The Momentary announces new hires in run-up to 2020 opening

The Momentary, a contemporary arts venue scheduled to open in 2020 in Bentonville, has announced several key hires including Pia Kishore Agrawal, curator, performing arts; Cynthia Post Hunt, programmer, theater/dance; Kaitlin Maestas, assistant curator, visual arts; and Stuart Rogers, programmer, festivals/music.

“It’s exciting to see this dynamic team come together as plans for programming and the vision of the Momentary take shape,” director Lieven Bertels said in a statement.

Agrawal will lead the research and planning of performance seasons, festivals and special projects. She most recently was program director at the University of Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts.

Post Hunt, a curator and artist based in Northwest Arkansas, will develop and implement performing arts projects, including concerts and performances, residencies, commissions, workshops and audio and video recordings.

Maestas will develop and organize contemporary art installations and exhibitions, with curator Lauren Haynes. She previously served as the curatorial assistant of modern and contemporary art at the Denver Art Museum.

Rogers will plan performing arts projects, including concerts and multidisciplinary performances, festivals, residencies, commissions and workshops. A native Australian, Rogers brings over 20 years of experience programming music and the performing arts in the U.S., Europe and Australia.

Currently, the 63,000-square-foot decommissioned Kraft Foods plant where The Momentary will be housed is being redesigned and adapted for use as a multidisciplinary art space to include galleries, studios, theater, culinary space and more. Prior to the opening, The Momentary staff will be located in a temporary office adjacent to the construction site.