Dallas In the May bond election, we have an opportunity to make critical infrastructure investments across the city, improving the quality of life today and preparing Dallas for a brighter future. A “yes” vote on all 10 bond proposals would make a huge difference, especially for city-owned arts facilities, as they would not incur any new taxes.
Dallas is a national arts leader. The reach of our cultural community extends far beyond the downtown Dallas Arts District, the nation’s largest arts district. Dallas is home to more than 100 nonprofit cultural organizations spanning art forms, genres, sizes, scopes, ethnicities, and more. From neighborhood cultural centers and 100-year-old spaces to iconic buildings in the Arts District, many people rely on the cultural institutions the City of Dallas owns.
Each of these facilities requires significant repairs and updates to address maintenance that has been deferred, in some cases by decades. In fact, the Department of Arts and Culture’s inventory of all venue needs increased to $133 million. The 2024 Bond Program provides a historic opportunity to turn this around.
Prop. E would include 15 city-owned facilities across Dallas: Annette Strauss Square, Bathhouse Cultural Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Museum of Art, Kalita Humphries Theatre, Latino Cultural Center, Majestic $75.2 million to begin long-overdue renovations to the theater. , Meyerson Symphony Center, Moody Performance Hall, Oak Cliff Cultural Center, Sammons Center for the Arts, Sammons Park at the Winspear, South Dallas Cultural Center, Winspear Opera House, and Wiley Theater.
Prop E focuses on the basics and essentials, such as HVAC, roofs, elevators, fire suppression, ADA access, restrooms, historic preservation, and electrical panels. There’s nothing shiny or new about it. Just take care of what we have. If approved on May 4th, you will be able to:
- Repair the roof of the Meyerson Symphony Center, where water is accumulating and threatening the jewelry box in the room below.
- The Wylie Theater replaces an elevator that prevents audience members and staff from accessing the stage and offices almost every day.
- Replace the fire suppression system at the Dallas Museum of Art to protect patrons, staff, and the billions of dollars of art owned by the City of Dallas.
- Perform major foundational restoration of the Latino Cultural Center.
- Upgrades to Majestic Theater seating, which has remained unchanged since its reopening in 1983.
- Restore crumbling terra cotta roof tiles at the Historic Moorland YMCA, home of the Dallas Black Dance Theater.
These modifications are vital to artists and patrons and support an important part of the local economy. The 2022 Arts and Economic Prosperity Study conducted by Americans for the Arts found that Dallas’ nonprofit arts community generated $853 million in economic impact, supported 14,000 jobs, and increased local and state taxes. It has been shown that the city has generated $40 million in revenue, contributing to the relocation of businesses and the attraction of cultural tourism. In 2022, the arts in Dallas will attract 6.8 million visitors, including 2.5 million from outside Dallas, all of whom spent money here.
To maintain this return on investment and remain competitive, these venues must be taken into account. Frisco wants to build its own performing arts center. Irving’s City Council just approved his $30 million in upgrades to the Toyota Music Factory, a venue just six years old. A new 20,000-seat stage was just approved in McKinney. We love our neighbors, but we can’t just sit and walk by. To maintain your advantage, you must maintain your venue.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Dallas is good at building things, but bad at managing them.” This is your best chance to turn things around. Again, no new taxes.
Dallas’ arts community is diverse, passionate, and outspoken, but we’re all on the same page. We all understand that these venues play a central role in our cultural ecosystem. They are a source of pride for Dallas and North Texas. But if the roof leaks, the air conditioning doesn’t work, and guests are trapped in the elevator, neither the audience nor the artists can come.
Our community is united in asking voters to vote yes on all 10 bond proposals, including Proposition E, to help our arts community thrive and benefit Dallas as a whole.
Agustín Arteaga is the Eugene McDermott Director of the Dallas Museum of Art. Zenetta Drew is the Executive Director of Dallas Black Dance Theater. Warren Tranquada is president and CEO of AT&T Performing Arts Center.
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