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Front PageJuly 6, 2021
NEWS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 12, 2021 Contact: Rhonda IveryCommunity Arts Manager214.671.8573oaccommart@dallascityhall.com Majestic Centennial Celebration Press Release DALLAS, Texas – The Historic Majestic Theatre in the City Center District of Downtown Dallas is celebrating its 100-year anniversary. The theatre first opened its doors in 1921 and is the last standing theater of “Theatre Row,” Dallas’ historic Elm Street entertainment center For this momentous event, the Office of Arts and Culture is celebrating with a Community Open House at the theater and at the adjacent Pacific Plaza Park on the afternoon of September 19th, 2021 from 12-3pm. Neighbors and community partners are invited to participate this extraordinary indoor and outdoor experience that will feature music by The Herbie Johnson Jazz Quartet, performances by Dallas Black Dance Theatre, a family movie screening of Charlie Chaplin’s silent film “The Kid” from 1921 accompanied by pianist Paul Slavens, tours of the theater, food trucks, games, performances at Pacific Park Plaza, and so much more. All events are at no cost to the public. The Majestic Theatre will close out its 100th year celebration with a third major event, a special concert in April 2022, kicking off a brand-new Majestic century. We look forward to celebrating with you! Additional information may be found on... Read more...
Front PageJuly 2, 2021
Office of Arts and Culture statement on WRR Classical Music Radio StationThe City of Dallas and Office of Arts and Culture greatly values the classical music broadcasts and arts organizations support that Classical WRR 101.1 FM radio provides. Unfortunately, due to reduced advertising revenue during the global pandemic and legal restrictions on the government employees of WRR to comply with ethics regulations, WRR 101.1 FM has operated at a deficit for eight years in a row, with a declining fund balance in operating reserves of $5.1M since 2012. The station’s operating results have ranged from nearly breakeven to losses of over $1.2 Million, not including capital obligations. As a responsible steward, the City of Dallas is exploring new management for WRR 101.1 FM to ensure it remains a City-owned classical music format radio station. All RFP respondents must operate as a nonprofit. If the station’s operating and capital reserves were exhausted, the City would not be able to require it remain a classical station. In the current RFP for management adhering to all City protocols, the City will retain ownership of the station and WRR will be a classical music station continuing services to arts organizations. This is similar to Dallas’ other City-owned, privately managed cultural assets such as the Moorland YMCA Building managed by Dallas Black Dance Theatre and the Sammons Center for the Arts. Following the close of the procurement, the City will begin negotiations with bidders to recommend one for Council action to ensure continued classical music radio on City of Dallas-owned WRR 101.1 FM.... Read more...
Front PageJune 9, 2021
OAC Cultural Center Summer Camps accepting applicationsIt’s summer camp application season here at the OAC! Our South Dallas Cultural Center (SDCC), Oak Cliff Cultural Center (OC3), Bath House Cultural Center (BHCC), and Latino Cultural Center (LCC) are all open for applications. Please view details and deadlines below.... Read more...
Front PageApril 29, 2021
Explore Public Art all around Dallas with a new Interactive MapIn celebration of Dallas Arts Month, the Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) and the Office of Data Analytics partnered to provide residents and visitors with a map to find and explore City of Dallas public art. The public can view art installations with new, high-resolution images, and detailed information about the installations. Art is everywhere in Dallas, in libraries, parks, recreation centers, and more. This public facing map of the OAC Public Art collection allows residents and visitors to easily explore Dallas for these Public Art pieces. Public Art distinguishes our community. It conserves our public history and evolving culture, revitalizes public spaces, and enhances our quality of life. With this new map, the OAC Public Art Program makes the work of many artists accessible and provides places to encourage arts and culture to thrive and grow citywide. Everyone wants to know where art lives because art enriches our lives. If you look for it, you’ll find art actually is all around Dallas. The map is available on any smart mobile device or desktop computer. ... Read more...
Call For Entries / Front PageApril 19, 2021
The Majestic celebrates 100 Years (Open Call)On April 11, 1921, 100 Years ago, the Majestic Theatre first opened its doors as one of many vaudeville theaters of “Theatre Row,” Dallas’ historic entertainment center on Elm Street. As the last standing theater of “Theatre Row”, the Majestic has hosted many figures such as Ginger Rogers, Mae West, Harry Houdini, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Jack Benny, Bob Hope and more. To this day, the Majestic continues to host concerts and movie nights. The Renaissance Revival-style building was designed by architect John Eberson. Eberson was nationally known for his “atmospheric theaters,” including the Majestic, which often featured ceiling “skies” of mechanically controlled floating clouds and twinkling stars. The Majestic Theatre was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It stands today as a reminder of the city’s architectural, social, and cultural heritage. Centennial Poster OPEN CALL Calling all Dallas-based visual artists, the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) requests the submission of your qualifications to design a commercial-style movie poster for the Dallas Majestic Theatre Centennial and celebration. Submission Deadline: Monday, May 3, 2021 at 5:00 PM  After submissions in response to the request for qualifications, a panel comprised of arts professionals, community representatives, and OAC staff will review qualified submissions of Requests for Qualifications in May 2021. Up to 4 artists will be asked to prepare their conceptual design proposal comprised of drawings, paintings, or digital renderings of the Majestic Theatre Centennial Poster. The artists selected for conceptual designs will be awarded $250 each. From the conceptual designs, one (1) artist will be awarded an additional $1,500 to complete the final design of the poster based on their conceptual design. For more information on the project, guidelines, and to submit your qualifications, please visit https://bit.ly/MAJESTICCENTENNIAL... Read more...
