Dallas-Fort Worth is a beautiful city in its own right — the green parkland, the vast blue sky — and so it’s fitting that its arts scene is so highly developed, and the residents of Dallas-Fort Worth can indulge in its beauty so regularly.
Dallas / Fort Worth Arts District
The most obvious linchpin of the arts world in Dallas-Fort Worth is the Dallas Arts District in the northeastern section of downtown, the largest urban arts district in the nation. It houses visual art galleries, performing arts centers, symphonies, and more, hosting events like classes, dance performances, and even petting zoos.
One example of the many offerings of the Arts District is the Nasher Sculpture Center, a collection of both indoor and outdoor sculptural works — when it opened in 2003, it was the first institution in the world dedicated to global contemporary sculpture. It currently includes over 300 works and a 1.4 acre outside sculpture garden, where visitors can take in the art in Dallas’s beautiful weather before wandering through the rest of the Arts District.
Fort Worth Art District
Bordered by a tree line boulevard paved with bricks, this area boasts charming shops and restaurants for your evening pleasure in Fort Worth’s Art District. Join visitors from all over the world and experience old and new world art masterpieces and exciting performance art along with cultural and science exhibits.
Dallas / Fort Worth Architecture
While wandering, it’s easy to notice the degree to which the city of Dallas-Fort Worth can feel like a work of art in itself — its architecture is often breathtaking, with many buildings that are great examples from the modern and postmodern eras, as well as some structures in the Gothic Revival style. Architecture buffs will want to walk down Swiss Avenue, which offers a cross-section of Dallas-Fort Worth architecture from Victorian to neoclassical.
Since it’s restoration in the 1980’s, Fort Worth has become a model for downtown redevelopment. The cultural district in Fort Worth is home of the Will Rogers Memorial Center, constructed as part of the 1936 Texas Centennial Celebration.
Museums
Still in the Arts District we can find the incredible Dallas Museum of Art, which boasts an impressive collection of over 22,000 pieces. One truly unique aspect of the museum is its Conservation Studio, where visitors can watch conservators work on preserving and restoring items from the collection right in front of them, a truly special experience. Family programs are offered, from summer art camps to kids’ classes and workshops, as well as workshop experiences for adults and teens.
Although the Dallas Museum of Art is a gem, there are plenty of other museums to visit in Dallas-Fort Worth as well. One standout is the Museum of Biblical Art, a biblically-themed arts museum that includes eleven galleries, the National Center for Jewish Art, pilgrimage attractions and the Via Dolorosa sculpture garden.
When visiting downtown Fort Worth, you don’t want to miss out on the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. This museum has been in existence since 1892 and is known as the state’s oldest art museum. There is a total of six museums in the Fort Worth Cultural District that are world famous for their architecture and the quality of their collections.
Independent Art and Artists
The Dallas Arts District isn’t the only neighborhood where the arts are flourishing — those who are interested in how art develops before it gets inside the frame at the museum will want to see the Bishop Arts District, where the small, independent art galleries flourish and where local artists share warehouse space for studios. At the Artisan’s Collective, over 150 Dallas-Fort Worth artists showcase their arts, crafts and jewelry, providing a channel for local artists to meet directly with consumers and grow their reputations and businesses.
Fort Worth’s cultural scene is pulsating with performance venues, theatres, art galleries, and more. You will find art ranging from Western to avant-garde, but just step away from downtown for a few minutes and you’ll find yourself walking along paved brick walkways and manicured grounds in the Cultural District, where the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth resides.