Lights, Camera, Arts!
Patrons of the Arts
A Message From the Chancellor
Those of you who live in Tarrant County surely have noticed something beyond the Texas hospitality, the warmth that radiates from the people and even our world-class cuisine (although all three are present in abundance). There’s an energy here, a hum that runs through our heart, and it’s rooted in the arts.
The Tarrant County creative community is thriving, and not by accident. Here, the arts are not only embraced but actively celebrated and nurtured by everyone from local government to neighborhood residents. At the center of that synergy is Tarrant County College.
TCC is known for academic excellence, regardless of whether you’re pursuing an associate degree, continuing education or skills training. But what often gets overlooked is how TCC’s curriculum, coupled with our Texas values, shapes an environment where art, culture and creativity flourish.
Whether it’s the rising mural scene in Fort Worth, the evergrowing number of galleries and studio spaces or the dozens of community programs dedicated to making the arts accessible, Tarrant County and TCC prove that being an arts lover doesn’t mean you have to live in New York or Los Angeles. In fact, many arts patrons in those cities are moving here.
Take, for instance, the Kimbell Art Museum. For years, it has been a cornerstone of the county’s cultural life and not just a place where high art is on display. It’s a place where school children learn about the masters; where artists and curators gather to collaborate; where people can engage in conversations about what art means to them. The museum is just one example of our long-standing commitment to elevating the arts.
Outside the walls of museums, Tarrant County support for the arts extends to public art projects, festivals and local theaters. The Fort Worth Opera, Stage West and the iconic Bass Performance Hall are our showpiece performing arts organizations, thanks to the tireless support of locals and the relentless effort of TCC to staff up all positions, whether behind or in front of the camera or canvas.
Tarrant County also gets it when it comes to emerging artists. Arts Fort Worth, for example, offers affordable studio space and provides resources for up-and-coming artists to hone their craft. And let’s not forget the public art scene, where murals pop up around every corner, transforming ordinary buildings into vibrant expressions of culture and creativity.
At its core, Tarrant County understands that art is a critical piece of the community fabric. It’s a shared language, a bond that connects people across multiple walks of life. It’s what sets Tarrant County apart as a place where art is more than welcome—it’s required. And TCC is rolling out the red carpet for aspiring artists and stalwarts alike.
Elva Concha LeBlanc, PhD chancellor, tarrant county college district
The Momentum Behind the Movie Magic
TCC provides the workforce needed for the burgeoning film community in North Texas. by tyler hicks
A Gallery of Opportunities
The connection between education and the arts in Fort Worth is strong (and growing stronger). by tom
delamater
The performing arts are taking center stage in Tarrant County. by jennifer blalock, edd Performance as a Profession
This issue’s cover showcases movies with scenes filmed in Fort Worth, brought to life in a museum setting. Conceptualized by Drake Dantzler, the cover art beautifully encapsulates the multifaceted and dynamic art landscape of Tarrant County.
cover illustration by natalie hasty
Take a Bow
A Message From the Editor
When I was a young storyteller, I fell in love with the magic of the theater, both on the stage and behind the scenes. I wrote, directed and acted in local plays, pouring my heart into every word and gesture. I still vividly remember my first audience applause after delivering a monologue from 45 Seconds from Broadway. That applause wasn’t just for the performance; it was for the connection we all shared in that moment, united by the power of storytelling.
The energy of the theater was infectious, from the buzz of opening night to the camaraderie of rehearsals. Each role I played and every scene I crafted felt like stepping into a new world full of possibilities. The stage wasn’t just a place to perform; it was where I discovered the magic of storytelling and the joy of connecting with an audience in a way that felt timeless.
That same passion for storytelling is alive and thriving in Tarrant County. In this issue, Lights, Camera, Arts!, we explore how our community is becoming a star in the world of film, arts and culture. From Tarrant County College’s Fort Worth Film Collaborative to local galleries showcasing the works of emerging and established artists, creativity is everywhere. Venues like Bass Performance Hall bring world-class performances to life, while productions like 1883 and Lioness showcase the beauty and versatility of our region on screen. It’s a reminder that art and storytelling, in all their forms, have the power to elevate
our community and inspire us all. There are standing ovationworthy efforts underway to make this region a hub of creativity and opportunity.
The arts don’t just entertain; they connect us, enrich our lives, build our economy and leave a legacy for future generations. As I reflect on the joy I felt during my theater days, I am reminded of the countless stories being written right here in Tarrant County. Whether you’re behind the scenes crafting the magic, in the audience experiencing it or supporting these efforts in other ways, you’re a part of something special.
So as the curtain falls on this column, I invite you to take a bow. Together, we are creating a masterpiece.
Jacquetta Dantzler editor-in-chief,
Jacquetta Dantzler
Interim
BUSINESS
Desmond Bibbs
BUSINESS
Alex Cowen
jennifer blalock, edd
Jennifer has spent over two decades leading teams in postsecondary education and municipal government. As the CEO of InJenuity Solutions, Jennifer develops, facilitates and evaluates workforce, economic and organizational development programs.
madeline cisneros
Madeline is a journalist and writer from Iowa. She’s currently based in Minnesota, interning for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
Her work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, dsm Magazine and Grapevine Today
natalie hasty
Natalie graduated from St. Edward’s University with a major in graphic design. She spends her daylight hours making coffee and managing the Dallas-based Houndstooth Coffee, and she illustrates after hours for local award-winning publications.
terri marshall
Terri is an award-winning writer. She is the managing editor for World Footprints
Her publication credits include AARP, Island Soul, Girl Camper Magazine, A Girls Guide to Cars, Alaska Business Monthly, Alaska Contractor and more.
tom delamater
Tom is an Ohio-based writer and editor, and longtime communications consultant to corporations, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. He is the former chief communications officer at Collin College.
tyler hicks
Tyler is a writer and journalist from Austin, Texas. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Texas Monthly and many other newspapers, magazines and websites across the country.
james ndone, phd
James is an organizational and leadership communications scholar who specializes in crisis communication. Originally from Kenya, he has worked domestically and abroad in both education and industry. He has a PhD from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
jacquetta dantzler
Jacquetta has devoted the last 18 years of her career to partnering with entrepreneurs and small business owners. Additionally, she is a published author with a diverse body of work that ranges from poetry to textbooks.
jamison
Mollie is a freelance journalist from East Texas who has covered the arts, music, travel, news and more for a variety of local and national publications including Cowboys and Indians Magazine, Inside Climate News and Dallas Observer
vanessa orr
Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vanessa has been a freelance writer and editor for more than 25 years. Her work has appeared in hundreds of regional and national publications including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Alaska Business Monthly.
sally verrando
Sally is an award-winning journalist in DFW. She has been published by The Dallas Morning News, KERA and other Texas media outlets. A seventhgeneration Texan, she loves travel, animals and bluebonnets.
mollie
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By the Numbers
The data behind the arts in Tarrant County
Texas productions can receive a 5-20% rebate and an additional grant of up to 2.5% for filming in economically distressed areas. 55% of the production’s cast and crew must be based in Texas to access rebates and grants as part of the TMIIIP incentive program.
FORT WORTH FILM COMMISSION
Established in 2015
• Has worked with more than 1,000 projects
Has created more than 20,000 jobs
Has had an economic impact of over $700 million over the past decade
Taylor Sheridan’s “1883" resulted in 13,325 hotel room nights.
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” resulted in 20,108 overnight stays.
Workers associated with “Landman” benefited 11 hotels in Fort Worth.
$507 MILLION
In 2024, Fort Worth's art scene generated at least in spending
AUDIENCES
ANNUALLY AT BASS PERFORMANCE HALL
350,000+ PEOPLE ATTEND OVER 250 PERFORMANCES
PERFORMANCE FORT WORTH CREW (OWNER AND OPERATOR OF BASS PERFORMANCE HALL)
50+ full-time employees
OVER 100 part-time employees
OVER 800 workers for load-ins/outs and show-run crews
90% of students in Tarrant County College’s film program found immediate industry work post-graduation.
5.8 MILLION-PLUS
$500 MILLION people attended arts events in Fort Worth in 2024, resulting in an economic impact on the city of more than
Continuing a Tradition
Arts Fort Worth is a major reason why the region’s art ecosystem is booming. by terri marshall
The impact of art within a community is undeniable. Art adds uniqueness to a destination while boosting economic growth and enhancing a community’s cultural identity. An encouraging example of this phenomenon can be found in the contributions of Arts Fort Worth. This non-profit organization began as the Arts Council of Fort Worth in 1963. Through its 60-plus years of growth and transformation, Arts Fort Worth has remained true to its mission statement: “to create an environment that promotes, nurtures and supports the arts.”
Throughout its history of incubating arts initiatives and empowering local artists and performers in Fort Worth’s historic Cultural District, Arts Fort Worth has managed the Fort Worth Community Arts Center at 1300 Gendy Street. In doing so, the organization has maintained and conserved over 160 artworks in the Fort Worth Public Art collection valued at more than $26 million. In 2017, the city council adopted the Fort Worth Public Master Plan Update, which included this vision statement: “Public art helps to define Fort Worth’s character as a vibrant and sustainable 21st-century city by celebrating its storied history, contributing to its iconic destinations, shaping its distinct neighborhoods and honoring its close connection to nature.”
This notable collection spans over 100 years of creative work and includes acquisitions, contemporary commissions, gifts, legacy monuments, memorials, murals and sculptures.
