Fort Worth has a new cultural district and it’s the neighborhood you think it is
Fort Worth’s Near Southside will join Dallas’s Deep Ellum and Austin’s Red River District as one of Texas’s newest cultural districts.
The Texas Arts Commission granted the designation to the popular urban village Thursday, opening the door for arts funding across the Near Southside.
The commission recognized the district’s popular art events, including ArtsGoggle, Open Streets, Friday on the Green, and Park(ing) Day. Before the pandemic, the events brought hundreds of thousands of people to the Near Southside. Amphibian Stage, Stage West, SiNaCa Studios and Studio Cufflink were named among the various arts organizations based in the Near Southside, which is also a hub for Fort Worth’s culinary and small business scene.
“We’re proud that the Near Southside is gaining recognition as a hub for creativity and growth.” Mike Brennan, Near Southside Inc. president, said in a statement. “This community is filled with dreamers, artists, and risktakers that deserve to be recognized, and we are so honored to see our thriving district receive this support and validation.”
The 1,400 acre Near Southside includes the medical district, the popular South Main and Magnolia corridors and the Evans and Rosedale urban village being redeveloped.
The Near Southside will host ARTober, a series of curated and virtual events, to celebrate the designation. The Texas Arts Commission annually provides grant funding to programs within designated cultural districts. Fort Worth’s Cultural District, the area that encompasses the art museums, Will Rogers complex and Fort Worth Botanic Garden, was previously awarded the designation.
Two Houston districts, Fifth Ward Cultural District and the Historic Third Ward Arts District, were also named state cultural districts Wednesday along with the Fort Worth, Dallas and Austin districts. The Texas Artm Commission promotes economic and cultural development through investment in arts programming.
This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 4:38 PM.
