Crystal Bridges outsources hospitality staff
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Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will outsource its food and beverage services to national company Wolfgang Puck Catering, spokesperson Emma Claybrook confirmed to Axios.
State of play: The change affects 73 employees at the museum and other organizations under Alice Walton's Art and Wellness Enterprises. All employees will be able to apply for positions with Wolfgang Puck Catering.
- Currently, all hospitality employees work across the campus at various culinary and special event venues, Claybrook said in an email.
What they're saying: "As the Crystal Bridges campus continues to grow, the scope and complexity of supporting an expanding campus — now encompassing eight culinary venues — has led to a thorough review of our culinary offerings and dining experiences," according to a statement from Crystal Bridges.
- "This review has prompted the museum to adopt standard practices commonly used by organizations of comparable size and scale."
- Wolfgang Puck Catering works with "comparable" institutions like the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Space Center in Houston, Claybrook noted.
The venues include:
- The Eleven restaurant, the coffee bar and the planned Quartz and Honey spot offering beverages and desserts at Crystal Bridges.
- The Plaza Café at the campus parking lot.
- Tower Bar and the food truck at The Momentary.
- The cafe inside the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.
- The cafe inside the Heartland Whole Health Institute.
Zoom out: 685 people are employed across the Crystal Bridges campus, including the Crystal Bridges Museum, The Momentary, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Heartland Whole Health Institute, Art Bridges Foundation and Alice L. Walton Foundation, Claybrook said.
What's next: The transition is set for June 1.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show 685 people are employed across the Crystal Bridges campus (not at Art and Wellness Enterprises).