S2:E2 We Are Dallas Arts – Lily Cabatu Weiss in conversation with Stephanie Fortunato

The Three Bells

Summary:
In this episode, our host Stephanie Fortunato speaks with Lily Cabatu Weiss, Executive Director of the Dallas Arts District. They talk about the importance of collaboration amongst cultural leaders and institutions, especially in times of crisis. Lily shares how an ongoing dialogue between Dallas arts and cultural leaders enabled unprecedented resource-sharing, knowledge transfer, synergy, and increased support from all stakeholders – culminating with the We Are Dallas Arts initiative. After, Stephanie is joined by fellow host Criena Gehrke to discuss key takeaways. Despite the challenges involved in sustaining collective action and vision, they acknowledge its power to produce impactful change.

References:

• Lily Weiss was at the Brooker T Washington High School for 36 years, first as a teacher and then as Artistic Director.
• The Dallas Arts District is the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation, spanning 118 acres. It aims to transform the Dallas Arts District into a dynamic destination for locals and tourists alike while creating a fulfilling urban experience.
• Ordinance No. 17710, passed by the Dallas City Council on February 16, 1983 – setting the legal bases for the Dallas Arts District
• The Dallas Museum of Art was the first institution to move into the district.
• The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center was the second institution to move in.
• Trammell Crow Center is an iconic office tower located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District.
• The Dallas Black Dance Theatre is a professional dance company that aims to bridge cultures, reach diverse communities and encompass ever-expanding national audiences.
• The Klyde Warren Park serves as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors.
• Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a natural history and science museum in Dallas.
• Moody Performance Hall, is a City-managed, publicly-funded theater in the Dallas Arts District.
• Fair Park is a National Historic Landmark that holds large collections of 1930s art and Art Deco architecture.
• The Bishop Art Theatre Centre is an award-winning, multicultural, multidisciplinary arts institution in Dallas.
• The Sammons Center for the Art, which supports and represents the smaller organisations during the “expanded CEOs” meetings, is a kind of “greenhouse” for small performing arts groups.
• Surveys jointly organised and done by the Dallas Ars District, TACA - The Arts Community Alliance and Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition (DACAC), found that pandemic-related arts losses reached $95.5 million.
• TACA - The Arts Community Alliance, is a nonprofit institution that supports the arts in Dallas County and North Texas through grant-making, capacity-building, and thought leadership
• The Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition is a grassroots organization of members representing Dallas-area arts and cultural organizations
• The We Are Dallas Arts Initiative is a collaboration between 29 Dallas Groups to urge audiences and patrons to return and again enjoy live, in-person cultural experiences
• The Dallas Arts District Connect Master Plan guides the design and construction of new and replacement features in the Dallas Arts District. It lays out a vision for the future of the Arts District and its build environment.
• The 360 Plan is a strategic document that sets a clear, cohesive vision for Downtown Dallas and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Bio:

Lily Cabatu Weiss is the Executive Director for the Dallas Arts District and served as the Artistic Director for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts and Chair of the Dance Department that is now a national model. She is known for her tireless work over the past four decades to further the arts and education in the community. Her goals to create access and connectivity in the Dallas Arts District are demonstrated by her collaborative work on the CONNECT Master Plan, producing the Signature Block Party Series – a free, family-friendly event attracting over 50,000 visitors along with smaller activations throughout the year, and providing education outreach to 1,500+ students annually. Dallas Arts District was recently named third in USA Today’s 10 Best Arts Districts in the nation.