“Each year, the nonprofit arts and culture community in Dallas generates an $853 million economic impact. It supports 14,000 jobs, attracts corporate relocations, generates $40 million in state and local taxes, and boosts cultural tourism. But to keep everyone coming and our cultural community strong, we must take care of our buildings. If the roofs leak, the air conditioning doesn’t work, elevators get stuck – then audiences and artists won’t come.” – Warren Tranquada, President & CEO, AT&T Performing Arts Center
“Just recently, our arts district was voted the best cultural district in the nation. That is thanks to the incredible arts organizations that make up this iconic location. However, the same venues that continue to put Dallas on the map as a global destination need our help to operate safely and effectively.” – Lily Cabatu Weiss, Executive Director, Dallas Arts District
“While the $75. 2 million in Proposition E won’t fix everything in the Office of Arts & Culture’s $133 million needs inventory, this is an historic investment in major maintenance and critical repairs that will get us more than half the way there. We’ve heard it said, ‘Dallas is great at building things, but not very good at taking care of them.’ Passing Proposition E will help us turn that around.” – Chris Heinbaugh, Chief Advocacy Officer, AT&T Performing Arts Center
Over 90 arts organizations have signaled their support of Proposition E, which was approved for the May election by the Dallas City Council in late February. Early voting for the starts on Monday, April 22, and Election Day is Saturday, May 4.
Additional Background Information
A media kit with additional information and photographs from the event can be found here.
Proposition E would invest $75.2 million in critical infrastructure maintenance and repairs of City-owned arts facilities. These venues serve residents, attract visitors, and support economic growth of the Dallas Arts District and the community at large. This critical allocation is intended for existing needs only and will include items such as roof repair, fire control, HVAC updates, electrical work. Impacted facilities include:
- Bath House Cultural Center
- Dallas Black Dance Theatre
- Dallas Museum of Art
- Kalita Humphreys Theater
- Latino Cultural Center
- Majestic Theatre
- Meyerson Symphony Center
- Moody Performance Hall
- Oak Cliff Cultural Center
- Sammons Center for the Arts
- Sammons Park (AT&T Performing Arts Center)
- South Dallas Cultural Center
- Strauss Square
- Winspear Opera House
- Wyly Theatre
For more information about the repairs needed at each facility please click here.
About DACAC
The Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition (DACAC) is a grassroots, nonprofit, member-driven organization that represents and advocates on behalf of Dallas-area arts and cultural organizations. DACAC works to coordinate and mobilize support for issues of importance to arts and cultural groups, arts patrons and individual artists in the greater Dallas area.
MEDIA CONTACTS
AT&T Performing Arts Center
Daniel Hernandez
Associate Director of Public Relations
daniel.hernandez@attpac.org | 432-295-0045
Dallas Museum of Art
Aschelle Morgan
Director of External Affairs
Amorgan@dma.org | 904.655.5698