Arts Month / Front PageMarch 31, 2021
Dallas Arts Month is back for virtual and in-person events for 2021DALLAS— The City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) is officially announcing the start to Dallas Arts Month 2021. Dallas Arts Month, first launched as Dallas Arts Week in 2013, is a city-wide celebration of Dallas arts, held annually in April. “After having to make the painful decision to cancel Arts Month last year due to the pandemic, the return of Dallas Arts Month is a tangible sign that our arts community has continued to be creative and dynamic and is part of our local recovery,” said OAC Director, Jennifer Scripps. “We all hope Dallas residents and visitors are able to experience some of the arts in our city.” OAC, in partnership with Dallas Arts District, AT&T Performing Arts Center (AT&T PAC), and the Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition (DACAC), will spotlight our vibrant, diverse, and growing arts community by celebrating Dallas arts and culture in all its forms. The goal of Dallas Arts Month is to build awareness and appreciation for the work of Dallas artists and organizations. After 2020’s devastating impact on the arts community, it has never been more necessary for the arts and Dallas’s many arts organizations to be supported as a key to rebuilding community connection and the creative economy. “Dallas Arts Month is a huge celebration of the city’s cultural landscape at a time when the arts are critical to bringing our communities together.” says Lily Weiss, Executive Director for the Dallas Arts District. “I encourage everyone to embrace the rich culture and history of Dallas and welcome all to explore, experience, and enjoy the arts in-person and virtually. Let’s rediscover the human spirit through the arts!” Dallas residents and visitors can participate in hundreds of arts and cultural offerings both virtually and in-person, with social distancing protocols enforced. Throughout the city, patrons can find festivals, plays, concerts, exhibitions, and more. Several community events are free and open to the public, and there are also special ticketed events. For a complete list of events and more information on this year’s Dallas Arts Month celebration, visit DallasArtsMonth.com. Dallas Arts Month OAC EVENTS:... Read more...
Front PageMarch 25, 2021
Open Call for Summer Camp ProposalsOAC Vision: An equitable, diverse, and connected community whose residents and visitors thrive through meaningful arts and cultural experiences in every neighborhood across Dallas. The City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture’s neighborhood cultural centers are seeking proposals from Dallas-based artists and organizations, cultural producers, and/or individual artists for socially-distanced in-person programming and virtual programming through such platforms as Zoom for summer camp arts programming for the following dates: June 28 – July 16, 2021. Eligibility: Preference will be given to Dallas-based performing artists and organizations, cultural producers, and/or individual artists who have worked with the neighborhood cultural centers in the past or other performing arts venues in Dallas and North Texas for summer camp arts programming, and those with experience working with ALAANA/BIPOC communities. General submission guidelines for all neighborhood cultural centers: Please submit a minimum 600-word description of the proposed programs with a detailed description of the program(s), detailed fee proposal (including any private or in-kind funding available for the program), organizational mission, proposed artist(s) that will participate (and how they will participate), and any previous experience producing similar programs with Dallas and regional arts and cultural venues and/or organizations. ... Read more...
Call For Entries / Front PageFebruary 28, 2021
RE:Imagine Vacancy (Request for Proposals)Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply! Application Deadline: Monday May 10, 2021 11:59pm The City of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) and the Department of Code Compliance (Code) request proposals for a free-standing, outdoor public art installation in the Bonton neighborhood to serve as a neighborhood art park at 6307-9 Carlton Garrett in Dallas, Texas. The temporary art installation will be on display for a 6-month period.The selected proposal will be awarded $10,000 for the design, fabrication, installation, and removal for the proposed work. The tentative completion date for this project is July 2021. RE:Imagine Vacancy is a pilot program that is part of a larger revitalization effort by the OAC and Code to beautify empty lots in neighborhoods across the city. In the past, these vacant lots have been a source for legal dumping, making the green spaces unsafe and hazardous for the neighboring community. Through partnerships with local high school students, Dallas BridgeBuilders, and the Bonton Neighborhood Association, we hope to engage the community and create a place of natural beauty and art in the Bonton Neighborhood. How to Apply: Submission Eligibility and Requirements— Experience with temporary art or environmental art is preferred, although not required. Artists must live in the city of Dallas in order to be eligible for consideration. Artists will be prompted to answer questions regarding their experience and vision for RE:Imagine Vacancy, and to requested to submit preliminary color images or drawings of the proposed installation, showing placement and dimensions. Artists may also upload 3-5 images of previous works for examples, and submission of artist(s) CV will is also encouraged. All images must be clearly labeled with the name of the artist, title of the work, media, and dimensions. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Application for any project advertised by the City of Dallas Public Art Program constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined in this prospectus as well as recognition of ordinances and policies of the City of Dallas (including the Good Faith Effort and the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise goals of the City Dallas).  Funding for the project is made possible by the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) and the City of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture. ... Read more...
