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About Ken Burns
Ken Burns is an acclaimed American documentary filmmaker whose work has profoundly shaped public understanding of U.S. history and culture. A co-founder of Florentine Films, Burns is best known for his signature storytelling style—combining archival photographs, film footage, music, and first-person narration—to create deeply human, accessible histories. His landmark documentaries include The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The Vietnam War, Country Music, and The U.S. and the Holocaust, many of which have aired nationally on PBS and reached millions of viewers. Over his career, Burns has received numerous honors, including multiple Emmy Awards, Academy Award nominations, and the National Humanities Medal. His work often centers on themes of democracy, social change, artistic expression, and the complexity of the American experience. Burns is widely regarded as one of the most influential documentary filmmakers of his generation, with a career spanning more than four decades.
About Jeffrey Rosen
Jeffrey Rosen is a leading constitutional scholar, writer, and public educator, and has served as President and CEO of the National Constitution Center since 2013. In this role, he oversees the nation’s leading nonpartisan institution dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution through exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives, and digital resources. Rosen is also a professor of law at George Washington University and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. His books include The Supreme Court, Conversations with RBG, Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet, and The Pursuit of Happiness, which explore constitutional interpretation, civil liberties, and American democratic ideals. Widely respected for his ability to translate complex legal ideas for broad audiences, Rosen is a frequent commentator on constitutional issues in national media. His work emphasizes civic education, civil discourse, and the enduring relevance of constitutional principles in contemporary life.
About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 15 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization by philanthropist Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions.
The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities, and is the home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program. Some 558,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools.
Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), a venue for the music, art, and food of our time. Crystal Bridges’ 114,000 square foot expansion will open to the public June 6 and 7, 2026, allowing the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
About Crystal Bridges Campus
Crystal Bridges Campus in Bentonville, Arkansas features 134 acres dedicated to art and wellness. It is home to three landmark institutions designed by acclaimed architecture firms: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Safdie Architects), Heartland Whole Health Institute (Marlon Blackwell Architects), and Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects). Envisioned by founder and philanthropist Alice Walton, the campus unites art, architecture, nature, education, and wellness to create transformative experiences that foster learning and enhance health and well-being. More than five miles of trails connect the iconic buildings, featuring art installations both inside and outside. The campus terrain varies from Ozark forest to display gardens, and includes streams, ponds, and Crystal Springs. In 2024, the campus received Arboretum accreditation. The campus is open daily from dawn to dusk. Additionally, the Momentary, an extension of Crystal Bridges, is located 1 mile south of campus.
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