Walton Arts Center Case Study

In 1998 Anita Scism became the new President of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas (Todd & White, 2002). She was the successor to Bill Mitchell, a highly respected and well known member of the community. Having being newly built in 1992, Scism was just the second president of the performing arts center. In 1997 when Bill Mitchell decided to take a better career opportunity at The Center for the Arts and Science of West Virginia, the WAC Board of Directors formed a search committee in efforts to find a new president. One of the fastest growing communities in Northwestern Arkansas, Fayetteville had appeal and several candidates applied to the WAC’s newly open position. After narrowing down the candidates to five, three suddenly