Arts Fort Worth has also maintained a focus on forging meaningful partnerships with individuals and organizations across North Texas to cultivate diverse programming and community engagement.
In 2023, as Arts Fort Worth celebrated its milestone 60th anniversary, team members
leading the Fort Worth Community Arts Center produced one of the strongest years in recent history. “We worked with Americans for the Arts on their economic study, and we were able to report that the arts across Fort Worth contributed $500 million dollars to the local economy in 2023,” shares Arts Fort Worth Communications Director Elena Greer.
AFW Community members of all ages enjoy the Arts Center (Artwork- Christopher Najera, Soy de Tejas exhibition)
ARTS FORT WORTH GRANTS PROGRAM
A key part of Arts Fort Worth’s contribution to the city’s art landscape lies in its grants program. “The program grants crucial operating funds for a wide range of art organizations, from small arts groups like The Gold Tone Senior Citizens Show Choir—a group of retirees who perform in retirement homes and hospitals—to higher-level groups, including the Fort Worth Opera, the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and many others,” Greer says.
Grants are designed to foster a culture of creativity and innovation, celebrate community through artistic expression, increase accessibility and encourage broad-based participation in arts activities, strengthen the service capacity and business practices of arts providers, and promote tourism and economic growth in the City of Fort Worth. In 2023, grant distributions totaled $1.1 million and served over 2.1 million people.
There are four categories of grants. The Core Operating grant provides core mission support through unrestricted funding for administration, general operations and programming costs in establishing nonprofit arts organizations. The Core Plus Outreach
grant is designed to support in-person community engagement through the performing, visual and interdisciplinary arts in all communities of Fort Worth. Other grants fund new efforts to strengthen an organization’s infrastructure, management and governance through diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible organizational practices. The Fort Worth Tourism Public Improvement District Grant provides marketing and promotional funding to arts and cultural organizations that enhance the visibility of Fort Worth as an overnight destination.
CHANGE IS ON THE HORIZON: THE FUTURE OF ARTS FORT WORTH
In 2023, a task force appointed by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and the city council recommended that the Fort Worth Community Arts Center be redeveloped. As a result, in July 2024, Arts Fort Worth announced it would transition away from managing the Fort Worth Community Arts Center when its lease concludes this year. Through the Arts Center’s programming and services, Arts Fort Worth created a space for thousands of visual and performing artists to share their voices, deepen their practice and grow their careers.
Arts Fort Worth remnants of 1965
“For over two decades, the Arts Center has been a home for creativity, collaboration and connection.”
— Wesley Gentle EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT OF ARTS FORT WORTH
Together We Make Art opening, spring 2024
This pivotal change allows the arts nonprofit to focus on new initiatives that strengthen Fort Worth’s arts ecosystem and better serve its community. “For over two decades, the Arts Center has been a home for creativity, collaboration and connection,” says Wesley Gentle, executive director and president of Arts Fort Worth. “We honor its history and the countless artists, organizations and community members who contributed to its artistic legacy at 1300 Gendy Street. As we look ahead, we are committed to building an inclusive and sustainable future for the arts in Fort Worth.”
Arts Fort Worth also recognizes the vital role the Arts Center has played in the city’s cultural landscape and appreciates the City of Fort Worth’s commitment to ensuring the space remains a hub for local artists and performers. The nonprofit will continue to amplify its message to elevate and build an arts-friendly community.
“While changes like this can feel surprising and concerning, Arts Fort Worth isn’t turning its back on the local arts community. We will focus on leading the growth of our arts ecosystem into an even more accessible, sustainable and vibrant future,” Gentle says.
The new and evolving initiatives align with Arts Fort Worth’s ongoing implementation of a three-year strategic plan developed to address the growing needs of the city’s arts ecosystem. A recent internal evaluation of the nonprofit’s programs and services revealed its greatest strengths lie in its roles as a connector, advocate and catalyst for local arts and culture.
As the nonprofit transitions, its focus will center on being a resource for Fort Worth’s art ecosystem. It will help artists find
opportunities and connections to aid them in developing and continuing their careers.
“Our purpose is to create belonging through the arts,” Gentle says. “This transition empowers us to deepen our impact by fostering partnerships and delivering resources that enable Fort Worth’s creative community to thrive.”
Key initiatives on the horizon include developing expanded resources through new tools and programs designed to help creatives, enthusiasts and organizations navigate the arts landscape and advocate for the arts at every level. Arts Fort Worth will also continue to manage collection stewardship, grant programs and public art projects.
“While change can be challenging, it’s also an opportunity to evolve and grow,” Gentle says. “The arts in Fort Worth are vibrant, dynamic and filled with potential. By focusing on relationships and sustainability, we are laying the foundation for a future where everyone in our community can find their place in the arts.”
Arts Fort Worth also notes the importance of university students in the continued development of the arts community.
“University students play a crucial role in a thriving arts ecosystem. Not only are they the future industry leaders, educators and culture bearers for a community, but during their education, they actively merge age-old traditions and techniques with emerging thought and experimental practice,” Gentle says. “Pursuing the arts in an academic setting can be a tough decision to make, and it is always a rigorous experience—that’s why our team at Arts Fort Worth is so grateful for all of the students in arts programs, like the ones at Tarrant County College.”
Trail Driver Dreams by Leticia Huerta on the Brennan Avenue bridge
class.
Say Cheese
TCC makes sure that graduates are camera-ready with programs in photography. by sally verrando
In pitch darkness, after maneuvering around black walls that twist and turn, a visitor emerges into a room bathed in amber light—not the expected red glow like in the movies. It’s an expansive darkroom in the photography department of Tarrant County College’s Northeast Campus in Hurst. Photo paper is sensitive to all light except colors of red and amber, says Professor Ting Huang, department chair. Here, as in the program’s other classrooms, is state-of-the-art equipment for this unique community college curriculum.
With about 100 new photography students enrolled every semester, is there a market in the 21st century for teaching old-school darkroom techniques?
“We believe that students who start out in the darkroom have a more foundational understanding of photography,” Huang says. “They have a very easy time transitioning to digital photography.”
Dr. Hwiman Chung, dean of communication, arts and entertainment at the Northeast Campus, agrees. “TCC is very unique,” he says. “I guarantee there are only a handful of universities and community colleges that still have darkrooms. Through darkroom training, we can teach students the basic fundamentals to visual communications.”
Huang says about 15 years ago, with the advancement of digital photography, many schools gutted their darkrooms. “But once you remodel,” she says, “it’s really hard to get it back because it’s expensive.”
With the resurgence of film, old is new for younger generations. In a recent survey, students were asked about what they’d like to learn in the future.
“The majority of them said large format film photography. I was very surprised,” she says. The bulky cameras can weigh 5 to 15 pounds and are used for portraits and landscape architecture.
In the TCC system, the Northeast Campus exclusively offers the photography curriculum as a certificate program. A scholarship is awarded to a chosen returning student every semester. The school offers five or six sections of photography that can satisfy elective requirements for an Associate of Arts degree or be taken as Continuing Education.
Huang says she combines Continuing Education and credit students in the same class so they can learn from each other. Her oldest CE student is 79 years old.
Students are taught all aspects of film and digital photography, including how to present their work professionally. They learn
Professor Ting Huang critiquing images with a
to make mats for frames and handbound hardcover photo books. Hallways showcase works of students, instructors and visiting artists.
Since it is the 21st century, Huang says using artificial intelligence is becoming more accepted in conceptualizing, collaging and retouching photos in Photoshop. But when it comes to technical craftsmanship, she says there are no shortcuts. Plagiarism is still a concern.
Huang and her instructors are formulating a drone photography course. The school has six drones and is considering the best applications for the technology through Continuing Education.
Dr. Jan Clayton, interim president of TCC’s Northeast Campus, says she’s proud of the photography faculty. “As professionals, they could be active in a career, but they want to teach. I’ve never seen a more active faculty thinking of ways for students to engage outside of the classroom.”
Photographers’ starting salaries can range from $30,000$34,000 annually for magazines and newspapers and begin at $54,000 for social media work.
“The current average photographer hourly rate is $150 an hour,” Huang says. “For students, I recommend they charge $100 for the first hour and $75 for each additional hour.” Photographers with film and darkroom skills can command higher rates than those trained solely in digital.
After finishing the program, many of her students open their own photography businesses or work for local newspapers and other publications.
Lightcast, a company specializing in labor market analysis, found that TCC students’ incomes contribute $2.1 billion to the Tarrant County economy, according to the school’s website.
Huang sits in the same office where her predecessor sat when she was a photography student in the same program. After earning her bachelor’s degree in music composition and piano, she enrolled at TCC. She then decided to get her master’s in photography.
“It’s one of those programs,” she says, “that when I was a student, I felt very welcome to be here and very fine-arts oriented. A lot of my portfolio that got me into graduate school was from Photo I and Photo II that I took here.”
TCC hired her as an adjunct instructor in 2014, two months after she graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute. By 2017, she was the department chair of photography, dance, radio, TV and the Fort Worth film collaborative program.
“I want to make sure that this is the same welcoming space that we’ve always offered,” Huang says. At the same time, she wants it to be highly regarded and on par with industry standards. “I might be biased,” she says, “but I really feel like we have the best facility.”
Inspecting negatives on a light table.
