Potential funding for public art projects may be put before Fort Worth voters in a 2026 bond election.
Fort Worth to Boost Public Art Funding in Upcoming Bond Propositions
Fort Worth, Texas, is set to increase its investment in public art with a significant allocation in its 2026 bond propositions. The city's comprehensive $840 million bond program, which includes six voter-considered propositions, will see $10.8 million specifically designated for public art across various sectors.
This funding represents a notable increase compared to the 2022 bond, which provided $7.1 million for public art. The Fort Worth Public Art initiative, managed by Arts Fort Worth, will oversee the implementation and determine specific projects, locations, and budgets.
Decision criteria for projects include geographic equity, visibility, community engagement, accessibility, and opportunities for local artists. Members of the art commission have already begun discussing ways to defend these public art projects in the 2026 bond, with plans to invite community members to share their thoughts on proposed projects before making final recommendations to City Council in fall 2026.
City officials aim to finalize the bond package in January 2026. In the meantime, the Arts Fort Worth team will participate in the city's hybrid community engagement meetings this fall, seeking feedback from residents on potential locations for new installations.
The funding for public art in Fort Worth is integrated throughout these propositions rather than isolated to a single category. Approximately 1% of the street and mobility proposition's allocation will go towards public art. This approach contrasts with some other Texas cities, where public art funding can be tied to specific bond projects or funded through dedicated revenues like the Hotel Occupancy Tax.
Wesley Gentle, executive director of Arts Fort Worth, considers the proposed funding as substantial in the organization's history. The new installations are aimed at enhancing community spaces citywide, contributing to Fort Worth's vibrant cultural landscape.
For more information or to share your thoughts on public art in Fort Worth, you can contact the Fort Worth Art Commission at [email protected] or @davidmreports. The Fort Worth Report is the source of this article, and it is republished under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
[1] Source: Fort Worth Report [2] Source: Texas Public Radio
- Fort Worth's upcoming 2026 bond propositions will see a boost in public art funding, with $10.8 million set aside, marking a significant increase from the $7.1 million in the 2022 bond.
- The strategic placement of public art projects will be overseen by the Fort Worth Public Art initiative, managed by Arts Fort Worth, with community engagement, accessibility, and opportunities for local artists being key decision criteria.
- City officials plan to solicit feedback from residents during the fall's hybrid community engagement meetings on potential locations for new public art installations.
- Approximately 1% of the street and mobility proposition's allocation will be directed towards public art, setting Fort Worth apart from other Texas cities where public art funding may be tied to specific bond projects or funded through dedicated revenues like the Hotel Occupancy Tax.
- Wesley Gentle, executive director of Arts Fort Worth, views the proposed funding as substantial in the organization's history, aiming to enhance community spaces citywide and contribute to Fort Worth's vibrant cultural landscape.
- For more insights on public art in Fort Worth, reach out to the Fort Worth Art Commission at [email protected] or @davidmreports, with the article sourced from the Fort Worth Report under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
- In addition to the public art boost, Fort Worth residents can also engage with news, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, education-and-self-development, shopping, casino-and-gambling, and sports updates through various local and international media platforms.
- Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Report article also cites sources from Texas Public Radio, providing additional perspectives and background information on Fort Worth's public art investments and greater local economy.
