RE-FRAMING
THE FUTURE
Dallas State of the Arts 2025
Advocates for art came together.
Zoe Communications and the Bishop Arts Theatre united DFW arts advocates and nonprofits for a community forum exploring alternatives to NEA funding.
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The result? A room full of theatre-makers, musicians, poets, publishers, and cultural leaders, laughing, venting, building, questioning, and dreaming together. ​
The NEA may have pulled funding. But Dallas showed up.
And when people show up, things change.
Art has always been a people-powered movement.
NEA grant cuts demanded action. We brought the Dallas metro arts community together to reconnect, realign, and rebuild support.
“Have a poetry reading. Have a jazz night.... Have yoga, but
have something.” - Stormi Demerson, Actor/Arts Advocate
"Go to the community and say, ‘This is what you're being deprived of,’ right? ‘This is why it matters, and here's a value proposition. Are you in?”
- Will Evans, Deep VellumPublishing
This event put a spotlight on hope.
The loss of $345,000 in federal funding to North Texas arts groups was a gut punch. But it’s not a fatal blow.
THE TAKEAWAYS
Gather with other arts organizations to discuss issues and ways to work together
Let go of old rivalries between competitors
Survey the audience andmake changes based on their feedback
Don't leave any open seats at performances
Use you your buildings.Brick-and-mortar buildings are a blessing.
Cross-promote with other arts organizations.
Remind audiences of the value proposition they’re supporting.
Reach out to residents in Dallas and surrounding cities.
“From your strategist friend... survey the people and then read the data and then decide to do something about the thing that you learned.
- Feleceia Wilson, Founder - Zoe Communications
Keeping the arts alive takes all of us.
"Connecting all of us together, and just making sure we are all as one and helping each other out," Wash said. "We have to really get creative."
- Albert Walsh, Bishop Arts Theatre Center Artistic Producer
All info and quotes for this event summary come from the fantastic coverage of the forum by KERA News and NBC DFW.
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