A Cultural Icon
Bass Performance Hall provides economic and artistic benefits in Fort Worth. by vanessa orr
Each year, more than 350,000 people attend 250-plus performances at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall, ranging from touring Broadway musicals to pop shows to intimate concerts, holiday specials and family entertainment. The Hall, a Fort Worth icon, is also home to four resident arts companies as well as a place for children to learn.
“Performing arts centers are at the core of the cultural ecosystem of a community; their health and capacities to support partners and make space (literally and strategically) for other organizations in the market are critical to the longevity of a community’s cultural ecosystem,” explains Dione Kennedy, president and CEO of Performing Arts Fort Worth (PAFW), the nonprofit organization that owns and operates Bass Hall.
“Performing arts centers are, alongside universities and hospitals, anchor institutions in their respective communities, and I’m proud to say that over the last 26 years, Bass Performance Hall has served as one of these anchors.”
CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY
Built entirely with private funds, the 2,042-seat multipurpose hall not only provides a venue for patrons of the arts but also contributes to the community by providing jobs. As the owner and operator of the Hall, Performing Arts Fort Worth has more than 50 full-time employees, more than 100 part-time employees and over 400 volunteers. PAFW-presented shows also utilize local labor from IATSE 126 and 803 for load ins/outs and show run crews.
Bass Hall also acts as a permanent home to four arts organizations, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera and The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn Concerts. Each of these organizations, which are provided subsidized rents to utilize the space, manages its own staffing and labor needs for its shows at Bass Hall.
“Performing arts centers are at the core of the cultural ecosystem of a community.”
— Dione
Kennedy PRESIDENT AND CEO, PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH
(L to R) Axel Bernard Rimmele (Christopher Hillard), Giselle Gutierrez (Lydia Hillard), Rob McClure (Euphegenia Doubtfire) and Kennedy Pitney (Natalie Hillard) in Mrs. Doubtfire
Worth a Look: Jubilee Theater
Founded by Rudy and Marian Eastman in Fort Worth on June 19, 1981, Jubilee Theatre has been a cornerstone of artistic expression in North Texas. Dedicated to bringing powerful and dynamic stories to the stage, the theater creates and presents works that explore a wide range of experiences, emotions, and perspectives. With a focus on both musicals and plays, Jubilee Theatre embraces storytelling that resonates with audiences from all backgrounds, fostering connection and engagement through the universal themes in each production.
From comedies to musicals to thoughtprovoking dramas, performances at the 149-seat theater in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square continue to captivate and inspire a broad audience, making Jubilee Theatre a vital part of the cultural landscape.
The Hall also provides space for more than 50 special events and meetings that are held annually in its ancillary spaces, which include McDavid Studio and the Van Cliburn Recital Hall. Performing Arts Fort Worth’s annual operating budget is $23 million.
RESIDENT COMPANIES
Since its start in 1912, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has been an integral part of the community. In addition to presenting more than 120 performance, education and outreach concerts (reaching an audience of more than 150,000 patrons annually), the orchestra also provides educational opportunities for children and the community alike.
Along with performing symphonic, pops and family concerts and several one-night-only special concerts throughout the season, FWSO also works with schools to introduce elementaryaged children to the arts. In addition, the orchestra welcomes middle school, high school, college students and music teachers to its open rehearsals to get a behind-the-scenes look at how a musical selection transforms into a work of art.
The Texas Ballet Theater, founded in 1961, has evolved from a small regional ballet company to an internationally recognized organization. In addition to its regular ballet season, which this year consisted of Cinderella, The Nutcracker, International Woman and Giselle, the ballet partners with local organizations to offer performances, classes and hands-on experiences.
The company partners with more than 50 schools in the Metroplex to deliver free beginner ballet classes to more than 1,100 students annually and also introduces ballet to more than
35,000 students annually through its Student Matinee series. Partnering with Children’s Health in Dallas, the ballet also provides Adaptive Dance classes to dancers ages 5-8 with Down syndrome or a similar diagnosis.
In partnership with the Veteran Tickets Foundation, the ballet also donates a number of tickets from each performance to active duty military, veterans and their families.
Founded in 1946 by Eloise MacDonald Snyder, Betty Berry Spain and Jeanne Axtell Walker, Fort Worth Opera is the oldest opera company in Texas and one of the oldest such companies in the United States. In addition to producing traditional repertoire with rising stars and inspirational young talents, the company is known throughout the operatic world as a champion of new American works.
Fort Worth Opera’s commitment to discovering and supporting new talent is evident in its Biennial McCammon Competition, which, since its debut in 1985, has grown into one of the world’s most important operatic events, attracting some of the world’s most gifted opera singers. But even before that, in 1966, Fort Worth Opera opened millions of young minds to the colorful and exciting world of opera through its Children’s Opera Theater.
Every four years, Bass Hall hosts the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, one of “the most prestigious contests in classical music,” according to The New York Times. The competition, held in honor of Van Cliburn and his vision for using music to serve audiences and break down boundaries, seeks to achieve the highest artistic standards while utilizing contemporary tools to advance its reach. Beyond cash prizes, winning a Cliburn medal
means comprehensive career management, artistic support and bolstered publicity efforts for the three years following.
This year’s Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will build on the historic success of the 2022 edition, which was an outstanding embodiment of the Cliburn’s core tenets: enduring commitment to artistic excellence, the discovery of new artists and the advancement of classical piano music throughout the world. Now one of the most-watched classical events in history with more than 60 million views on Cliburn channels across 177 countries, the 2024 event attracted 340 pianists, representing 45 countries and regions. Approximately 84 pianists will be invited to participate in live screening auditions in March. The 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will take place May 21June 7, 2025, at the Van Cliburn Concert Hall at Texas Christian University and at Bass Performance Hall.
THE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Bass Hall is renowned for its superb acoustics and exceptional sight lines and ambience, which puts it on the same level as a number of other great halls of the world. This is no mistake; designed by David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc. with acoustics by Jaffee, Holden Acoustics, Inc., the Hall was built to
share characteristics of the classic European opera house form.
An 80-foot diameter great dome, painted by Fort Worth artists Scott and Stuart Gentling, tops the Founders Concert Theater. Two 48-foot-tall angels, sculpted from Texas limestone by Marton Varo, grace the grand façade and have now become preeminent cultural icons in the North Texas area.
According to PAFW, Bass Performance Hall’s project team studied performance halls throughout Europe and around the United States and decided that Carnegie Hall in New York best captured the collective vision for the Hall. The central goal in the Hall’s design was to achieve the similar warm ambiance of Carnegie Hall with the traditional and elegant feel of a classical opera house, but still be technologically modern and sophisticated.
In the coming years, patrons of the arts can look forward to national touring Broadway productions as part of the Broadway at the Bass Series presented by PNC Bank and family entertainment as part of the Irwin Steel Popular Entertainment Series, among many other unique specials and performances.
“We look to the future with optimism and purpose as we strive to further strengthen the cultural ecosystem of Fort Worth and the North Texas region,” Kennedy says.
Stuart Gentling
Christine Sherrill (Donna Sheridan), and the Company of MAMMA MIA! 25th Anniversary Tour.
JOAN MARCUS
omentum
The MBehind the Movie Magic
TCC provides the workforce needed for the burgeoning film community in North Texas. by tyler hicks
There’s a scene in season two, episode two of the hit series Lioness where two characters have a tense conversation in a stairwell. It could be the Pentagon or a similar building. After all, the show is about spycraft and the shadowy ops that shape our world. But like many Taylor Sheridan productions, a lot of scenes from this hit series were filmed in Fort Worth. In fact, Dr. Jan Clayton, the interim president of TCC’s Northeast campus, knows exactly where it was filmed: Trinity River Campus East, part of Tarrant County College.
“I’ve walked those halls many times,” Clayton says. “And now one of my favorite shows is filming there.”
For an avid TV fan and Fort Worth resident like Clayton, this would be cool enough in and of itself—especially when you throw in the fact that other hit shows like Landman, Lawmen: Bass Reeves and 1883 (an award-winning Yellowstone prequel) were also filmed in and around Fort Worth. But the TCC leader has another, more personal stake in the world of Lioness and these other productions: She oversees a certificate program at TCC that is filling the local talent pipeline with a bevy of skilled
production professionals. These professionals are much-needed, too, thanks to master storyteller Taylor Sheridan, the production company 101 Studios and the ongoing investment they plan to make in Texas (and particularly Fort Worth). Through the Fort Worth Film Collaborative, TCC students can earn a certificate in lighting, hair and makeup or set construction—or multiple certificates, if they choose.
One graduate, Daniel Vazquez (see sidebar: “Rising to the Occasion”), now knows how to build and light sets, and he earned a key behind-the-scenes job for Lioness. “I loved the hands-on nature of the program,” he says. “It takes book knowledge and puts it into real-life practice.”
The certificate program was launched in 2023 and is a collaboration with the college, the city’s film commission and the aforementioned 101 Studios, best known for Yellowstone According to Sean Fousheé, the program’s director, these certificates can be earned in as little as three months.
“We knew we needed to train people with a very specific set of skills so they can get onto a set as soon as possible,” Fousheé says. “We started off with 18 students; now we have over 100.”
Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña in Lioness
“Fort
Worth has the potential to become a filmmaking hub, and we understand our responsibility is to be the pipeline and the conduit for that.”
