Stronger Together through Arts & Culture: Weekly Message from Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of DAMC

The arts are back in Downtown Arlington!

Late every summer, we look forward to putting together an “arts preview” story that announces our Fall fine and performing arts season. It blows us away to imagine all the talent that goes into preparing for, say, eight professional theatre productions or an internationally renowned art exhibition or fifty live music performances.

This is, of course, exactly what all of Downtown’s cultural partners were doing back in March 2020 when, for the sake of health and safety, the coronavirus pandemic shut them down. This presented a particular set of challenges to non-profit organizations whose operating budgets rely so heavily on patronage and donations. However, an artist brain is never dormant, and so our cultural partners got to work to re-envision, reschedule and restart. Defining a new normal will continue to be a work in progress, but those are conditions under which artists best thrive. That’s because artists understand the creative process never truly ends.

So instead of our typical arts preview, we invite you to Downtown Arlington Art Appreciation 101: A lesson in how to turn Plan A into the best possible version of Plan C for Creative:

Arlington Museum of Art
This is the final week of the Knox Martin: Living Legend exhibition at the AMA, a show that the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau named a highlight of the summer. After that, the Museum will focus on the installation of the highly-anticipated return of photography by Vivian Maier when Vivian Maier: The Color Works debuts in late November along with an exhibition of street photography by the Texas Photographic Society.

Arlington Music Hall
With socially-distanced seating protocols comfortably in place, the Hall has done an amazing job rebuilding their performance schedule. There are six concerts scheduled in October alone. This Saturday, join AMH for the always entertaining Donny Edwards in his “authentic heart and soul tribute” to Elvis Presley. 

Levitt Pavilion
As the Levitt nears the end of its 2020 season (next weekend is closing weekend), we offer our standing ovation to the crew of this special, outdoor performance venue. Not only did the team at the Levitt bravely jump into the world of live-streaming early in the pandemic, but they also completed construction on their gorgeous new Hospitality Center. Click here to learn how you can keep the music alive at the Levitt by attending this Saturday’s fundraising concert featuring Randy Rogers with Brady Black and Geoffrey Hill. Both in-person and online viewing options are available for all of the Levitt's remaining shows.

Miss Persis Studio of Dance and Performing Arts
Miss Persis Studio of Dance and Performing Arts has been a staple in Downtown Arlington since it began in 1954. Ready with all the necessary COVID-19 protocols, the studio continues to offer classes to children, teens and adults in tap, jazz, and ballet to musical theatre, hip hop and more.

Symphony Arlington
On October 15, Symphony Arlington returns with an inspired performance featuring pianist Alex McDonald. Selections include Rossini’s Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major and Symphony No. 4 in Bb Major. Both in-person and live streaming ticket options are available. 

Theatre Arlington
Since this summer, Theatre Arlington has been offering all kinds of creative live performances through their Cabaret Series. The Series continues with a Gershwin Revue on October 17 and Creepy Cabaret, just in time for Halloween on October 30-31. We also highly recommend their all-new Musical Revue, songs and stories celebrating the past 47 years of Theatre Arlington musicals, which opens October 18.

University of Texas at Arlington College of Liberal Arts
After spending time working hard in their studios, it’s no wonder we’re now seeing compelling new work by the fine and performing arts students at UT Arlington. Don’t miss the UTA Art + Art History department’s Hillerbrand+Magsamen and Nic Nicosia, an in-person multi-media art exhibition which is closing this weekend. Later this month, be sure to experience Moving Forward: a Devised New Work, an exciting new musical theater piece created in a collaboration between Broadway guest artists and the Theatre Arts and Dance department. This will be presented through on-demand streaming. Click here for tickets and to learn about more public programs offered by the College of Liberal Arts.

Downtown Galleries
In addition, be sure you mark your calendar for upcoming gallery shows hosted by Catalyst Creative Arts, Create Arlington, Studio 204 and Spark Studio Art.

The arts are back in Downtown Arlington, and they need you to come back, too. 

New date! Celebrate Abram St.   

The date of the dedication event for the all new, all wonderful Abram Street was changed to this Friday, October 9 at 1 p.m.  We sure hope you can join us! The rescheduled Abram Street Celebration, which includes remarks by Mayor Williams, Councilman Nunez, Arlington Public Works and Transportation Director Keith Brooks, and myself, will take place at the intersection of Abram and Mary Streets. 

Come a little early to enjoy live music and light refreshments, and be sure you pick up our memento of the occasion: a limited edition, signed poster from our new Downtown Outdoors series. Click here to learn more about Lily Williams, our local artist and friend who created the illustrations for the poster series.

Downtown Outdoors Invites You to Shop and Cheer in Urban Union   

Get another taste of the vitality local artists bring to our community this Thursday, Oct. 8 from 4-8 p.m. at the Downtown Arlington Urban Market, an outdoor market featuring over 40 arts and artisan vendors. You’ll find the market adjacent to Legal Draft Beer Co. 

On Sunday, Oct. 11, Sunday Fundays at UU beckons you back to Urban Union. BYO lawn chairs to set up around a big ole screen between Legal Draft and Cartel Taco Bar, perfect for socially-distanced watching and cheering the Cowboys on to victory against the Giants. Kick-off is at 3:25 p.m., and businesses will be open regular hours and offering specials during the game. Masks are required to attend. Sunday Fundays will return on October 25 at noon when the Cowboys take on Washington.