TACA Arts Insider with Allison Gaughan November 5, 2024

What drives your commitment to the arts, and what inspires you to dedicate your time? 

I had the great privilege of growing up in a family that cherished the arts. My mother would take me to the Dallas Museum of Art for special girls' days, and my grandparents made it a tradition to bring me to at least one show each season for Dallas Summer Musicals (now Broadway Dallas). We saw The Nutcracker at Christmastime, and even drove down to Houston one year to see my choir director in Tosca—my first opera. The arts were woven so seamlessly into my life that I couldn’t imagine a future without them.

My passion for the arts eventually took me to Philadelphia, where I enrolled in Drexel University’s Fashion Design program, dreaming of becoming a historic costume designer. Realizing that wasn’t the path for me, I pivoted back to Texas and found my way to Texas Tech to study Art Education. I briefly explored other majors, but nothing outside of the arts resonated in the same way. It became clear to me just how unique my childhood exposure to the arts had been when I noticed, out of twelve future art educators, only two of us had ever visited an art museum—and only one felt truly welcomed in those spaces.

This realization inspired me to dedicate myself to making museums places of belonging, learning, and connection—spaces where everyone can feel seen, safe, and understood.

Why do you believe that volunteerism plays such an essential role in creating a thriving Dallas arts community?

The Dallas arts community thrives because of the dedication of volunteers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. This richness in voices is what makes our arts scene so special. Volunteers are essential to the success of these organizations—not just by serving on committees and boards, but through hands-on work that helps create meaningful experiences for the entire Dallas community to connect and enjoy.

"Could you share some background on your journey with the arts? How has it influenced and shaped your career path?"

I may have touched on this earlier, but the arts have been central to my life from a young age, both as a participant and an observer. Many of my favorite childhood memories are tied to these experiences—whether it was seeing Monet's Water Lilies at the DMA, watching Spamalot with my mom at Fair Park in 2007, joining a summer theater camp to put on The Lion King, or creating my own paintings in art class. These moments not only shaped my worldview but made me the person I am today.

In college, I founded an art program at the Children’s Home of Lubbock, creating a Saturday art club where kids could make art, have fun, and connect with the arts in a way that felt like play. Later, as an art educator in Title I schools across the South Bronx, Washington Heights, and Plano, I aimed to foster curiosity, safety, and exploration in my classrooms, hoping these experiences would leave a lasting impression that might inspire them to embrace the arts as they grew older.

Over time, I felt called to reach beyond the classroom. After seeing how teachers, students, and parents viewed and utilized museums, I transitioned into nonprofit arts management, pursuing an MA in Arts Management and an MBA in Finance at SMU, while working in development at a Dallas museum. This path has allowed me to bring my passion for the arts full circle, connecting communities to the transformative power of creativity and expression.

Reflecting on the past year, what has been your most memorable arts experience in Dallas? What made it especially meaningful for you?

Is it too cheesy to say TACA’s Raven’s Night? Despite the worm projection still haunting my dreams, it was such a unique experience to see so many different art forms combined into a dinner theater setting! Outside of Raven’s Night, I’d have to mention The Dallas Opera’s 2023 Crescendo Kick-Off (just over a year ago). Malikha Mayes did a fantastic job organizing an engaging and educational evening that connected the young professionals group with each opera of the season—it was truly a standout experience.

Allison Gaughan is the Development Officer at Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC) and is a member of the TACA Development Committee.

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