— Dr. Jan Clayton
CAMPUS
Tim McGraw in 1883
Movie Mavericks
TCC isn’t the only institution making movie magic happen. The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has graduated several esteemed alumni, including actor Lou Diamond Phillips and filmmaker Norry Niven, who teamed up to teach a masterclass on the UTA campus in fall 2023. Additionally, UTA is the former stomping grounds of renowned filmmaker Martin Lisius, a storm chaser who consulted on the 2024 blockbuster Twisters. According to Daniel Garcia, co-area coordinator of cinematic arts, the university is eager to show students they don’t need to leave town for the career of their dreams. “The Fort Worth Film Commission and the Dallas Film and Creative Industries Office have already started conversations with UTA and different universities to help facilitate the proper preparation of students as the big studios roll into North Texas,” Garcia says.
This exciting growth has come to fruition in just 18 months, though Fousheé and Clayton say the best of the program is yet to come. What’s more, the film collaborative—and the industry at large—will have a major impact on both TCC students and the broader North Texas economy. Clayton realized as much when she first sat down with 101 Studios and the Fort Worth Film Commission back in 2023.
“As we had those initial conversations, it became clear there’s a chance to do transformative work here,” she says. “In some ways, I think it’s already surpassed our expectations.”
THE PLAN COMES TOGETHER
On the day of the fateful first meeting, the Texas sky was a robin’s egg blue, just as it has been in so many classic productions over the years. Perhaps this was a sign of good things to come. It was early 2023, and Fousheé was meeting with representatives from both the local film commission and 101 Studios. The studio wanted to do more work in Texas, and to do that, they needed people.
For instance, Sheridan has said he wanted to make the acclaimed drama Hell or High Water in Texas—where the story is set—but the studio found it more cost-effective to shoot it in New Mexico due to the state’s financial incentives. Texas has those incentives, too: Productions can receive a 5-20% rebate and an additional grant of up to 2.5% for filming in economically distressed areas. However, to access these incentives, 55% of the production’s cast and crew must be based in Texas.
That’s where TCC comes in.
Working hand-in-hand with 101 Studios, the college meticulously designed its film production programs with an eye for the skills that budding film professionals need most. Each class was carefully chosen based on the collaborative’s years of combined instruction and filmmaking experience. The courses are highly experiential, and as Clayton describes it, the program is vintage TCC.
“The program is letting us do what we do best: Work directly with our workforce partners, customize learning and training and produce graduates that can go directly to work,” she says.
Fousheé says Sheridan and his studio approached other colleges in other states, but TCC was the best fit. The filmmaker likes to call Fort Worth a “yes city,” and the leaders behind the collaborative soon discovered that TCC is a “yes campus.”
“We like to say ‘yes,’ at TCC,” Fousheé says. “So when this opportunity came up, we rolled up our sleeves and figured it out.”
Clayton adds that the film collaborative certificates are a natural extension of the work TCC is doing on each of its campuses. The initiative is an “accelerant” of the college’s Radio, Television & Film (RTF) program, she says, and she and her colleagues have big goals for the program’s future. For comparison, she points to the college’s strong reputation in the local healthcare industry. If you’re a patient, a physician, a nurse or another healthcare professional in the Fort Worth area, Clayton knows there’s a strong chance you’ll run into a TCC alum in the field sooner rather than later.
Lou Diamond Phillips in 1990's Young Guns 2
She wants the same to be true for the RTF program.
“Fort Worth has the potential to become a filmmaking hub,” Clayton says, “and we understand our responsibility is to be the pipeline and the conduit for that.”
THE PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY’S FILM INDUSTRY
Texas—and the Dallas/Fort Worth area—had a rich history of film and TV production long before Sheridan leveled-up the region.
A key sequence of the sci-fi classic Logan’s Run was filmed in Fort Worth, as were scenes for Prison Break and the Oliver Stone flick JFK. More recently, the inspiring football movie 12 Mighty Orphans was shot in the area, as were parts of the acclaimed indies A Ghost Story and The Old Man & the Gun. Now that popular shows like Landman, Lioness and 1883 (each set in vastly different industries or time periods) are largely made in and around the city, both viewers and the film industry are recognizing Fort Worth’s geographic diversity—and the opportunities this creates.
“If it’s Texas, you can shoot it as anything,” says Chris Rogers, a vice president at the film equipment company, Cinelease. “There’s a buzz about Fort Worth, both in L.A. and locally.”
That “buzz” and the acclaimed shows backing it up motivated Cinelease to open a 40,000-square foot facility in Fort Worth. The building houses all of the lighting equipment local productions may need, and Rogers says it will also be the site of an internship program his company is currently creating with TCC. While it’s still in the early stages of development, he describes the program as a chance for students “to get their hands on more film equipment— the equipment being used on sets every day—as early as possible.”
“There’s a trust level when Cinelease is involved in something,” he says. “We’re very good at expanding into new and emerging markets, and Fort Worth has exciting momentum right now.”
Rogers adds that production pros from L.A. “tend to love it” when they make the trip to Fort Worth (it helps that the flights aren’t too long, he quips), and he is particularly fond of the certificate program spearheaded by Fousheé and Clayton. It’s the kind of coursework he would have taken as a kid growing up in Burbank roughly three decades ago when he was eager to first break into the industry. However, as recent TCC grad Beth Hutson can attest, the film certificate program is accessible for professionals of all ages.
Inside Cinelease's Fort Worth facility
Beth Hutson (second from left), Sean Foushee and Daniel Vazquez at the Senate meeting
Hutson is a veteran of the public relations industry who founded a full-service creative agency in Fort Worth. She often found herself on set for commercials or television productions, coaching her clients (often celebrity chefs) in the moments before the director yells “Action!”
“There’s an excitement with being on set,” she says. “The cameras, the lights. I was drawn to it.”
Hutson, who is in her 40s, first researched TCC’s Fort Worth Film Collaborative as an option for her son. Yet as she learned more, she realized it was a great fit for her, too.
“People on set would always tell me, ‘You’re like a producerslash-publicist,’” she says. “So, I thought, ‘Maybe I can be a director, producer and publicist.’”
Which is how, unexpectedly, she found herself testifying in front of a Texas Senate Committee.
THE PUSH FOR MORE FUNDING
Hutson tried to ignore the ticking clock, but it was impossible. As she read her statement, the seconds ticked by in the corner of her eye.
It was early October 2023, and Hutson, like Sheridan, Dennis Quaid and Ross Perot, Jr., was appearing before the state Senate’s Finance Committee in support of the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP). This was the next step in Fort Worth’s ongoing momentum: Enhancing the financial incentives for productions that film in Texas by securing consistent funding.
Currently, the TMIIIP incentive program is funded up to $200 million (a significant increase from previous years). However,
there’s no guarantee these funds will be available after 2025, and any production thinking long term (especially on the TV side) wants to know they’ll have solid incentives in place for years to come. Put another way, the TCC program is helping fulfill the talent requirement of the incentive program—now it’s time to secure more money in the upcoming legislative session.
The benefits of more incentives are clear: Thus far, they’ve created more than 189,000 jobs and for every dollar spent on the program, an additional $4.69 is spent in Texas. Lawmakers are prudent about their finances, though, which made testimony from both big stars and TCC grads an important piece of the push for funding. 101 Studios asked Hutson to speak after she fired off an impassioned email to one of their leaders. She had just wrapped some promos for the Kids’ Choice Awards, and she wanted to know how she could help further their mission in Fort Worth.
“They got back to me pretty quickly and said, ‘Okay, do you want to come talk to the Senate?’”
She was nervous, especially about the timer, but it went well nonetheless.
“I told them they have a chance to do something really special,” she says. “They’re already doing something special, and they can keep it up.”
And naturally, as a movie lover, she worked in a reference to a classic film.
“I went with Field of Dreams,” she says.
“If you build it,” she told them, “they will come.”
Taylor Sheridan (center in cowboy hat) on the set of Landman
A Gallery of Opportunities
The connection between education and the arts in Fort Worth is strong (and growing stronger). by tom delamater
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
now, look Don’t
but Fort Worth—known to much of the country for its stockyards, honky tonks, race tracks and rodeos—is rapidly gaining a reputation as a world-class center for the arts.
Don’t believe it? Consider a recent analysis by Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit arts advocacy and education organization based in Washington, D.C. The study reported that more than 5.8 million people attended arts events in Fort Worth in 2024, resulting in an economic impact on the city of more than $500 million.
At the heart of that impact is a burgeoning visual arts scene, with myriad museums and galleries featuring a range of work from students and local artisans, history’s most renowned artists and even a Hollywood legend.
Three of the premier museums in the United States: the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, sit within a half-mile of one another in the heart of the city’s cultural district. Two blocks south are the popular Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, while John Wayne: An American Experience, dedicated to the iconic actor, is located three miles north, adjacent to the famed Fort Worth Stockyards.
That’s the tip of the iceberg—albeit a very large tip—of the cultural opportunities that await visitors to the fastest-growing large city in America.
An important byproduct of the rise in popularity of the arts in Fort Worth is the pipeline that now exists between the city’s
museums and galleries and the students at area colleges and universities, including Tarrant County College.
THE ARTS AT TCC
The College offers a wide range of fine arts programs, including visual arts, music, theater and dance. All five of its physical campuses (Northeast, in Hurst; Southeast, in Arlington; and Northwest, South and Trinity River, all in Fort Worth) offer robust music programs that include student choirs, jazz bands, percussion ensembles and chamber ensembles. Free concerts are offered at each campus every semester and are open to the public.
