organization that holds camps to a high industry standard.Why it matters: Camps that aren&#x27;t accredited are meeting their state&#x27;s regulations, but those can vary from recommended industry standards. Unaccredited camps may or may not be meeting those standards, leaving it up to parents to know what to ask, American Camp Association CEO Henry DeHart told Axios.

Public Safety

Mark your calendars if you want to make the most of what NWA has to offer this summer.

🎡 Mudtown Days — Enjoy a carnival, a pet show and live music June 5-6 at KJ Memorial Park in Lowell.

🚲 Bentonville Bike Fest — The event includes several races for all ages and bicycle-related events June 9-14. Register or get a festival pass.

🎬 Bentonville Film Festival — The festival, founded by actor Geena Davis, emphasizes diversity and representation in front of and behind the camera. Catch films, community events and panels June 15-21 at various Bentonville locations. Get tickets.

🎊 Freedom Festival — Celebrate Juneteenth with music, food and games June 20 at Luther George Park in Springdale.

🤠 Rodeo of the Ozarks — A parade and traditional rodeo events are June 24-27 in Springdale. See the schedule and get tickets.

🏳️‍🌈 Northwest Arkansas Pride Weekend — Festivities running June 26-28 include a festival and parade in Fayetteville.

🍇 Tontitown Grape Festival — This longtime festival includes spaghetti dinners, a grape stomp and live music Aug. 4-8.

🎈 SOAR NWA — This hot air balloon festival includes helicopter rides, live music and a beer garden Aug. 14-15 at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Get tickets.

🎶 Concerts — Check out the lineup at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers, the free Gulley Park series in Fayetteville and the free Railyard Live series in Rogers.

🎨 Bonus: Even if you've been to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art a million times, you're going to want to go again sometime after June 6 when its expansion is open to the public.

Your Northwest Arkansas summer event guide

Mark your calendars to make the most of what NWA has to offer this summer.

Illustration of a pair of sunglasses with tickets for lenses

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Mark your calendars if you want to make the most of what NWA has to offer this summer.🎡 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mudtown Days" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/mudtowndaysinlowellarkansas" data-vars-content-id="48ab227f-72c2-4ec3-8068-63927a41c19c" data-vars-headline="Your Northwest Arkansas summer event guide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/mudtowndaysinlowellarkansas" target="_blank">Mudtown Days</a> — Enjoy a carnival, a pet show and live music June 5-6 at KJ Memorial Park in Lowell.

The Fayetteville City Council voted 5-3 on Tuesday to grant drone manufacturer Swarm Aero's appeal of a lower panel's vote that the business had been mislabeled, the Fayetteville Flyer reported.

Why it matters: The decision means Swarm Aero can continue operating at its current location near Drake Field in south Fayetteville.

Residents have protested and spoken out against the business, commonly because of its contract to provide drones for the military, according to the Fayetteville Flyer.

Flashback: Swarm Aero recently opened with little public knowledge or input, in part because of nondisclosure agreements with Swarm Aero compounded with city staff's decision to classify the company as a "by-right industrial use" business. The classification meant the business met the qualifications to operate in the location and didn't need to rezone the property, which would have required a City Council vote.

Fayetteville's Board of Adjustments then ruled city planning staff misclassified Swarm Aero as "heavy commercial and light industrial" business, which Swarm Aero appealed to the City Council on Tuesday.

The business would have had to seek a rezoning or move if the council had denied its appeal.

Zoom in: Supporters argued the company could create valuable science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce opportunities, research partnerships and higher-paying jobs, the Fayetteville Flyer reported.

City Council members Teresa Turk, Sarah Moore and D'Andre Jones voted against the appeal.

Fayetteville City Council clears path for Swarm Aero

Photo illustration collage of a swarm of drones flying in front of a yellow circle sun, with military wreckage in the foreground and pen marks illustrating a kill count spread all around. 

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Bettmann and Interim Archives via Getty Images

The Fayetteville City Council voted 5-3 on Tuesday to grant drone manufacturer Swarm Aero&#x27;s appeal of a lower panel&#x27;s vote that the business had been mislabeled, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Fayetteville Flyer reported" data-vars-click-url="https://fayettevilleflyer.com/2026/05/18/fayetteville-city-council-recap-for-may-19-2026/" data-vars-content-id="ad5ad875-df2e-485e-a2e8-7a1430d456c1" data-vars-headline="Fayetteville City Council clears path for Swarm Aero" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://fayettevilleflyer.com/2026/05/18/fayetteville-city-council-recap-for-may-19-2026/" target="_blank">the Fayetteville Flyer reported</a>.Why it matters: The decision means Swarm Aero can continue operating at its current location near Drake Field in south Fayetteville.

Alex Golden

Featured stories

Crystal Bridges adds to collection ahead of expansion

Your weekend plans: Shopping, carnival, festival

First summer since Camp Mystic spotlights camp safety

Fayetteville City Council clears path for Swarm Aero

Your Northwest Arkansas summer event guide