Millions of children across America don’t have art classes in school and don’t grow up going to art museums and galleries. They might be hours away from the closest museum, or their families might not have the means to bring art into their lives. Philanthropist Alice Walton had that kind of childhood, and wants to prevent as many people as possible from repeating it. When she discovered the art world as an adult, she also learned how insular and urban it was, leaving out so many. These experiences led her to found the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, which opened its doors to all in 2011. Admission at Crystal Bridges is free, and Walton has also instituted educational programs that cover the costs of bringing children in from around the region. Anne Kraybill is the CEO of a related program called Art Bridges, which is attempting to spread the philosophy of art for all and help smaller museums around the country increase access to art. In this talk from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, Ford Foundation president Darren Walker interviews Walton and Kraybill about these initiatives and the motivations that created them.

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