The same is true of productions sponsored by TCC’s theater program, which is based at four of the campuses, and its dance program, which is offered at the Northwest Campus. Art instruction is available at all five campuses, including courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, metals and photography.
The Northwest Campus art galleries are temporarily closed due to a $300 million campus redevelopment project scheduled to run through 2025, but three other campuses house galleries that feature exhibitions by students, faculty and outside artists, all of which are free and open to the public:
The South Campus, located in South Fort Worth, features the Carillon Gallery, located in the Joe B. Rushing Center for the Performing Arts. The gallery features local, national and international artists and acts as a learning resource for the instructional program. It is open Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kimbell Art Museum
Kimbell Art Museum
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Modern Art Museum
Modern Art Museum
The Trinity River Campus, located downtown, features the East Fork Gallery, which regularly offers exhibitions by students, faculty and established and emerging artists. The gallery is open Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Southeast Campus, located in Arlington, houses Art Corridor Galleries I and II. The galleries are dedicated spaces for student, faculty and outside exhibitions located in the ESEC building on the campus’ west side. They are open Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
The essayist and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “Every artist was first an amateur.” His words were a reminder that every master, whether in art or any other discipline, was once a beginner.
In a college setting, that means students can enter as beginners, be exposed to a wide range of artists and artistic styles and emerge with a more seasoned eye and technique. Part of that progression occurs through exposure to galleries and exhibitions, often right on campus.
“A college art gallery is all about the student experience,” says Penelope Bisbee, gallery coordinator at the Southwest Campus. “Any time we feature a professional artist in a gallery, we have an artist’s talk and a reception where students can attend, meet the artists and ask questions. It can light a fire inside them and really become a life-changing moment.”
The Southwest galleries comprise two art corridors within the campus’ ESEC building, which houses the health services and counseling
programs. The spaces feature work by emerging and established artists along with annual exhibitions by students and faculty.
Whether at Southwest or one of the other TCC campuses, Bisbee says the college gallery environment is the ideal place for student artists to emerge from the shadows and show their work for the first time.
“Exhibiting their work can be a scary thing, which is why our galleries are a good place for students to start,” she says. “Student shows are not juried competitions; they’re group exhibitions that expose their work to the public in a way that teaches them about the process and builds their confidence.”
That experience is invaluable, she says, for students who pursue advanced degrees at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth or any other institution that offers four-year and graduate programs in the field.
At Texas Christian University, for example, students can advance to a master of fine arts (MFA) degree, which is considered to be the terminal degree in studio art. TCU also features two art galleries: the Moudy Gallery, which regularly features student
More than 5.8 million people attended arts events in Fort Worth in 2024, resulting in an economic impact on the city of more than $500 million.
Penelope Bisbee talking to students and guests at one of the Corridor Galleries at TCC's Southeast Campus.
Starting Them Young: The Teen Artist Project
The education of young artists in Fort Worth extends into area high schools thanks to the Teen Artist Project at the Modern Art Museum.
“It's one of my favorite programs because we get to work with the same students throughout an entire academic year,” says Jesse Morgan Barnett, assistant curator of education for academic programs.
Following an application process that includes a portfolio review, 16 aspiring high school students are accepted into the eight-month course each year. They meet for three hours every Sunday and collaborate with visiting artists on projects in the museum’s studio or discussion workshops in the galleries, with occasional instruction at offsite locations.
“The visiting artists may be local exhibiting artists or perhaps faculty or graduate students from various colleges and universities in the DFW area,” Barnett says. “There’s a lot of variation in the topics and techniques featured in the program.”
There is no tuition cost, but students are required to make a firm commitment to attend classes and participate in group discussions and projects. They also contribute work for a final exhibition and catalog at the end of the season.
More information is available at themodern.org/teenartist-project
Students in the Teen Artist Project participating in a discussion workshop in one of the galleries at the Modern Art Museum
The More Museums, the Merrier
These popular Fort Worth museums focus on science, aviation and history:
Fort Worth Aviation Museum
3300 Ross Ave.
Learn about the history of aviation in Fort Worth, including military and civilian aviation. Admission is $5-10. fortworthaviationmuseum.com
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
1600 Gendy St.
Explore science, history and culture through interactive exhibits and immersive experiences. Admission is $12-16. fwmuseum.org
Log Cabin Village
2100 Log Cabin Village Lane
Exhibits showcase early life in Texas. Admission is $5-7. Free parking. logcabinvillage.org
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
1720 Gendy St.
Exhibits honor the women of the American West who displayed courage and pioneering spirit. Admission is $6-12, and there is a fee for parking. cowgirl.net
Sid Richardson Museum
309 Main St.
Features the works of Frederic Remington and other paintings of the American West. Admission is free. A virtual tour is available online. sidrichardsonmuseum.org
Vintage Flying Museum
505 NW 38th St., Hangar 33 South
Features a collection of vintage aircraft. Also offers flight experiences and educational programs. Admission is $7-12. vintageflyingmuseum.org
Fort Worth Museum of History and Science
Weaving loom at Log Cabin Village
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
exhibitions, and the Fort Worth Contemporary Arts Gallery, which is the university’s public-facing art venue.
THE IMPACT OF LOCAL MUSEUMS
Education isn’t limited to the college or university setting, of course. Fort Worth’s major museums maintain a connection to TCC and other schools with education initiatives of their own.
“We have a regularly occurring event called University Evening that’s open to college and university students,” says Connie Hatchette, head of education at the Kimbell Museum. “It’s designed for students who are interested in art or art careers, or perhaps just an aspect of culture that is represented in an exhibition.”
Students can also participate in gallery and studio activities and learn about careers in the field during panel discussions with Kimbell staff. “The permanent collection is free to visit, and for students on a budget that's a big deal,” Hatchette says. “The museum tries to meet people where they are and be a resource for them at every stage of life.”
The Modern Art Museum, which features mostly work created after 1945, also offers a variety of programs for students.
“Our education curators and curatorial team work with universities across the region to develop tour and studio programs that engage and teach students at various levels,” says Kendall Smith Lake, the museum’s director of communications.
The museum’s permanent collection contains more than 3,000 works by such acclaimed artists as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Gerhard Richter, Susan Rothenberg and Mark Rothko. “Our lecture programs are a draw for university students from TCU, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas and Tarrant County College,” Smith Lake says.
The Amon Carter Museum of American Art features works by leading artists in the U.S. in the 19th and 20th centuries, including an extensive collection of Western art by such luminaries as Frederick Remington and Charles M. Russell.
A few miles north sits John Wayne: An American Experience, a museum founded in 2020 that features more than 400 pieces of personal and professional memorabilia about the film icon.
“Fort Worth was selected as the site because it embodies the rugged spirit and rich history that aligns perfectly with John Wayne’s legacy,” says Tracy Swanson of John Wayne Enterprises. “We’ve welcomed nearly 200,000 visitors from all walks of life —families, Western enthusiasts, film buffs and people of all ages—each finding a personal connection to John Wayne’s legacy.”
The TV and film industry was an important part of that legacy and has long had a presence in Fort Worth. That presence expanded with the creation of the Fort Worth Film Commission in 2015. The commission has worked with more than 1,000 projects that have had an economic impact of over $700 million in the past decade.
The John Wayne museum has played “an indirect but important role in this effort,” Swanson says. “By preserving and celebrating John Wayne’s legacy, which is a cornerstone of American cinema, we help keep the spirit of classic Westerns alive, inspiring both filmmakers and audiences alike.”
With numerous other museums, galleries and attractions from which to choose, Fort Worth has become a mecca for the arts in North Texas and beyond.
“The arts and cultural scene is vibrant and growing,” says Smith Lake. “The historic philanthropy and community support in Fort Worth have allowed these amazing institutions to develop.”
Martin Molina, adjunct professor of art at TCC, talking to students and visitors about his exhibition, "What a Relief," at the Art Corridor Gallery II on the Southeast Campus
Performance as a
Profession
The performing arts are taking center stage in Tarrant County. by jennifer blalock, edd
Performing artists have long been recognized as essential hallmarks of a civilized society.
From vocalists delivering profound political messages in times of war and of peace to dancers performing to influence change—and to the use of the prophetic chorus as a literary commentary on society—the performing arts and their artists have played critical roles in transforming their global audiences. Ancient monarchs to contemporary world leaders have prioritized and protected the performing artist as a beacon of light and hope. In today’s digital and technology-driven society, what role does the professional performing artist play, and what does the future look like for this career pathway?
Certainly, the consumer demand for the performing arts and the way the world experiences them has been reshaped in unique and compelling ways, challenging the sector’s labor market to evolve in tandem. In the creative and performing arts, new opportunities and shifts in the available professional roles in dance, music and theater are emerging rapidly.
Awareness of new and evolving professional pathways in the performing arts has become magnified through the digital democratization of information. Dancers, vocalists and other artists showcase their artistic talents freely on social media, creating viral challenges, promoting independent artists, competing on reality programs, performing at local theaters and monetizing their craft with renewed energy and elevated accessibility.
Does more exposure translate into greater interest in the performing arts and its associated careers? According to Broadway’s Next Act: Gen Zs and Millennials, a report published in Spring 2024 by No Guarantees, 79% of those surveyed appreciate live entertainment more than ever.
