CACHE transitions from Bentonville studio space

Northwest Arkansas nonprofit Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange (CACHE) recently closed its artist community and creative space in Bentonville.

Brittany Johnson, director of communications for CACHE, said the 15,000-square-foot space known as CACHE Studios was one of the nonprofit’s two hubs. The other is The Medium, a 25,000-square-foot performing arts venue in Springdale.

“We are switching gears a little bit,” Johnson said. “We’re putting a little bit more emphasis on other areas of work.” The change will allow CACHE to focus on “bringing people around Northwest Arkansas … together to relationship build, to develop and create together. Our lease came to an end so it felt like a natural moment to transition, and we’ll still be able to do a lot of that work at The Medium that we were doing at CACHE Studios.”

On Dec. 21, CACHE ended its role as manager and programmer of the building at 1004 S.E. Fifth St. in Bentonville. Over the past three years, CACHE Studios provided space for 33 artists, music shows, and rehearsals and performances for organizations such as NWA Ballet Theatre, NWA Movement Hub and Walton Arts Center.

Johnson said CACHE notified its artists with studio space there of the planned changes in August. CACHE also worked with the artists to help them find other studio space in the region.

Events organizer Backroom will oversee the Bentonville building and its programming after CACHE, Johnson said. Backroom has hosted late-night parties and music events at CACHE Studios in the past.

Springdale nonprofit Northwest Arkansas Council launched CACHE in 2019 with Walton Family Foundation funding. In 2022, CACHE became independent from the Northwest Arkansas Council. CACHE has 11 employees, five of whom are dedicated to The Medium space.