About Dallas Contemporary:
Dallas Contemporary began in 1978 as an artist-initiated, artist-directed collective dedicated to advancing contemporary art and finding alternative exhibition spaces for local creators. Today, Dallas Contemporary is one of the only institutions in North Texas solely dedicated to contemporary art. Through groundbreaking exhibitions, performance programming, and educational outreach, the museum continues to serve as a critical space for discovery, dialogue, and creative expression—honoring its artist-driven beginnings while shaping the future of contemporary art in Dallas and beyond.
Dallas Contemporary plays an essential role in advancing contemporary art in North Texas. By offering accessible entry points, championing local voices, fostering international exchange, and investing in the next generation of artists, we ensure that contemporary art is not only exhibited but experienced. Our programs seek to enrich the region’s cultural ecosystem, strengthen community connections, and model how an arts institution can both lead globally and serve locally. With over 40,000 square feet of flexible gallery space, free admission, bilingual resources, and year-round programming, we eliminate barriers to access and provide a platform where contemporary art is experienced, explored, and shared across North Texas.
Core Programs at Dallas Contemporary:
North Texas Graduate Student Program: The NTX Graduate Student Program facilitates generative mentorship and institutional connections between North Texas MFA students in their final year of graduate work and a renowned visiting curator, resulting in an exhibition at Dallas Contemporary.The goal of Dallas Contemporary’s North Texas Graduate Student Program is to encourage early progress in the careers of emerging artists educated in the region through curatorial and peer-to-peer dialogue and through access to institutional support, which broadens exposure of student work and enriches cultural networks. By investing in the next generation of artists and cultivating long-term connections between institutions, students, and arts professionals, the program helps promote a more sustainable and thriving arts ecosystem in North Texas.
Dallas Art Book Fair (DABF): The mission of DABF is to celebrate the intersection of art and publishing by bringing together artists, presses, galleries, and bookstores from regional, national, and international communities. Through engaging programs and hands-on workshops, DABF fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas and creativity, and ties to our mission in advancing the appreciation and exploration of contemporary art and culture, through a program with emphasis on the printed form. As part of DC’s commitment to innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, DABF serves as a platform for artistic discovery, dialogue, and community engagement.
DC EMPTY: A performance and film programming series presented in collaboration with regional artists, providing a short-term venue for them to deploy a range of time-based work in available space throughout the museum. Operating nimbly on an ad hoc basis within vacant spaces of DC’s over 40,000 sq. feet of exhibition space, DC EMPTY continues to allow us to devote resources to new and exciting work being created within our community.
Education & Tours: Serving thousands of K–12 students annually, our tours are tailored to classroom needs and supported by the Title 1 School Bus Fund, which removes transportation costs for under-resourced schools. Beyond student groups, our Stroller, Stories, Context, and Process tours create meaningful entry points for visitors of all ages.
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Dallas Contemporary is a non-collecting arts space, a kunsthalle, with the mission to present the forefront of contemporary artistic practice and artistic production through exhibitions, performances, and public programs in order to advance the discovery and appreciation of the art of this moment.
As a kunsthalle, Dallas Contemporary aims to nimbly navigate the dynamic places of contemporary art, in all its many forms. through the display of art objects, discourse, and community activity, DC aims to be a global locus of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in the arts.
At Dallas Contemporary, we believe art should be accessible to everyone. We’ve removed barriers by making admission and programs free and open to the public.
Every dollar raised during North Texas Giving Day directly supports:
- Free admission to world-class exhibitions.
- Education & tours for thousands of K–12 students, with transportation covered for Title 1 schools.
- Emerging artist programs like our North Texas Graduate Student Program, connecting MFA students with curators and institutions.
- Community initiatives such as DC EMPTY (performance + film by regional artists), Summer Series and the Dallas Art Book Fair (celebrating art + publishing).
Because everything we do is donor-funded, your gift ensures that students, families, and artists across North Texas have access to bold ideas, inspiring experiences, and opportunities that spark creativity and connection.
Organization name
Dallas Contemporary
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
$1,000,000 - $2,999,999
Counties Served
Dallas, Collin, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Montague, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise
BIPOC Leadership
Neither/None
Address
161 Glass Street