No Guarantees, a Tony Award-winning, theatrical production company, is “working to reinvigorate and reimagine” theater by a variety of techniques, including “community engagement, innovative tech initiatives and bold creative decisions.” Such ambitious goals indicate a mandate for preparing future performing artists and creative professionals with an agile foundation that offers flexibility and transferable skills.
Where can aspiring performing artists hone their craft and prepare for a livable wage career that fuels their talents and supports their desired lifestyle? Disruption continues to redefine the new world of nearly every line of work, and professions within the performing arts field are no different. The preparation and training necessary for a professional career in the performing arts today boasts some similarities to the education of the past, but with a technology twist and a demand for digital. Still, with the value of post-secondary education certificates, credentials and degrees already under intense scrutiny, should an aspiring performing artist’s preparation for a profession in the creative field include college training?
To find out, The Lens interviewed some of North Texas’ most knowledgeable theater, dance and vocal educators to get their perspective. What they revealed about the future of the performing arts careers in the Lone Star State and the script they recommend for achieving success is worthy of a standing ovation.
THEATER CAREERS
Angela Inman, director of theatre and associate professor of drama at Tarrant County College’s Southeast Campus, believes the training her programs offer is not only vital to preparing actors for the profession but to positioning them for long-term career success in any field. “I think it is a common misconception that majoring in drama is only for people who want to become actors or directors. Of course, there are students who plan to pursue those areas of interest, but there are so many additional job opportunities available in the industry.”
She credits the mix of the degree course requirements and hands-on skills incorporated into the classroom experience for preparing drama students for success in any field. “For example, all of our students learn skills that apply to sound and lighting technology, scenic design, costume design and management for non-profit organizations. Even students who primarily focus on acting must learn how to operate power tools, run basic lighting equipment and perform other production-related skills that pertain to all parts of the process.”
The assortment of exposure, skills mastery and the development of transferable skills are all intentionally built into the curriculum. “We want to make sure that our students have a bit of knowledge in many different areas so they are set up for success when it comes time for interviews. So, if a student wants to train to
become a professional actor, then of course that is an option; however, they will also learn other marketable skills that can be put to use in an entertainment industry that is constantly searching for new workers.”
LET’S DANCE
According to Associate Professor of Dance Amy Jennings, dance is another valuable degree program that prepares new professionals who can excel in any field. “The discipline of dance is regimented in a way that promotes a skill set for students to engage in collaborative work environments,” she says. “The ability to leverage leadership roles as most of the work effort is not only self-driven but people-driven in the field of dance. The ability to work together in an ensemble transfers to working on a common task that develops professionalism.”
Jennings is excited about the continued growth and variety of careers available to her graduates. “Specific to students studying dance, we prepare our students for professions in performance, choreography and pedagogy in dance. In addition, we have a through line that promotes students who desire to merge the technical side and pursue professions such as costume designers, lighting designers as well as small business owners. Because we have poured into the dance community beyond Tarrant County College, we are able to collaborate
A Star is Born
Eagle Mountain High School, one of Fort Worth’s newest schools, boasts a state-of-the-art facility to showcase its performing arts students and their talents. Scott Tilley, the school’s head choir director and renaissance coordinator, leverages his strong relationships throughout North Texas to help prepare his students for their performing arts career pathways. “Fort Worth and the surrounding community are very supportive of our programs, attending concerts and performances and investing in our students.”
Tilley recommends programs like Tarrant County College’s theater, drama and dance degrees for students who have the passion and talent for performance but perhaps need more foundational development before beginning a more specialized training program.
“I recommend considering a non-traditional route for students who need additional support, one on one, individualized contact with professors to expand their musicality and confidence.”
He also expresses that the outlook for his students is positive. “Everyone who I know who is looking for a position in the arts is able to get one,” he says. Tilley works with his students to model positive work ethic and habits in the classroom, encouraging them to identify what brings them joy and to weave that into establishing their own unique professional brand.
While music education is his chosen field, he sees his students leaning into music technology and entrepreneurship, production and music administration. “Most performing arts companies are seeking students with diverse music and arts experience, including social media expertise, creative content creation and high digital and technical skills,” he says.
Tilley remains committed to ensuring his students are wellprepared for the profession and beyond. “I view teaching as a dynamic, collaborative process that has the potential to inspire positive change in individuals and society as a whole. The purpose of singing is to communicate, and I believe that as educators, we have the power to teach our students how to effectively use their voice to communicate change in the world.”
with colleagues and alumni mentors to assist new students seeking a pathway they are choosing.”
Brandy M. Niccolai-Belfi, department chair of fine arts and associate professor of dance (and a lifelong dance professional), echoes the variety of careers available to the programs’ graduates. “Many students pursue careers as teachers in dance schools, studios or through private lessons as professional dancers in local and national dance companies, dancing or choreographing for musical theater productions, and/or presenting themselves as independent artists,” she says. The faculty remains committed to building and sustaining relationships with local dance companies,
performing arts programs, school districts and more to ensure their students are well-equipped to perform in the professional realm.
While both dance instructors have countless students who come to mind when they think of success, dance alum Chelsea Cartwright rises to the top. She began furthering her dance training at TCC in 2013 and developed an amazing repertoire of teaching abilities. “Chelsea’s passion and performance of dance artistry is contagious,” Jennings explains. “She received her specialization in dance, pursued teaching at studios in Fort Worth, along with becoming a hairstylist and becoming an entrepreneur. She transferred her skill set and opened her own dance studio this past season. Chelsea is now married and a mother of two boys. At the heart of what she does is a passion to serve others; she has never stopped believing in what can be.”
Cartwright and other performing artists like her throughout North Texas can be assured that their professional careers are destined to be bright, especially when bolstered by the individualized training and comprehensive curriculum included in the degree programs offered by community colleges like TCC. Explains Niccolai-Belfi, “Dance is my passion and my life. It's the only thing I ever want to do. I’ve always had a desire to share this passion through teaching. What other art form allows you to fully immerse both your mind and body?”
By merging the ability to balance professional passion and personal joy, performing artists like Niccolai-Belfi may have not only unlocked the secret to career success, but also achieved the joy of never having to truly work a day in their life.
Life Imitating Art
Tarrant County has many schools and drama programs for students who are drawn to the performing arts. by madeline cisneros
For students who develop a passion for the fine arts, a traditional public school may not be the best fit to express their creativity. Without sacrificing academic education, several performing arts schools in Tarrant County immerse students in dance, music, acting and more.
At the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA), students in grades 3-12 spend at least one-third of their day devoted to fine arts instruction. The charter school also offers extracurricular activities, including dance and musical theater companies. When it comes to academic studies, FWAFA provides opportunities for students to challenge themselves through honors and AP curriculums.
“When you walk through our campus, you can hear music coming from classrooms, see students working and creating together in small groups, physics experiments down the hallway, students organizing and creating artworks and costumes and props, and you might even stumble upon a rehearsal in our auditorium,” says Flor D. Cabrera, the director of marketing and communications at FWAFA.
Aside from academic and fine arts skills, FWAFA also teaches students lifelong interpersonal skills, such as collaboration and problem-solving. By nurturing these abilities, FWAFA hopes to
prepare students for higher education, including arts conservatory schools, private colleges and state universities.
“We currently have alumni working in many fields, with a large representation of alumni working in education, in the arts (as administrators, creators, and performers), in technology and in healthcare,” Cabrera says.
The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) also supplies students with experiences to prepare them for life after graduation, whether that’s college, a career or the military. With its small class sizes and individualized instruction, AVPA offers an inclusive and safe learning environment.
During the 2025-2026 school year, AVPA will offer enrollment for grades 6-9, and will continue to grow one grade level each year until accepting grades 6-12. Students in sixth grade take two conservatory classes per day, switching classes every nine weeks before choosing two for their seventh and eighth grade years.
“Every Wednesday we have Townhall, where professionals come in to share their art form and tell their story,” says conservatory director Jennifer Logan. “After Townhall, students go to a special Wednesday Conservatory class for two hours. We hire professionals in the community to work with the students in an art form of their choosing.”
The Little Mermaid at North Texas Performing Arts
“Some people say you either have confidence or you don’t have confidence. I think you can teach confidence.”
— Cathryn Sullivan
OWNER,
CATHRYN SULLIVAN’S ACTING FOR FILM
The Addams Family at Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts Academy of Visual
Fort Worth Actors Studio
Cathryn Sullivan‘s Acting for Film
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Texas Boys Choir
Check out these local performing arts schools
DFW Performing Arts Conservatory Grades 4-12 dfwpac.com
Bowie Fine Arts Academy Grades Pre-K-5 gpisd.org/bowie
John Nance Garner Fine Arts Academy Grades Pre-K-5 gpisd.org/garner
Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy Grades 6-12 gpisd.org/finearts
Whitt Fine Arts Academy Grades Pre K-5 gpisd.org/whitt
Newlook Performing Arts Ages 3-adult newlookperform.com
On Set Acting Studio Ages 6-22 onsetacting.com
Stage West Theatre Ages 3-adult stagewest.org
Stars Theater Company Ages 8-19 starstheatercompany.org
Texas School of the Arts Grades K-5 artsacademics.org/academies/tesa
Theatre Arlington Ages 3-adult theatrearlington.org
Time to Shine Performing Arts Ages 2-18 time2shinearts.com
Upright Theatre Co. Ages 3-adult uprighttheatre.org
HARNESSING SKILLS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
Tarrant County also offers acting programs outside of school for families that want to keep academics and performing arts separate. North Texas Performing Arts opened its fifth location in Southlake in 2021, offering after-school theater classes, camps and productions for ages 5-18. During fall and winter breaks, kids in grades K-5 can participate in creativity camps, which are themed around popular children’s stories.
