By Kent Starr
Kent Starr - Photo courtesy of Market Watch Magazine
There was an event many years ago at Walton Arts Center called the Garden Party. As almost an afterthought, a single table was set up with eight to 10 wines, and patrons were offered a sample or two at this table – and from here, Art of Wine was born! From this humble beginning, Art of Wine has grown into an amazing event for Walton Arts Center and Northwest Arkansas, raising tens of thousands of dollars for the WAC and helping to support arts studies for school-aged children.
Liquor World has been involved with Art of Wine from the beginning, and proudly supports our suppliers, distributors, the hundreds of volunteers involved, the media and the many school districts that provide access via school buses for the thousands of children that get to experience arts programs at Walton Arts Center each year, due in part to funds raised by Art of Wine.
Billie Jo Starr and Helen Walton at the opening of Walton Arts Center in 1992.
In the 1980s, Billie Jo Starr and Helen Walton got together and set out to change the landscape of Dickson Street in Fayetteville and the entire Arkansas four-state region with a novel idea: to build a world-class arts center. With tremendous support from the Walton family, Billie Jo, the Starr family and the amazing outpouring from thousands of donors, the center became a reality and thrives today with hundreds of Broadway productions and concerts, in addition to the arts programs for children who arrive on bright yellow busses.
My mom, Billie Jo, had a passion for seeing Walton Arts Center become a reality and believed that our community could support such an amazing entity. She also loved wine and watched Art of Wine grow from its humble beginnings to an upscale event, including the Reserve Room, that provides thousands of needed funds for arts programs. It was Billie Jo’s vision to present the arts to everyone. We are proud to be a part of that continued legacy.
Billie Jo Starr
She had a deep passion for the enrichment of children through the arts. It would always bring a smile to her face to see the big yellow school buses pull up to Walton Arts Center. When she would see all those excited, smiling faces it brought her so much joy. It gave her immense gratification to know that Art of Wine was a catalyst for exposing children to the arts and inspiring so many of them to pursue their dreams.
Liquor World, with the great support of our distributors, has helped to keep Billie Jo’s passion and dreams alive each year at Art of Wine and it is certainly an honor to her legacy that Starr Theater was named accordingly. Our family is very proud of the drive that Billie Jo had for the arts and her legacy will live on forever.
Come one, come all! Art of Wine fundraiser returns for its 23rd year on Friday, July 11, and you are invited to sip, savor and step into something spectacular. This year, expect a circus of flavor, featuring bites from your favorite Northwest Arkansas restaurants, hundreds of curated wine samplings and innovative non-alcoholic options from local vendors. Raise your glass to a good cause – as always, all proceeds go to support arts education and programming for local students. Step right up and get your tickets now.
