Corporate Leadership Council Spotlight Kent Arnold Signature Bank of Arkansas

Walton Arts Center’s Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) is one way for local businesses to give back to the community through the arts. The group works to secure resources for arts education and supports our mission of bringing arts experiences to Northwest Arkansas. Kent Arnold, senior vice president of business development at Signature Bank of Arkansas and member of the CLC sat down with us to share more about the group and what it means to him.

“The CLC brings together the top leaders of the community and aligns them towards a common cause that is near to all our hearts.” Arnold is referring to the guiding responsibilities of the CLC, called the 3 C’s: Engaging children through funding for arts education, enhancing culture by hosting the annual Masquerade Ball and connecting the community through networking opportunities.

Signature Bank chose to join the CLC because it felt like a natural extension of their values. “We strive to be a trusted pillar of our community by keeping the best interest of our customers at the forefront of what we do,” Arnold said. “We decided to support Walton Arts Center’s CLC because they mirror our values and seek to enrich the lives of all residents in NWA.”

The council is made up of 28 individuals, each representing influential organizations in the local area. From banks to law firms and food suppliers, CLC members represent businesses that, on the surface, seem to have different priorities. Yet, they all support the arts as one way to improve the quality of life in our region. Arnold says these representatives share a common goal to “better serve the community in which we all live, work and play.”

Walton Arts Center benefits from the expertise and insight of these successful business professionals – Arnold was named one of Arkansas Money & Politics Magazine’s 2022 Top 100 Professionals. Likewise, Arnold explained that the business world has a lot to learn from the arts. “The level of organization and precise timing it takes — with all of the moving parts required to put on a top-tier traveling show for a two-week run — is one of the most impressive things I have ever seen and can be used in the business world to maximize efficiency,” he said.

Arnold specifically highlighted Hamilton from the 2021-2022 Broadway season. “The cast, crew and Arts Center staff did a phenomenal job, and I kept thinking throughout the show of how fortunate the NWA community is to have the No. 1 show on Broadway travel and perform here,” he said.

Members of the CLC know that time they spend serving is a necessary investment into the future of Northwest Arkansas. Ensuring arts education is a part of local schools helps children grow into arts-loving adults that can collaborate and communicate effectively. Likewise, the performances at our venues encourage future generations to find their passions.

It would be impossible for Walton Arts Center to operate without the support of the CLC and the local businesses they represent.

If you’d like more information about becoming a member of the Corporate Leadership Council, please visit waltonartscenter.org/support/clc/.

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