“As they experience our camps, the students learn teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking and creative problem solving,” says Mike Mazur, vice president of Youth Theatres at NTPA. “In addition to learning clear communication skills, they also share ideas with other students and staff from unique and diverse backgrounds, leading to an appreciation of everyone’s contribution to the whole project.”
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization’s educational philosophy is based on what they call the Ten Characters. NTPA’s teaching style encourages leadership, respect and integrity, just to name a few.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
D’Lytha Myers and her husband, Nathan, discovered that there wasn’t a training program for acting for the camera in Fort Worth. In 2015, the couple opened Fort Worth Actors Studio.
“My husband and I are the co-creators and co-directors of the Studio, and we had been to a lot of acting classes over the
years that made us feel insecure, unwelcome and the teachers often tried to throw our values out the door,” D’Lytha says. “We wanted something different. So, we created the acting class we wanted.”
Their studio cultivates a safe and nurturing family-friendly environment where students are encouraged to take risks in order to strengthen their skills. Aside from learning acting techniques, students also gain active listening skills, empathy and time management.
The Fort Worth Actors Studio offers classes for teens and adults, from hobbyists to aspiring professional actors. Before moving on to other classes, students must begin with their Cold Read Boot Camp, which teaches cold reading techniques, camera-awareness basics, dialogue reading, reaction skills and more. According to D’Lytha, students often go on to pursue acting for the camera careers and land an agent after six months to two years of training.
Cathryn Sullivan’s acting studio in Lewisville also specializes in acting on camera, offering classes for kids typically starting at 6 years old, as well as teens and adults. At Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film, Sullivan is attentive to her students’ talents and needs, placing them in classes where they will be properly challenged. Her classes cover non-verbal communication, emotional scenes, comedy and more.
Many of her students go on to pursue successful acting careers, with past students including Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Jaren Lewison. Others have become talent agents and managers, writers, filmmakers and news anchors.
“Some people say you either have confidence or you don’t have confidence. I think you can teach confidence,” Sullivan says. “Confidence is one of the most important things there is, and you’ve just got to learn how to own who you are.”
Annie at North Texas Performing Arts
About Tarrant SBDC
Tarrant Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides management and technical assistance to local small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout Tarrant County The consulting services provided are at no cost and training services are at a nominal fee
Business consulting services are customized, one on one face-to-face or virtual at no cost Consulting services provided are business plan development, capital acquisition, marketing, regulatory compliance and more. The Tarrant SBDC provides services to a diverse population, including special emphasis groups; women, minorities and veterans who are seeking to start or grow their business.
The Tarrant SBDC is hosted by Tarrant County College and is one of twelve field centers of the North Texas SBDC Network Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U S Small Business Administration (SBA) SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services.
Access to Capital
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Business Planning
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Special arrangements for the disabled will be made when requested in advance Advising services are offered by the Tarrant Small Business Development center without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex or disability. Special provisions will be made for limited-English speaking individuals.
For accommodations, please contact the Tarrant SBDC at 817-515-2600
www tarrantsbdc org
Give ’Em the Works
Fort Works Art is a haven for local artists, regardless of their pedigree. by mollie jamison
The smartest entrepreneurs are always looking for gaps in the market and seeking ways to fill them. Fort Worth’s Lauren Saba did just that when she realized there were not enough places in town for emerging or self-taught artists to show their work. Almost 10 years after opening her gallery, Fort Works Art, Saba reflects on how and why she got into the business.
“We had all of these artists that are not artists who would have typically been allowed to show in art galleries, especially in 2014,” Saba says. “Back then, it was pretty much mandatory that you have a master’s degree or that you have a tremendous amount of experience to get into a gallery.”
When she first started, Saba was showing artists who did not even have bachelor’s degrees. Instead, she was more concerned about the quality of their work.
“I was really focusing on who are the best artists in the DFW area,” she says.
“I don’t care where they’ve gone to school. I don’t care where they’ve shown. We really supported this big community of artists at their inception, and they’ve now gone on to do some tremendous things.”
In addition to supporting budding artists, Saba also began to show the work of more established artists from places like New York. She hoped that this would help local talent understand exactly what it takes to become national artists.
“Putting those artists in the same show really allowed newer artists to get some more stuff on their CV, to prove their resume and get into other galleries and other shows that they probably wouldn’t have gotten into otherwise,” she says.
A painter herself, Saba was well integrated into the art world before she ever opened a gallery and knew firsthand the struggles of finding exhibition space in Fort Worth.
“Fort Worth is not Dallas,” she emphasizes. “In 2014, there were two main galleries and the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, and that was pretty much it. If you were not in one of the two galleries, which was next to impossible to get into, the only time anyone would ever see your art is if you got a piece in or if you did a show at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. So it was limited in scope of what you were able to do.”
After attending world-renowned events like Art Basel in Miami, Saba realized she also wanted to open people’s eyes to what was happening in the broader art scene outside of North Texas.
“There was a big need for Fort Worth to see more of what was happening on a national level in the art gallery community,” she says. “Back in 2014 especially, most of the galleries were catering to the local buyer. They were showing mainly local artists who everybody knew and liked. But when I went to Art
“We really supported this big community of artists at their inception, and they’ve now gone on to do some tremendous things.”
“There was a big need for Fort Worth to see more of what was happening on a national level in the art gallery community.”
Basel, I really saw what was happening there, and the game was just way bigger than what we were playing in Fort Worth.”
On top of running a “non-traditional” gallery that appears more like a mini-museum, Saba added a philanthropic side to Fort Works in 2017. Her non-profit, Gallery of Dreams, has already found ways to support local youth as well as practicing artists. During the COVID pandemic, they raised over $300,000 for artists in Fort Worth and Rockport. The charitable foundation is also proud to have hosted a high school art competition with the mayor’s office for the past nine years and to have put on a “100 for 100” show where 100 different artists each sold a piece for $100.
Another way Fort Works gives back is by organizing artist residencies in its large, climate-controlled warehouse. One of the first artists she hosted there in 2016 was Dan Lam, who completed nearly 100 works during the residency and has gone on to create sculptures at the Nasher Sculpture Center and all over the world.
“She’s one of the most successful artists that we’ve ever shown, and she was fresh out of grad school when we got her,” Saba says. “That was something that was really special to be able to give artists spaces to create. Most of these artists don’t have their own studios, and so being at the gallery, not only do they have studio space, but they’re actually in an art gallery every day. So they’re seeing how that kind of works. They’re meeting clients, they’re networking, and I’ve seen massive things come out of some of our resident artists.”
Before Fort Works was a brick-and-mortar gallery across from the Dickies Arena on Montgomery Street, Saba says it started as an occasional pop-up on the south side with her lifelong friend J.W. Wilson, who is now a partner at the William Campbell Gallery. In March 2014, they hosted a local show of around 30 artists at the infamous shipping and receiving building.
“The show was a huge hit,” she recalls. “We had 1,500 people show up. We sold a ton of art. And then that summer, Leon Bridges recorded his album in that space. And so we were working on our fall show, kind of watching that happen.”
Saba says the best part about Fort Worth is that it offers entrepreneurs with little business background like herself the opportunity to succeed. “I come from none of that,” she says. “So starting this business from scratch, there was a huge learning curve. I had to learn all that on the fly.”
Of course, there is no shortage of artistic talent in Fort Worth, says Saba, but she believes it is the access to an ample number of loyal patrons in the area that keeps her doors open.
“This city has something that’s really, really special that other cities do not have,” she says. “That is access to support. There’s a lot of people who have supported me owning an art gallery since I’ve been here, and it’s just a testament to the city,” she says. “I think that with local support via funding, sponsorship, rental of the space, word of mouth, things like that – we’ve been allowed to survive.”
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Podcasting as a Career
Podcaster Joshua Hart explains what it takes to make it in this business. by james ndone, phd
Joshua Hart, a seasoned broadcaster and podcasting professional, has carved out an impressive career in the podcasting industry. Originally from Dallas, Hart spent over 13 years in the broadcasting industry, primarily as a morning show DJ for iHeart Radio. His career path took an exciting turn when he decided to try his hand at podcasting, a medium that allowed him to combine his love for storytelling and connecting with people in a fresh, innovative way. Today, Hart serves as the director of operations at Real News PR, where he coaches and produces over 150 different podcasts. His journey from radio to podcasting has been filled with challenges, triumphs and valuable lessons about creating meaningful, engaging content and building a sustainable business. But how can one cut a niche in the podcasting industry? Hart sat down with The Lens to explain.
The Lens: How did you transition from starting a podcast to making it a sustainable career?
Joshua Hart: My podcasting journey began organically, stemming from my radio experience. I found podcasting exciting because it allowed for long-form conversations and exploring niche topics. Transitioning to a sustainable career meant building a brand that offered high-quality, engaging content. It wasn’t just about recording episodes; it was about cultivating an audience, understanding what they wanted and finding creative ways to monetize through sponsorships, listener support and exclusive content. While working at iHeart, I went back to school and earned a master’s degree in conflict management. That education inspired me to start a show called Pint Size Problems, where I applied what I’d learned in a creative way.
