Programs
Our mission is to promote, nurture, and support the arts in Fort Worth and part of that includes creating and facilitation programs for for artists, arts organizations, performers, and the community. Through these programs we continue ongoing commitment to support arts for all.
New Stories: New Futures
New Stories: New Futures was a free two-night event that took place Friday, August 20, and Saturday, 21, 2021 at Pioneer Tower at Will Rogers Memorial Center in the Cultural District.
Arts Fort Worth, then known as the Arts Council of Fort Worth, and AURORA partnered to present New Stories: New Futures in conjunction with Fort Worth Public Art’s major installation on Pioneer Tower. The Arts Council of Fort Worth and AURORA also presented a public exhibition, curated by Dr. Lauren Cross, featuring works by North Texas artists who work with new media art, Jessica Fuentes, Letitia Huckaby, Sedrick Huckaby, Angela Faz, Raul Rodriguez, Jin-Ya Huang, Ciara Bryant, Bernardo Vallarino, Jeff Gibbons, and Nick Bontrager.
Heart of Gold Awards Luncheon
The annual Heart of Gold Awards Luncheon celebrates the men and women of Fort Worth who have made a lasting impact on the arts in our city. We bring together all who love and cherish the arts to celebrate their accomplishments. Every dollar raised by the Heart of Gold luncheon supports the Arts Council of Fort Worth as we continue to meet the needs of our community by granting dollars, employing artists and designers through public art projects, or bringing our community together to grow through the arts through the Fort Worth Community Arts Center!
Original Works Series
Now in its third year, the Original Works Series program creates opportunities for new and emerging playwrights to showcase their work. All eligible scripts will receive a live reading in 2022 and a panel of theater professionals will select one submission to become a fully staged production at Arts Fort Worth in late 2022. Arts Fort Worth is committed to supporting the performance arts in Fort Worth and productions will be cast with a blend of Equity and Non-Equity performers to ensure performers who are not a member of the Actors Equity Association to work towards membership to that organization, which helps its members earn a sustainable income from performing. Selected playwrights receive a royalty and the opportunity to take part in the work’s development and premiere production.
Art Aid Series
Arts Fort Worth is proud to partner with Artes de la Rosa and Near Southside Arts to bring back Art Aid! Together, these three organizations are offering opportunities for artists, creatives, and arts nonprofits to explore and grow their professional practice and sustain a living in the arts.
Formerly a full-day event, the new iteration of Art Aid is a monthly series of demonstrations and seminars geared towards artists, art nonprofits, and other creative professionals, highlighting the diverse support services available in our community. Taking place every first Tuesday of the month, each session will feature organizations and professionals who will share their expertise and help you navigate the business of making art.
DEIA Workshops
Creativity transcends all barriers, real and perceived. Arts Fort Worth is committed to challenging systemic and historic barriers by building a platform where all have an opportunity to express and see themselves in the arts. Join us as we work to build a more welcoming and equitable arts community. All people who work at an arts nonprofit are encouraged to participate, but special preference will be given to Arts Fort Worth Grants Program applicants and recipients and participation raises an applicant organization's award cap for a FY23 DEIA Capacity Building Grant.

Arts Fort Worth Residencies
The Residency Programs are part of Arts Fort Worth’s ongoing commitment to support the creation of arts for all and serve as unique cultural integration projects between collectives, artists, community, schools, and established museums/cultural centers in the area.
Arts Fort Worth is proud to present the Collective Residency Program for art-oriented organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Lasting one year, this program includes office space with 24/7 access, three exhibitions presented by the art collective, four workshop opportunities, and the use of a gallery space to hold a fundraising event at no charge to the organization (other than hard costs such as labor). Learn more.
With an emphasis on emerging practices, this program provides one artist with a non-residential studio space at Arts Fort Worth. This program aims to help practicing artists offset the cost of living by providing free studio space for a period of twelve months; $6,000 stipend for materials (paid in $500 monthly installments); studio visits with established regional artists; culminating in a solo exhibition. Arts Fort Worth - Emerging Artist Residency is made possible through with the generous support of the Donny Wiley Memorial Fund at North Texas Community Foundation.