Dallas Art Guide

Dallas Art District

Dallas is very big on art that the city has in fact named one of its districts, the Dallas Art District, which is home to 13 art facilities and organizations such as The Annette Strauss Artist Square, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, the Belo Mansion/Dallas Bar Association, Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Nasher Sculpture Center, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, St. Paul United Methodist Church, Fellowship Church, the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, and the Trammell Crow Center.

There are also several other organizations performing in the District on a regular basis. These include concerts, outdoor festivals, lectures, youth education programs and many more.

Suffice it to say that the Arts District in Dallas is a performance and visual arts district located in downtown Dallas.

Here are some attractions both Dallas residents and visitors alike can check out to satiate their craving for some art and culture:

Dallas Public Art

There are more than 300 pieces of public art on display throughout the city which include the works of world-famous artists, many of whom are from Dallas and have attained international status. When you take a brief stroll through downtown Dallas, you will get introduced to visually stunning displays that help enhance parks, pedestrian corridors, and public buildings. Dallas City provides maps for people who want to go on self-guided tours.

Public ArtWalk Dallas!

Public ArtWalk is a free self-guided art walk that promotes a healthy lifestyle by increasing people’s awareness and appreciation of the public art being showcased in downtown Dallas. This 3.3-mile route features thirty pieces of art and architecture located in the Arts District and downtown Dallas. Exact location of the Public Artwork Dallas! starts at Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora Street.

Dallas Art – Irving Arts Center

The Irving Arts Center is located on a 10-acre complex, in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. Among other things, this facility has two-state-of-the-art theaters, four beautiful galleries which range from intimate to grand, and an amazing sculpture garden. This Center is a Smithsonian affiliate that offers exhibits every day. Aside from this, the Center is also offering annual events such as the Transportation Art Contest and the Holiday Open House. They also have the Family Fundays and after school programs.

The center is located at 3333 North MacArthur Blvd., Irving and is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. every Saturday; and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. every Sunday. You may contact them at 972-252-7558.

Dallas Art – NorthPark Center

NorthPark Center is a 1.4-acre landscaped garden, which doubles as CenterPark, a peaceful yet urban retreat and an exciting venue for free public community events. You can relax and dine in the midst of its world-class sculptures, or its canopies of trees, and refreshing green expanses of lawn. The collection of sculpture includes Corridor pin blue, which is a larger than life safety pin, made by Cookie van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg among others.

The collection also carries on NorthPark’s tradition of featuring major works by internationally acclaimed artists such as Frank Stella, Jonathan Borofsky, and Andy Warhol.

The center is located at North Central Expressway at Northwest Highway. There is a complimentary shuttle to/from Park Lane DART Light Rail Station. It is open from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. every Monday to Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. every Sunday. The department stores, restaurants, theater, and spa here have varying schedules, particularly during holidays. You may call them at 214-361-6345.

Dallas Art – The Meadows Museum

Dallas Art at SMU Meadows MuseumThe Meadows Museum located at Southern Methodist University has the most comprehensive and inclusive collection of Spanish art located outside of Spain. Here, special exhibitions are organized, and you can also see a sculpture garden. The tree-lined SMU campus is an eye-catcher in itself.

You may call them for special exhibits at 214-768-2516. The exact location of the museum is at 5900 Bishop Blvd. and it is open from after 5 p.m. every Thursday.

Dallas Art – Bath House Cultural Center

This center was built in the 1930s and is called the “old bathhouse” which was one of the first uses of Art Deco architecture here in the Southwest. The center is located on the shores of White Rock Lake. The former bathhouse had refashioned itself in 1981 which is why it is now home to many of Dallas’ finer theater companies and home to many classical and modern dance, literature, and poetry readings, as well as innovative multi-disciplinary performance pieces. Entering this place has no charge, but some events and performances may charge a fee.

The center is located at 521 E. Lawther Drive and is open from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., from Tuesday – Saturday. You may contact them at 214-670-8749.

Dallas Art – Oak Cliff Cultural Center

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center showcases artist workshops, art exhibitions, music, art, and dance classes, as well as summer camps, plus cultural festivals for both children and adults. Admission is for free but some events and classes may charge a fee.

This center is located at 223 W. Jefferson Blvd. and is open from 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. every Saturday. You may contact them at 214-670-3777.

Latino Cultural Center

The Latino Cultural Center is a multi-purpose facility serving as a regional catalyst for the development, preservation, and promotion of the Latino and Hispanic arts and culture. Admission is for free but some events and classes may charge a fee.

The center is located at 2600 Live Oak and I open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday. You may contact them at 214-671-0045.

South Dallas Cultural Center

The South Dallas Cultural Center is a multi-purpose center located across from Fair Park. It contains a 120-seat black box theater, studios for dance, a visual arts gallery, two-dimensional arts, media arts, fiber, printmaking, as well as photography. Admission is for free but some events and classes may charge a fee.

This center is located at 3400 South Fitzhugh and is open from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. every Saturday. You may call them at 214-939-2787.

Dallas Art and Culture – Echo Reads

The Bath House Cultural Center typically hosts Echo Reads which is a selection of performance readings made to unearth the theatrical female voice. It is open at 7:30 p.m., once a month on select Tuesdays. You may call them for more information at 214-904-0500.

Dallas Art and You

Dallas is indeed a city that is aware of its people’s love for the arts. If you are an art lover yourself, visiting Dallas will take you to a myriad of visually stunning art displays and will feed your hungry soul with a lot of its cultural vibe. Let the Dallas Art and Culture get into your blood!