What challenges did you face while building your podcasting career, and how did you overcome them?
Establishing credibility in a crowded podcasting space was a major challenge. There were already so many amazing podcasts out there. To stand out, I leaned on my radio experience and network, building relationships with other podcasters and content creators. Hosting guests in a professional studio, like a radio station, gave my podcast an advantage. It made the experience more appealing to guests compared to informal settings like coffee shops or coworking spaces.
How does podcasting differ from other content creation platforms?
Podcasting is unique because it’s an intimate, long-form medium. Unlike platforms like YouTube or Instagram, podcasting often involves dedicated listeners who spend 20, 30 or even 60 minutes with your content. That creates opportunities for deeper connections. Plus, podcasting offers great flexibility; you can record anywhere and at any time, giving creators unmatched freedom.
Can you share a moment in your podcasting career that exemplifies its potential as a lucrative and impactful medium? One standout moment was collaborating with brands on special episodes. These partnerships not only generated revenue but also elevated my podcast’s value in the industry. Beyond the financial aspect, hearing how the content has positively impacted listeners reminds me of the medium’s potential to inspire and inform.
What role does networking play in podcasting success?
Networking and collaboration are essential. The podcasting community is incredibly supportive, and working with other creators can expand your reach. Through interviews, joint episodes and guest appearances, you can cross-pollinate audiences, build your brand and learn from others. The more you engage with the community, the more opportunities come your way.
How do you tailor your content to ensure it resonates with your audience?
I always consider what my audience wants to hear, what questions they have and what problems they’re trying to solve. I also recommend creating a clear avatar of your target audience to guide your content. At the same time, it’s important to stay true to yourself—infuse your personality into every episode to keep it authentic.
Podcast Highlight: The Lens Workforce Podcast
By Jacquetta Dantzler
The Lens Workforce Podcast was started to facilitate strategic conversations with employers and economic developers about preparing and growing the workforce for today and the future.
The podcast’s mission is to support the business community by curating conversations that both inform and inspire leaders in Tarrant County. It aims to highlight the impactful work being done, showcase synergies that foster lasting partnerships and provide a space for meaningful dialogue.
Through the podcast, local business professionals, educators, students and community leaders can share knowledge, highlight partnerships and address mutual goals.
Topics are centered around workforce-related themes such as employment pipelines, professional development, salary trends and more. Each episode is uniquely tailored to the guest, their company and their industry, ensuring relevance and value for our audience.
Where do you see podcasting as an industry heading, and what opportunities does this present for creators?
Podcasting is only going to grow, especially as more people turn to audio for entertainment and education. I think we’ll see more niche platforms and interactive formats emerge, offering creators targeted audiences and better monetization options. Opportunities like paid subscriptions, live shows and event collaborations will also become more common, giving podcasters new ways to connect with their audiences and diversify revenue streams.
What advice would you give to someone looking to monetize their podcast?
Start by building a loyal audience. Without that, monetization is difficult. Once you have a dedicated following, consider sponsorships, listener donations through platforms like Patreon or exclusive content for paying subscribers. Partnering with brands that align with your values and theme is key. Be realistic, though. You might struggle to attract big brands, but local businesses with an online presence are often more willing to collaborate. Authenticity is crucial. Your audience needs to trust that your partnerships are genuine.
Any parting advice for aspiring podcasters?
Just start. The biggest barrier is often fear of failure, but the most successful podcasters are the ones who keep going, even when things are tough. Find your voice, stay authentic and focus on building a community. Podcasting is a journey, and it’s one worth taking.
Lights, Camera, Quiz Time!
Test your knowledge about the arts in Fort Worth. by
jacquetta dantzler
Ready to take center stage in our Lights, Camera, Arts! quiz? Fort Worth’s arts and culture scene is buzzing with creativity, from world-class performances to inspiring local talent and even movie magic. Whether you’re a seasoned art aficionado or you just love a good story, this quiz will test your knowledge and maybe even teach you something new. So, grab your director’s chair, call “Action!” and let’s see if you’re a true star of Fort Worth’s cultural scene!
1. Which iconic Texas city is becoming a key player in the film industry?
A) Austin
B) Houston
C) Fort Worth
D) Dallas
2. What popular TV and movie star trained at Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film studio in Lewisville, Texas?
A) Millie Bobby Brown
B) Selena Gomez
C) Blake Lively
D) Zendaya
3. Which of the following filmed scenes at Tarrant County College’s Trinity River Campus East?
A) Yellowstone and Prison Break
B) Landman and Walker, Texas Ranger
C) Lioness and 1883
D) Prison Break and Pure Country
4. What economic impact did Fort Worth’s arts scene generate in 2024?
A) $100 million
B) $250 million
C) $500 million
D) $1 billion
5. What percentage of students in Tarrant County College’s film program found immediate industry work post-graduation?
A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 75%
D) 90%
6. Which of the following had scenes shot in Fort Worth?
A) Walker, Texas Ranger
B) Prison Break
C) Pure Country
D) Landman
E) 1883
F) All of the above
7. What is the annual economic impact of the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival?
A) $10 million
B) $18 million
C) $28 million
D) $50 million
8. Which Fort Worth-based gallery is known for showcasing emerging and established artists side by side?
A) Amon Carter Museum
B) Kimbell Art Museum
C) Fort Works Art
D) Sid Richardson Museum
9. Which program at TCC prepares students to enter the film industry in roles like lighting, makeup and set construction?
A) Radio, Television & Film Program
B) Digital Media Arts Program
C) Fort Worth Film Collaborative
D) Studio Arts Program
10. Which famous music competition is hosted at Bass Performance Hall every four years?
A) The Fort Worth Symphony Contest
B) The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
C) American Idol Auditions
D) International Jazz Contest
11. What differentiates the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA) from traditional schools?
A) Focus on STEM education
B) Online-only curriculum
C) One-third of the school day devoted to fine arts instruction
D) Exclusive focus on dance
WA Celebration of Art, Music and Community
by claire bloxom armstrong
sheer impact—more than $4 million worth of artwork is sold each year, which not only provides a meaningful livelihood for these artists but also enriches the homes and offices of those who invest in a piece of their story.
But MAIN ST. is more than just a gallery under the open sky. It’s a celebration of life, soundtracked by two stages of live music, featuring everything from soulful jazz to spirited Tejano rhythms. Every time I stand near the performance stages and see families swaying together or couples sharing a quiet dance, I’m reminded of the power of music to bring a community closer.
For me, one of the most inspiring aspects of the festival is the way it nurtures curiosity and creativity in every generation. Our family-friendly TCC Makers Zone is a personal favorite of mine—watching children’s eyes light up as they explore robotics, pottery and 3-D art is a reminder that art is not just something you look at; it’s something you can do, something that brings out the maker in all of us. This year, we’re even inviting Fort Worth ISD students to contribute their own artwork as part of a special contest celebrating the beauty of our city. This isn’t simply about art; it’s about inspiring the next generation of creators who will carry this legacy forward.
hen I think about the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival, my heart swells with pride for the remarkable community we’ve built here in Tarrant County. For 37 years, this festival has been a cherished tradition, transforming our Historic Downtown Fort Worth into a vibrant tapestry of creativity, culture and connection. It’s not just an event—it’s an expression of who we are.
One of the things that makes MAIN ST. so special is the way it brings people together. For four incredible days every April, we welcome tens of thousands of visitors from across the country to join us in celebrating art in all its forms. The streets come alive with color and sound, and it’s a joy to see families, friends and strangers alike come together to explore, discover and revel in the sheer magic of the festival.
At the heart of MAIN ST. are the artists—over 200 of the most talented visual artists from around the world, carefully selected by our distinguished jury. These creative visionaries share their passions through a diverse range of mediums, from intricate jewelry to breathtaking sculptures. I’ve often watched attendees stop in awe at a particularly stunning piece, struck by its power to tell a story or evoke an emotion.
Every year, I leave with a renewed appreciation for the talent, dedication and craftsmanship on display. And then there's the
Of course, we can’t forget the food! MAIN ST.’s culinary offerings are as diverse as the art itself. From classic turkey legs to gourmet empanadas, every bite tells a story. Add to that our craft beer pavilions, refreshing margaritas and our beloved “Wine Experience,” and you’ve got a culinary landscape as indulgent and eclectic as Fort Worth!
But the true spirit of MAIN ST. lies in its ability to elevate Fort Worth’s arts and cultural profile while giving back to the community. Its economic impact—over $28 million annually—is just one testament to its importance. Hotels, restaurants and local businesses thrive during MAIN ST. days, and the energy it brings to our downtown resonates long after the last tent is packed away.
Personally, this festival represents the beating heart of Fort Worth. The way it supports artists, connects neighbors, attracts visitors and creates unforgettable moments exemplifies the very best of what our city stands for. It’s also a reminder of what we’re capable of as a community. There’s a sense of pride when you realize these 18 blocks of joy, discovery and beauty are something we create together for everyone to enjoy.
If you’ve never been, I’d say 2025 is the year to come! Walk the streets. Meet the artists. Dance to the music. Taste the flavors. And above all, feel the community. We’ll be waiting to welcome you with open arms.
Here’s to celebrating everything that makes Fort Worth home!
