BENTONVILLE, Ark. —
Tyson Foods and the Tyson family have made a $5 million donation to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The money will be used to promote the study of American art through a scholar-in-residence initiative known as the Tyson Scholars of American Art program. It also will be used to fund the Don Tyson Prize — named for the former top executive of Tyson Foods — and will recognize lifetime achievement in American art.
The museum made its announcement last week.
“American art has historically received too little attention from scholars and academic programs as a field of research,” Don Bacigalupi, executive director of Crystal Bridges, said in a statement. "Funding for its study has been sadly limited. Here at Crystal Bridges, we have made it part of our mission to help improve that situation.”
“We're proud to help establish this unique scholars program and the lifetime achievement award named in honor of my dad,” John Tyson, now the chairman of Tyson Foods, said in a statement. “This gift reflects our long-held love of art ... It also demonstrates how much we value the mission of Crystal Bridges.”
The Don Tyson Prize for lifetime achievement is named for the meat company's former top executive and father of current Tyson chairman John Tyson. The award will also include an undisclosed cash prize and an event at Crystal Bridges that will coincide with the honor.
The museum, which opened in November, was financed by Alice Walton, daughter of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton. Walton also purchased large collections of art-related books for the museum's library and the scholar-in-residence program will draw on scholars who work in museums and universities and provide research materials that include Crystal Bridges' library and permanent collection.
The researchers also will work with the University of Arkansas and to arrange public lectures and other events.
Inaugural Tyson Scholars are:
Matthew Bailey, a a PhD candidate in the department of Art History and Archaeology and a Lynn Cooper Harvey Fellow in American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis.
Jason Weems, Riverside, an assistant professor at the University of California, Riverside, where he specializes in American art and visual culture from the colonial period to the present.
Susan Rather, a tenured member of the art history faculty in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas, Austin.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tyson art
The Tyson family's interest in American art began with Don Tyson's love of traditional American Western art, which he started collecting in the 1960s. John Tyson also is an avid collector. Over the past 20 years he has expanded and diversified what has now become the Tyson Foods corporate collection. It includes the works of such artists as Ansel Adams, Thomas Hart Benton, Charles M. Russell and Andy Warhol.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) George Washington ca. 1780-1782 Oil on canvas is part of the collection of American art. Courtesy/Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Discussion
Tyson makes $5 million donation to Crystal Bridges Art Museum
- Local News
-
-
Farmers Insurance teams up with Rebuild Joplin
Farmers Insurance announced Tuesday that the company will team up with Rebuild Joplin for an initiative to help the community complete its recovery efforts. The company already has placed one of its executives in Joplin, and it is pledging additional funds and volunteer hours by company workers to go toward the city’s recovery.
-
Crowder president to join MSSU staff
Alan Marble, who will retire as president of Crowder College in June, has been hired as special assistant to the president of Missouri Southern State University. “With his long experience in higher education administration and his intricate knowledge of the needs of students, we knew Dr. Marble would be a great fit at MSSU,” President Bruce Speck said in a statement that announced the transition.
-
Mike Pound: Husband helps pull off surprise for Carl Junction teacher
Keri Keckley said the key to pulling off the Sunday surprise was the deceptive minister.
Boy, if that isn’t a great opening line for a crime novel, I don’t know what is. But in this case, the line doesn’t belong in a crime novel. It belongs in this column. -
‘Letting Go Day’ planned to help clear the clutter
When Ann Leach lost most of her possessions in the tornado that struck Joplin on May 22, 2011, she realized that things don’t matter that much.
-
Arma mother facing murder charge in sleeping baby’s death
Heather Buckalew fell asleep on a couch with her 4-month-old baby after a night last summer drinking beer with her boyfriend. The boyfriend, Donald Harvey, got up to go to work a few hours later and spotted his son, lying face down on a pillow between the back of the couch and his sleeping mother.
-
Joplin residents lend a hand in Moore
Joplin is paying it forward. The day before the two-year anniversary of an EF-5 tornado leveling one-third of Joplin, pastors from Ignite Church in Joplin were in Moore, where an EF-5 spent 40 minutes on the ground on Monday.
-
Monetary donations cited as best help for Moore
Financial support for organizations providing shelter and supplies to Oklahoma tornado survivors is recommended for people who want to help. Otherwise, the word is to wait for requests.
-
Joplin man continues struggle to recover two years after tornado
As the Joplin tornado passed overhead, sweeping the house at 2430 S. Pennsylvania Ave. away in its wake, there was a moment of calm. Delbert Mcguirk was on his back in the basement, where he had sought shelter along with his wife, daughter and two grandchildren. In that moment of relative quiet, he stared up into the eye of the tornado.
-
Via Christi Health to cut up to 400 positions across state; Pittsburg impact uncertain
Via Christi Health announced Today that it would cut up to 400 positions within its system across the state of Kansas to compensate for financial challenges as a result of declining hospital and physician visits.
-
Globe reporter describes scene in Moore, Okla.
Joplin Globe Reporter Andra Stefanoni said the tornado-damaged town of Moore, Okla., is eerily reminiscent of Joplin on May 22, 2011.
- More Local News Headlines
-
