ARTS Summit 2027
ARTSForward Youth Summit
Save the Date: Friday, March 5th, 2027 | Dickies Arena
On Friday, February 27, 2026, we welcomed 300 students from Fort Worth ISD, Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD, Keller ISD, and Arlington ISD. Students got a chance to engage with local creatives, talk to colleges and local business leaders, and worked on group projects.
Next year, we will be bringing the ARTSforward Youth Summit to Dickies Arena on March 5th, 2027. We are looking forward to bringing more oppurtunities for our local youth to find paths in creative careers. Interested in participating? Contact Serena Mayfield, Arts Fort Worth Data & Community Impact Manager at smayfield@artsfortworth.org.
Schedule for 2026 Youth Summit
Friday, February 27, 2026
8:00 a.m. Doors Open, Volunteers, Speakers, Partner Orgs arrive
9:00 a.m. Partner tables are set up and ready for student arrival
Students arrive, check in, take photos, record videos and explore partner tables
10:00 Students arrive
10:05 Opening Remarks – Wesley Gentle (5 minutes)
10:10 Origins of Youth Day and what to expect from the day– Ruby Macnab (5 minutes)
10:15 Icebreaker activity – Statements of Affirmation – 5 minutes
10:20 Session 1: Art degrees offered at local colleges and universities and other groups and activities to engage in to build your personal creative network – 30 minutes
10:50 Q & A with panelists – 15 minutes
11:00 Mayor Parker Remarks
11:05 Lunch with Leaders – Round table discussions with arts professionals – 30 minutes
11:35 Session 2: SCAD presentation – 7 Lessons for Dreamers and Makers – 45 minutes
12:20 Break – 5 minutes
12:25 Session 3: Careers in the Arts and Pathways to Success – featuring Mouty Shackelford, Jesse Cannon II, Joe Brown and Emi Matsushita, 30 minutes
Q & A with panelists – 15 minutes
1:10 National Honors Society – Student led activity to develop artist statements that will become part of a collaborative art activation – 30 minutes
12:40 Buses begin to depart
ARTSforward 2026 is made possible through the Generous Support of our Sponsors
Arts Fort Worth would also like to recognize the generous contribution by Joe and Ginny Tigue.
With Support From
