Art in the City
New weekend festival makes Fort Worth the epicenter of fine art & craft in North Texas
Fort Worth's newest festival, Art Worth, will showcase hundreds of works by dozens of fine artists and crafters.
Yes, craft — a word that makes some art snobbies bristle.
The inaugural juried festival will take over the lawn of the Will Rogers Memorial Center complex for one weekend, October 21-23. It will display fine craft and fine art that spotlights skillfully executed works of art in glass, metal, wood, clay, and fiber, plus paintings, photography, jewelry, and more.
According to a release, some 60 artists were selected in May by a distinguished panel of local art professionals. A complete list of artists and examples of their pieces can be found here.
Throughout the weekend, guests can meet the artists who make the pieces, learn about various art disciplines through live demonstrations, and, of course, purchase works to add to their own collections.
“Art Worth promises to be an ideal venue for these remarkable artists to present their works for local and visiting guests,” says Greg Belz, executive director for ArtWorks Foundation, in the release. “This will be a truly immersive experience celebrating new works in the heart of Fort Worth’s cultural treasures.”
Art Worth is a production of the Memphis-based nonprofit ArtWorks Foundation, which helps artists grow in their business and their work, they say, "through programs, exhibitions, and education initiatives, including scholarships for advanced study workshops at fine craft schools."
Belz says in the release that they chose the Fort Worth Cultural District location more than year ago, influenced by "the verdant outdoor setting, comfortable October weather, plus proximity to renowned museums, restaurants, theaters, and other arts institutions."
The location, of course, is directly across from the Kimbell Museum and the Amon Carter Art Museum of American Art.
The organization, he says, is looking for a future permanent center for fine craft in Texas (hey, how about Fort Worth?) and hopes to establish an endowment for Emergency Relief Grants to help artists resume careers derailed by illness or disaster.
Throughout the weekend, Art Worth also will present performances of classical music by area youth ensembles and fare from local eateries.
Inside the nearby museums, there are many goings-on, too, including a Chamber Music Society concert and the opening of a big new exhibition at The Modern.
Art Worth hours are 10 am-6 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11 am-4 pm Sunday. Admission is free, and the entire festival is family-friendly, pet-friendly, and open to the public. Follow updates on Facebook and Instagram.
“Everyone can expect a full weekend of art, craft, music, food, and more,” Belz says. “Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and make a day (or three days) of it.”
