Celebrating Our July & August Pop-Up Grant Recipients
Late summer in Dallas showcased performances that broke down walls between artists and audiences, placed community members at the forefront, and explored new territory, with productions focused on the stories of our neighbors and our history. These three arts programs stood out from 60+ unique arts opportunities across the city to become TACA’s Pop-Up Grant recipients for July and August.
Artstillery
In Spite of History: Part 1
Unrestricted Grant: $2,000
Artist Bonus Funds: $4,000 to 6 Key Artists and 15 Supporting Artists
Artstillery’s “In Spite of History Part 1” was an immersive, community-driven storytelling experience, told from the perspective of those who live in Dallas and experienced Fair Park and the South Dallas community from the 1960s to today. Artstillery implemented projection mapping, interviews, movement, live performance, holograms, and golf carts which aided in traversing the audience through 8 locations at Fair Park. The production was sponsored by Broadway Dallas and space sharing was provided by Fair Park First.
Artstillery produces experimental and immersive works that push the boundaries of what performance looks like. Founded in 2016, Artstillery creates performances centered around issues of racial, cultural, and social injustice. Their process begins with research using a combination of community outreach and interviews. They then combine these stories with an interdisciplinary artistic approach that creates an immersive ‘total theatre’ experience. Artstillery’s goal is to give a voice to people who feel they have none. Artstillery activates artist ecosystems and spaces through empowering community. Keep in touch with Artstillery on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Dallas Theater Center
Public Works Dallas: The Odyssey
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Unrestricted Grant: $2,000
Dallas Theater Center delivered Homer’s THE ODYSSEY to Potter Rose Performance in its fourth Public Works Dallas production. Inspired by the historical pageantry movement of the early 1900s—known for blending mass spectacle with community engagement—this final work in Lear deBessonet and Todd Almond’s grand trilogy reimagines the Greek epic with Public Works’ signature blend of professional actors, community members and special guests. Man-eating Cyclops, a sorceress that turns sailors to beasts and the deadly sweet song of the Sirens explode onto the stage with spectacular numbers in this joyful, larger-than-life musical about finding your way home—no matter where fate may lead you. Free-to-public performances were seen by nearly 2,300 residents and visitors.
Dallas Theater Center’s mission is to engage, entertain, and inspire our diverse community by creating experiences that stimulate new ways of thinking and living. They do this by consistently producing plays, educational programs, and other initiatives that are of the highest quality and reach the broadest possible constituency. As one of the leading regional theaters in the country and the 2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award® Recipient, Dallas Theater Center produces a six-play subscription series of classic, musical, and new plays with annual productions of A Christmas Carol and a Public Works Dallas participatory theater production each season. Keep in touch with Dallas Theater Center on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Turtle Creek Chorale
Let Us March On!
Learn more about Turtle Creek Chorale
Unrestricted Grant: $2,000
Artist Bonus Funds: $4,000 to 4 Key Artists
LET US MARCH ON! was a mainstage concert tour that allowed the Turtle Creek Chorale to shine a bright light on the important conversation around racial equity. The concert featured songs written, arranged, and/or performed by Black artists. The flagship of the concert was the world premiere of “Dreamland: Tulsa 1921” — a ploratoria of chorus, actors, musicians, and multi-media that commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The Chorale presented this concert in Dallas (Meyerson Symphony Center), New York City (Carnegie Hall), and Tulsa (Trinity Episcopal Church).
Turtle Creek Chorale (TCC), started as a small group of 30 singing at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in 1980. TCC now has more than 250 members who contribute over 100,000 hours annually to rehearsals, performances, community outreach, and educational workshops. As the most recorded male chorus in the world, TCC has provided musical journeys to audiences in Dallas, Texas and beyond. TCC also features smaller ensembles and each group delivers a unique performance that highlights the members’ wealth of talent. Keep in touch with the Turtle Creek Chorale on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
WHAT’S A POP-UP GRANT?
We started our Pop-Up Grant program to shine a light on arts organizations creating programming that demonstrates exceptional quality, innovation, and accessibility safely, without skimping on the creative impact.
HOW DO YOU PICK THE RECIPIENTS?
Grant recipients are meticulously selected via a nomination process that incorporates 45+ anonymous volunteers. Nominations are made each month and a selection committee meets afterward to determine grantees based on our criteria above.
To learn more about Pop-Up Grants, please click here.
HEADER PHOTO: Dallas Theater Center, Public Works Dallas, “The Odyssey.” Photo by Kim Leeson.