(DALLAS) What started as a hope and a vision by city leaders in the early 80s to amass commercial entities with the sprinkled appeal of the arts became the adoption of the Sasaki (master) Plan in 1982 and then official special zoning of PD 145 of in February 1983, setting the groundwork for the 68-acre Dallas Arts District. The objective was to create a district with a mix of uses emphasizing art, with Flora Street as the spine.
What became was a birth and a boost, and now a boom over these four decades. Centennial-aged historic churches thrived, commerce grew, multi-cultural neighborhoods came together, education reinvented itself into a national model, and the arts provided the unique identifier. Adrian Ellis, Chair, Global Cultural Districts Network, said, “Dallas Arts District is a model of a planned district to which we return again and again in our work. The proportion of cultural, civic, residential, and commercial uses was well considered by the City and Sasaki back in the 1980s [currently The Connect Master Plan] and its vibrant character today bears witness to the skill and imagination with which the District has been developed, programmed, and managed subsequently. May the next four decades be as successful.”
Today, the now 118-acre Dallas Arts District, the largest contiguous arts district in the nation, enhances the value of the city’s creative and economic life by engaging artistic, education and commercial neighbors through excellent design, practices, and programs. Today’s Dallas Arts District transforms a neighborhood into a dynamic destination for locals and tourists alike while creating a fulfilling and vibrant urban experience. The district is powered by the imagination of artists locally and globally, while seamlessly integrating exemplary artistic, residential, cultural, and commercial life. To put it simply the Dallas Arts District is the ultimate in a 24/7 live/work/play/stay/worship/learn destination with the highest standards of excellence.
Through continual collaboration, education, community, inclusion and innovation as its core values, the Dallas Arts District has heralded acclaim around the globe and has put Dallas in the world’s spotlight for its exemplary success. Celebrating 40 years of creation, today’s Dallas Arts District has a more than $6 billion value, with a $400 million economic impact from 10 arts organizations and job creation of 15,000 just in the arts. The Dallas Arts District remains the heART of our city.
We celebrate four decades and look forward to the tremendous impact of decades to come. “The Dallas Arts District is not only the largest contiguous arts district in the country, but also a thriving downtown neighborhood and a catalyst for cultural collaborations. It is a community of partnerships between artists, arts organizations, corporations, and the city of Dallas. The Dallas Arts District celebrates the history and future of the arts in Dallas. It is a shining example of the vibrant Dallas
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cultural community representing the very best of what makes Dallas so very special,” says Charles Santos, Artistic/Executive Director of TITAS: DANCE/UNBOUND and current Chair of the Dallas Arts District Board of Directors.
Highlights of the Dallas Arts District:
• Largest urban arts district in the nation spanning 118 acres
• The vision is to transform the Dallas Arts District into a dynamic destination for locals and tourists alike while creating a fulfilling urban experience. The district is powered by the imagination of artists globally, while seamlessly integrating exemplary artistic, residential, cultural, and commercial life.
• Iconic neighborhood with the best US architecture per square mile designed by Pritzker award winning architects than any location in the world
• Awarded a maximum 3-star rating by the prestigious Le Guide Vert – Michelin Green Guide • Ranked 3rd in USA Today’s 10Best Arts Districts in the Nation in 2021 and 2022 • The Connect Master Plan is the urban vision plan that guides the development of an urban cultural
district that creates a vibrant, healthy, and complete neighborhood for generations to come and supports connectivity, accessibility, and safety
• Five historic buildings: three historic churches, one historic nationally acclaimed school for the arts, one historic venue that houses Dallas Black Dance Theatre
• The model cultural district for recent visitors from Uptown Jeddah Project, Saudi Arabia, Sendai Japan, The Music Center in Los Angeles
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About Dallas Arts District:
Located in the northeast corner of downtown Dallas, the Dallas Arts District is the largest urban arts district in the nation, spanning 118 acres. This iconic neighborhood has more buildings designed by Pritzker award-winning architects than any location in the world. Dallas Arts District unifies culture and commerce offering a dynamic destination for locals and tourists alike while creating a fulfilling urban experience with integrated and exemplary artistic, residential, cultural, and commercial life. It was awarded a maximum 3-star rating by the prestigious Le Guide Vert – Michelin Green Guide and ranked 3rd by USA Today’s 2021 10Best Arts Districts in the nation in 2021 and 2022. For more information, visit dallasartsdistrict.org.
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