Tyson Foods gives Crystal Bridges $5M for program

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville is launching a scholars program and will offer a prize for lifetime achievement in American art.

The museum in Bentonville announced Wednesday that Springdale-based Tyson Foods Inc. has pledged $5 million to establish the program and the prize.

The Tyson Scholars of American Art program is a residential research endeavor, which enables scholars to focus on their projects while removed from their ordinary university duties.

Crystal Bridges director Don Bacigalupi says American art has received too little scholarly attention and the new program will help add to the field.

The Don Tyson Prize for lifetime achievement is named for the meat company's former top executive and father of Tyson chairman John Tyson.

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