by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)
A text message received by Warren and Harriet Stephens during the week of Thanksgiving 2017 changed the scope of the major renovation of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, formerly known as the Arkansas Arts Center.
Recruited by friends and museum supporters to steer the capital campaign to raise money for mechanical upgrades to the arts center building, the Stephens had asked leaders of the Windgate Foundation to raise their initial commitment from $15 million to $25 million in hopes of doing something more transformational on the project.
The day before Thanksgiving, Warren Stephens recalls getting a text from Robyn Horn, an Arkansas sculptor and wood artist who leads the Windgate Foundation.