Living With Art: Artist Residencies In Dallas

Dallas is home to museums, galleries and a thriving arts district, but artist residencies are also helping boost Dallas' art scenes. Providing more than just spaces for artists to live, artist residencies are serving as exhibition galleries, and a place for education and exploration of the arts.

CentralTrak

800 Exposition Avenue
Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 824-9302
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Under the management of the University of Texas at Dallas, CentralTrak is a permanent residency program that provides space for artists to live, work and exhibit. Located in the inner city (within the Deep Ellum neighborhood), the Residency serves as a community center for discourse and education—visiting artists often lead public lectures and offer workshops or classes. The Residency provides space for eight artists to live, and CentralTrak supports four of the artists—at least one Texan and three national or international—for periods of time from one month to one year. Artists also have the opportunity to display their works and curate exhibits at the location's gallery.

South Side on Lamar

1409 S Lamar St
Dallas, TX
(214) 428–4848
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The early 20th century Sears Roebuck complex has been renovated into a mixed-use project that houses retail, gallery space and artists in residence, who received reduced rent for six months or one year in exchange for providing service to the community. In addition to the "Artist's Quarter" residences/studios, South Side on Lamar's Janette Kennedy Gallery supports local and national artists by displaying works ranging from fine art to contemporary.

Continental Gin Building

3309 Elm Street
Dallas, TX
(214) 213-2282
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For over two decades, more than two dozen artists have lived and worked in Deep Ellum's landmark Continental Gin Building, a 19th century industrial complex renovated to house some of Dallas' most talented artists. Once a year, the building is open to the public for free artist showcases and tours.

Fairmont Dallas Hotel

1717 N. Akard Street
Dallas, Texas
(214) 720-2020
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The artist residency program, a collaboration between the Fairmont and Briam Embry (owner of the Ross Akard Gallery) is in its first full year of operation. The hotel provides a room for one artist at a time, studio space and also a gallery for display shows. As part of the partnership, the artist-in-residence interact with hotel guests and must donate one work of art to the hotel at the conclusion of their stay.

Booker T. Washington

2501 Flora St
Dallas, TX
(972) 925-1200
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The public secondary school is the arts magnet for grades 9-12 within the Dallas Independent School District. The school's expansion serves as a model for arts magnet programs nationwide and can claim notable (and globally renowned) performers such as Norah Jones and Erykah Badu among its former students.