Article by David Moreno of the Fort Worth Report
“Space inside some Fort Worth libraries and community centers will soon be transformed into art galleries.
City library staffers identified 1,233 feet of wall space across eight branches and 20 centers that could support community art exhibitions that feature paintings, drawings, prints and photographs.
These library branches include Diamond Hill/Jarvis, East Berry, East Regional, Ella Mae Shamblee, Northwest, Southwest Regional, Summerglen and Vivian J. Lincoln.
The identified space across the locations is equivalent to four large galleries, library director Midori Clark said during a Jan. 6 City Council work session. The spaces will not be used for dance, music, theater and ceramics, she added.
Clark stressed the plans are in preliminary stages though the city’s initial investment should be about $1 million. The first step is creating a library position dedicated to managing artist inquiries and overseeing these spaces, Clark said.
“I believe (the program) truly will make art accessible to the entire community,” she said. “Arts and culture, public libraries, community centers — our missions are so intertwined and aligned.”
The library’s plan aims to be a solution to fill the gaps left after the 2024 closure of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center in the Cultural District. That city-owned building, which provided nine galleries and two theaters, served as centralized space for local artists to launch their careers.
The community arts center offered 830 feet of wall space, said Wesley Gentle, executive director of Arts Fort Worth, which managed the building for more than two decades.
City officials briefly explored leasing the arts center to Texas Christian University but did not move forward due to concerns about the 72-year-old building’s overall condition and the $30 million repairs needed to safely occupy it. Some arts advocates continue to fight for the building’s future.
“This is not a replacement for the community arts center in any way,” Clark told council members. “But I hope this will be a really awesome opportunity to partner with the visual arts community to create a really cool program.” Read the full article here….