@dramatistsguild @TeresaCWash

It’s an exciting time to be in Dallas. There is a major emphasis on arts and culture and it’s happening in lots of unorthodox ways. At every turn the mayor is openly affirming his commitment to make Dallas a “cultural oasis” (his words verbatim). And for the first time in a long time, arts leaders sat down to discuss the city’s cultural policy and put forth a plan to attract and retain top-notch talent.

When I moved to Dallas in 2000, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) provided funding for nascent artists with bold ideas that allowed me an opportunity to get my foot in the door of the city’s cultural ecosystem. I wrote a play titled Succeeding Beyond The Limits, a script about the misconceptions associated with children who have learning differences. Through the OCA’s Neighborhood Touring Program (NTP), I was able to tour that show at about 50 elementary schools for nearly a decade. During the economic downturn the NTP went away but I recently learned a new version of the program has been restored through a special project grant. The OCA recently announced a program for nonprofit cultural arts organizations and individual artists in all disciplines. Awards of $1,000 to $5,000 will be presented through the Cultural Projects Program – Special Support Grants multiple times during the city’s fiscal year which ends in September. Artists and organizations must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Special Projects Grants Guidelines posted on the OCA’s website at www.dallasculture.org, and must not currently receive OCA funding through either the Cultural Organizations Program or Cultural Projects Program. “This new program was designed to be proactive, responsive and flexible in order to nurture the eclectic community of artists and organizations that make our city great,” commented Interim Director of Cultural Affairs David Fisher.

In February I was asked to participate as a panelist in The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture Inaugural Festival of Ideas, an all-day festival designed to spark creative approaches to the city’s challenges. During a panel discussion of my peers we drilled down on issues of racism in Dallas, the lack of funding for the arts, and equity in distribution as it relates to small to middle arts organizations/artists. The dialogue was a continuum of social equity conversations that I had been having over the last year or so with my peers. What was great about this meeting was the right people were in the room and they were listening – philanthropists, business executives, and community/city leaders. We talked about how there must be a paradigm shift from looking at the arts as just entertainment but more importantly a public safety issue where youngsters are engaged in a productive, constructive, controlled environment during after school hours. We discussed The Dallas Theater Center’s world premiere of Stagger Lee (book and lyrics by Will Power) that brazenly portrayed the trickle down effects of racism as the show moved through time. It was a glorious testament to the transformative power of the arts to not only educate but effectively change the hearts and minds of a people.

To consider Dallas a cultural mecca might be laughable especially given the fact that our OCA budget is a mere $1.7M but what’s laudable is we’re talking about and calling out all the isms that plague our city – racism, sexism, ageism. Dallas Faces Race is not just an expression, change is happening in Dallas in a major way (check out www.dallasfacesrace.com). I hope you’re writing and your nose is to the grindstone because history is being made and playwrights are being asked to tell the story. We should all be ready when the floodgates open. Connect with us on Facebook at DFW Dramatists Guild Members.

twash@dramatistsguild.com