Front PageFebruary 24, 2021
New artist residency program launched by South Dallas Cultural Center FOR MORE INFORMATION: John Spriggins- Manager, South Dallas Cultural Center john.spriggins@dallascityhall.com 214.671.0058 The Office of Arts and Culture’s (OAC) South Dallas Cultural Center (SDCC) is pleased to announce the official launch of the Juanita J. Craft House Artist Residency Initiative- an immersive, interactive program for artists of all disciplines to meaningfully connect them with South Dallas neighborhoods. The residency initiative supports artists by offering non-living studio space and connecting them with residents, organizations, and institutions to develop a unique artwork, art series, or body of work centering community activism. This opportunity opens space for artists to capture the immediacy of the moment where historical neighborhoods are rapidly changing due to socio-economic shifts, to collect various visions of South Dallas for future residents, visionaries and developers. “I am a native of South Dallas and dreamed of making an impact on my neighborhood,” said South Dallas Cultural Center Manager John Spriggins. “I know the power of a residency and at the time, there weren’t many artist residencies in Dallas that focused on supporting artists of the African Diaspora. Residencies like Project Row Houses in Houston and Rebuild Foundation by Theater Gates in Chicago provided the inspiration, where specifically Black artists went into Black communities and developed art projects with a community focus, making a cultural impact. My hope is to connect creativity with community in South Dallas. It is the right time to launch the residency with all of the changes happening in the area.” Spriggins has lead the cultural center since 2017. The pandemic offered him the opportunity to hyper-focus on the development of the Juanita J. Craft House Artist Residency Initiative, which will officially start accepting applications in April 2021. In Fall of 2020, Spriggins worked with artist Nitashia Johnson to pilot the program. Johnson was raised in South Dallas and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 2008. Some of her work includes, The Smart Project, a creative after-school program for artistic teens , and her 2018 photographic book series, The Self Publication, created to uplift the Black community and dismantle harsh stereotypes associated with the culture. Johnson’s unique voice and community-oriented work made her an excellent candidate to pilot the residency. “The art of storytelling has always influenced my multimedia artwork,” said Johnson. “My eagerness and love for the world and others have pushed me to produce a body of work highlighting environmental spaces, communities, and individual muses. When I started working on the residency project which I’ve titled The Beauty of South Dallas, Capturing the Now Before the Future, I was excited yet nervous about where to begin. South Dallas is a large area, and I wanted to make sure to capture the spirit of the people and the land.” South Dallas is experiencing rapid trends and changes with infrastructure, housing, and socio-economic shifts. Since the 1950s, South Dallas has been predominately populated by African Americans with 15 neighborhoods which vary from working middle class to working poor. Now, like many other near-downtown-neighborhoods around the country, it’s proximity makes it appealing for urban renewal and redevelopment. The area is being carved into trendy districts. The impact of this transformation is determined by perspective and this residency encourages artists of the African Diaspora to explore this with new working methods, such as developing socially engaging art experiences that interact with and are immersed within the neighborhoods of the South Dallas area. ... Read more...
Call For Entries / Front PageFebruary 23, 2021
NON-PROFIT RESIDENCY PROGRAM (Call for Proposals) The City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture’s Community Arts Division is requesting proposals from Non-Profit Organizations with ALAANA-focused programming for an 8-week residency! The residency can be in-person or virtual, focusing on providing services in Districts 2-6, 8, and 10-13. These Districts do not have neighborhood cultural centers to connect arts organizations with new communities. Special consideration will be given to proposals providing services in the pink and green areas of the Dallas Cultural Plan’s typology map. Using any arts discipline, the proposed residency projects must address art and culture and create access to artistic and cultural programming for the residents of Dallas. Residencies must take place within the city limits of Dallas and must be completed by September 30, 2021. TIMELINE Open for Submissions: February 23, 2021 Info Session 1: Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at 12 PM Info Session 2: Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at 6 PM Submission Deadline: March 17, 2021 Panel Review: March 19-26, 2021 Award Notifications: April 5, 2021 APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MARCH 17, 2021 at 11:59 PM... Read more...

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