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Artists urge Fort Worth to restore and reopen Community Arts Center, warning delays raise repair costs
Summary
Local artists and former staff told the council the Fort Worth Community Arts Center (77,000 sq ft, nine galleries, two theaters) has been closed more than a year and urged immediate city action and inclusion of artists in planning to prevent higher future repair costs.
Arts advocates told the council on Jan. 6 that the Fort Worth Community Arts Center has been closed for over a year and said the city should prioritize restoration and community involvement in planning.
Karen Matheny described a long personal history with the center and said it is “vital” to Fort Worth’s arts ecosystem. Leslie Kirk recounted a March 2024 exhibition that drew 288 visual artists and suggested the building’s size and facilities — described by speakers as 77,000 square feet with nine galleries and two theaters — are unique in the region. “The longer we wait to restore the community arts center, the more expensive it will be to repair,” Matheny said.
Speakers asked that the city bring artists into decision-making and not rely solely on moving art into libraries and community centers as a substitute for the facility.
Why it matters: Advocates said the center supports artists’ careers, community access to arts programming and cultural tourism; prolonged closure reduces opportunities for local artists and raises restoration costs.
What’s next: Advocates asked the council to provide updates and work with arts stakeholders; no formal restoration plan or funding motion was announced at the meeting.
