$12,973 raised by 21 donors
86% complete
$15,000 Goal
The Creative Arts Center of Dallas (CAC) was formally founded 58 years ago as a visual arts school and community arts center geared to students and working artists of all skill levels and experience. The school informally grew out of the studio of Frank Reaugh with roots going back to the 1920's. CAC now operates on a two-acre campus in Old East Dallas where it offers more than 500 classes and workshops a year in ceramics, clay sculpture, drawing, fiber, fused class, jewelry, mosaic, painting, printmaking, stone carving, and welding. The Creative Arts Center has a long history of nurturing generations of Dallas area artists by providing an outstanding faculty of professional teaching artists to ensure quality instruction to beginning, emerging and established artists. As a result, CAC has become one of the top adult art education destinations within North Texas.
The Creative Arts Center of Dallas nurtures a community where citizen artists discover, develop and express their artistic vision.
We believe art is for everybody. Being able to express ourselves is fundamental human dignity. We pull down barriers for anyone who wants to make art in our community.
EXTENDED SCHOLARSHIPS
We currently provide a free eight-week class to almost everyone who applies--about 50 students each year. It’s hard when a student blooms with talent and joy at making art in community but doesn’t have the resources to continue taking classes after their scholarship class. With your support we can offer extended scholarships to students who are committed to acquiring more skills, executing a vision, or perhaps even unlocking a new income stream as a working artist.
EQUITABLE ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE (EAR)
EAR is our program to help emerging underrepresented artists get connected to a community of artists, gallerists and collectors by offering them an early show, a cash award, and the opportunity to build their CV’s through our community outreach programs or leading a workshop. Several of our past EAR recipients have remained in our community as teaching artists and have introduced the Creative Arts Center to new communities of students and artists. With your support we can help develop and support emerging artists without access to the Art community.
EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
Our 10,000 square foot facility is a former elementary school that was built in 1940 by the WPA. We have floors sagging under the weight of 84 years of traffic that need to be replaced. Our enrollment has quadrupled since we moved in and we can’t plug in another single thing until we add new breaker boxes. Our ceramics studio students have raised half the funds required for a new gas-fired cone 10 kiln. With your support we can better serve our students and community with updated equipment and facilities.
Thank you for considering a contribution to ensure art is for everybody.
ACCESS, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT
ART IS FOR EVERYONE... AND SO ARE WE.
Art is a uniquely human experience; a universal language that empowers people. Art gives voice to individuals and groups, it expresses hopes and fears, and continues to be one of the most powerful tools of expression for humankind. Whether it is social movements, environmental awareness, political commentary, collective world-views, intimate personal experiences or the significance of a single moment - art has made communication without limits possible.
Dallas is one of the most racially diverse cities in our country, making its challenges worthy of special attention and deliberate action. We at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas are committed to forwarding accessibility, diversity and inclusion in every area of our organization, including recruitment of staff, board, students and volunteers. We also pledge to ensure that the communities we serve thorough our outreach programming are enthusiastically accessible, diverse and inclusive.
Organization name
Creative Arts Center of Dallas
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
$1,000,000 - $2,999,999
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant
BIPOC Leadership
Neither/None
Address
2360 LAUGHLIN DR