About the Momentary
The Momentary is open with reduced capacity.
You Belong Here
The Momentary is a new contemporary art space satellite to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in downtown Bentonville.
Situated along the Razorback Regional Greenway near 8th Street Market, we’ve transformed a decommissioned 63,000-square-foot cheese factory into a multidisciplinary space for visual and performing arts, culinary experiences, festivals, artists-in-residence, and more.
The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life.
The Momentary was founded by the Walton family, based on the vision of Tom, Olivia and Steuart Walton. The Walton Family Foundation is supporting this project as a way to enhance the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. Its commitment to cultivating arts and cultural experiences provides more opportunities for education, engagement, and enjoyment in our region.
Explore the galleries, catch a performance, enjoy a savory bite or refreshing drink, or just hang out. The Momentary welcomes all with free general admission.
Learn more about our food and drink options.
As Crystal Bridges and the Momentary, we recognize our role as settlers and guests in the Northwest Arkansas region. We acknowledge the Caddo, Quapaw, and Osage as well as the many Indigenous caretakers of this land and water. We appreciate the enduring influence of the vibrant, diverse, and contemporary cultures of Indigenous peoples. We are conscious of the role in colonization that museums have played. As cultural institutions, we have a responsibility to engage in the dismantling of historical and systemic invisibility of Indigenous peoples past, present, and future. We choose to intentionally hold ourselves accountable to appropriate conversation, representation, connection, and education to facilitate a space of measurable change.
Our hours
Sun + Tue—Wed 10 AM—7 PM
Thu—Sat 10 AM—10 PM
Mon Closed
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Our Space
The Momentary’s architecture tells its own story. The building, formerly a cheese plant, was repurposed into a contemporary art space by Wheeler Kearns Architects. The team approached this as an adaptive reuse project, meaning they kept most of the existing building intact, only adding elements when necessary. In this way, they minimized their carbon footprint and use of materials while preserving a piece of Bentonville history.
A map of our spaces can be found here.
The Galleries
Your visual arts playground. These large, open spaces feature art and exhibitions that change throughout the year, plus unexpected happenings.
The Tower
Hang out in this 70-foot-tall space that contains multiple mezzanines for visual arts, performances, and social events.
Momentary Green
So much room for activities! This spacious outdoor area is ideal for picnics, social gatherings, and more art exploration. Music festivals are also held here. Park your bike and join in the fun.
RØDE House
Enjoy music, film, performances, and more in this space featuring an adjustable floor system. One minute it’s a movie theater, the next it’s a runway! The possibilities are endless.
Fermentation Hall
Aptly named in honor of our cheese factory heritage, this hall is a state-of-the-art black box theater with a variable sound system, high ceilings, and great acoustics — perfect for immersive, intimate performances.
Momentary Shop
Your one-stop shop for original Momentary merch, prints by featured artists, and other unique gifts you won’t find anywhere else.
Box office
Located at the main entrance, the Box Office is your resource for tickets, schedules, program details, and any other information you may be seeking.
Wheelchairs
A limited number of wheelchairs and walkers are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, at no cost. These items can be requested from Box Office staff in the Lobby.
What’s up with your arrow pattern?
Thanks for noticing! This arrow pattern, featured on the exterior glass of the Tower, the Container, and main entryway, was created by Oklahoma-based artist Addie Roanhorse. A member of the Osage Nation, Roanhorse took inspiration from Osage attire to create the pattern, paying homage to the history of the land around the Momentary. With this artwork we invite all to think about the Indigenous peoples with a connection to Northwest Arkansas.
Catch a Ride
As part of our efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, shuttle service has been suspended. We apologize for the inconvenience.