Campus Community Invited to Public Opening of the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center

The University of Arkansas Department of Music invites the campus community to the public opening of the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, and will feature performers from across the department. Tickets may be reserved by sending an email to faulkner@uark.edu with your name and the number in your party. The performance is free to the public. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis.

The history of the Faulkner Performing Arts Center began in 1935 when the Board of Trustees approved the construction of a new Field House. The space was home to the university's basketball team starting in 1938 with a game against Texas Christian University. The Field House was also used for student registration for many years.

Athletic offices were housed in the building in addition to offices, classrooms, and laboratory space for the Department of Physical Education. When Barnhill Arena was built in 1954, the basketball team and the athletic department moved out and the physical education department took over the entire building. In 1984, the Field House was given over to the University Museum, which operated there until 2006.

The Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center will be home to hundreds of performances a year by student and faculty ensembles. Musical groups to perform in the new facility will include the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Campus Band, New Music Ensemble, University Symphony Orchestra, Schola Cantorum, Concert Choir, Inspirational Chorale, Women's Choir, Men's Chorus, Percussion Ensemble, Pan Band, Jazz Band, and Opera.