The Arts District in Dallas is located in the northeast corner of downtown. In 2025, it was named the best art district in the United States by USA Today magazine. The most significant sights in the city are open here. According to statistics, it is visited by about 4 million people a year.
History of creation
The idea to launch the Arts District in Dallas originated in the 1970s. City leaders were looking for specialists who could preserve art institutions. The plan to open a district with an emphasis on art was presented in 1982. The concept of a 17-block art center, designed for a harmonious combination of cultural, educational and commercial functions, was described.
In 1983, the Dallas City Council designated the planned area as PD 145. A year later, an art museum designed by renowned architect Edward Larrabee Barnes opened on the designated territory. Since then, the area dedicated to the performing and visual arts has developed, and today the Arts District in Dallas is one of the most recognizable places in Texas.
Short description
The area of the Arts District in Dallas is 470,000 square meters. This is the ancestor of a global network of cultural districts, it is located east of the historic West End district. To date, there are about 20 facilities and organizations operating here. They opened gradually, and the city watched as the prestige of the area increased and its passability increased.
In 2007, with the creation of the independent non-profit organization Dallas Arts District Foundation, the district reached a new level. She is responsible for coordinating activities in the district, provides support to institutions and offers the organization of events and the launch of programs. The Arts District in Dallas has become accessible and dynamic throughout the day, both on weekdays and weekends.
Main attractions
- Annette Stroess Square was named after the former mayor of the city, it is a 12,000 square meter outdoor concert hall where multi-day festivals, concerts and performances are held.
- The Dee and Charles Wiley Theater is designed as a 12-story parallelepiped with a configurable stage. Opera events, classical and experimental productions, and dance shows take place here.
- The Trammell Crowe Center is a 50-storey skyscraper built in 2001 in the postmodern style, where you can get acquainted with Asian art.
- An art museum with a collection of more than 25,000 exhibits collected from all over the world. The exhibition area of the institution is estimated at 14,800 square meters, making it one of the largest museums in the world.
- The Crowe Museum of Asian Art organizes exhibitions on the art and culture of India, China, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines.,
- The African American Dance Theater attracts visitors from all over the world. The staff of the institution regularly conducts events in the field of performing arts.
- The Nasher Sculpture Center is dedicated to modern sculpture. Visitors can get acquainted with the works of Francois Auguste Rene Rodin, Alexandre Calder, Alberto Giacometti and other masters.
- The Winspear Opera House operates in a red glass building designed by Norman Foster. The audience comes here to watch opera, ballet and touring productions.
- The Meyerson Symphony Center has gained fame for its world-class acoustics, it is one of the best symphony halls in the world. There are various performances in the Arts District in Dallas, and you can listen to classical, jazz music, and movie soundtracks.
How to get
The Arts District in Dallas is easily accessible by public transportation. Nearby there are bus routes No239, 306, 378. You can get by train along the green, red, blue and orange lines, the nearest station is St. Paul.
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