by Katie Robb, AMA Intern, Summer 2023
What is Arlington, Texas known for? A quick Google search will tell you the following: Home to the Texas Rangers and Globe Life Field, Dallas Cowboys and AT&T Stadium, Texas Live!, and Six Flags Over Texas, to name a few.
All of these destinations are vibrant and essential to our city, but they are not all we have to offer. Arlington is ever-evolving and quickly becoming a performing and visual arts city, too. The art and music scenes are thriving with year-round music headliners, art exhibitions, and theatrical productions at an eclectic mix of local stages and galleries.
Here at the Arlington Museum of Art, we are dedicated to bringing art, culture and awareness to the city. Deemed as “The Heart of Art” of Arlington by the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, our mission is to be a driving force for the arts community in Arlington and a thought leader for the arts in North Texas.
We strive to have something for everyone and are dedicated to inspiring and educating people of all ages. Whether it be our Summer Art Camp, our Summer 2023 exhibits including Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Collection, you’re sure to find something exciting when you come to the AMA.
As we prepare to move to our new location in March 2024, we cannot wait to share with you all the exciting things to come! Think immersive and emerging art installations, plus famous works of art from around the world, plus community celebrations, plus local artist shows, plus more learning opportunities for kids, plus year-round events, plus, plus, plus! CLICK HERE to get a sneak peek into what we mean when we say, ”Reimagine the AMA”!
In the meantime, let’s dive into other exciting art-related events happening around the city!
While AT&T Stadium is the home to the Dallas Cowboys, it also regularly hosts live concerts by some of the biggest names in the world, including Beyoncé: Renaissance World Tour (September 2023) and Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks (March 2024)! Same with Globe Life Field– just one glance at the lineup–including Jonas Brothers (August 2023) and Pink (September 2023)– brings excitement about all the future (non-sports related!) concerts and performances to attend.
If you’re looking for a venue that perfectly combines sports, live entertainment, food and drinks and more, look no further than Texas Live! Completed in 2018, Texas Live! is an exciting venue that hosts gameday watch parties, live musical performances, festivals, movies nights and more. Located between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, this state-of-the-art complex is a popular go-to for sports fans and others alike.
If you’re not feeling a giant venue vibe that seats tens of thousands of people, Arlington has plenty of other venues that give a more intimate feeling. Theatre Arlington houses musical performances, plays, and other diverse artistic experiences at their venue. UTA also has their well-known Texas Hall which has seen thousands of performances throughout its history. With a frequent rotation of shows, Theatre Arlington always keeps things new and fresh.
DFW’s own Major Attaway will direct Theatre Arlington’s summer production entitled Fly By Night, a dark comedy about young love and discovering hope. The show will run from June 16th– July 2nd.
Feeling like some live music or comedy? Arlington Music Hall is a great place to catch some live tunes. The landmark opened in 1950 and hosts musicians, comedians, and classical music just to name a few.
The much anticipated Buck Wild Comedy tour will be coming to the Arlington Music Hall this summer, get your tickets while they last!
Looking to enjoy live music under the stars during the Texas summer? The Levitt Pavilion located in the heart of downtown Arlington has more than 50 free outdoor concerts a year. This family-friendly event hosts music from a varying array of genres and cultures. The pavilion will host their second annual Arlington Juneteenth Celebration June 17th, as well as a Selena tribute band, Bob Schneider and many more exciting (and free!) concerts throughout the summer.
The Arlington Improv Comedy Club also offers a wide variety of performing arts for all ages to enjoy. From a family-friendly magic and comedy show to an interactive, live singles event, to notable stand-up comedians, this place has something for everyone to enjoy.
The Arlington ISD Center for Visual & Performing Arts is a “home to world-class performance and demonstration venues, as well as state-of-the-art classroom space,” according to the Center’s website.
During the school year, the center has a packed events calendar offering performances from jazz bands, to dance competitions, art exhibits, choir and opera performances, the Arlington ISD Center for Visual & Performing Arts is a pinnacle part of the art culture here in Arlington.
Create Arlington is another space that fosters up and coming artists by providing a space for them to create. Filled with studios, an art gallery, and event space, Create Arlington is a go-to spot for creators to visit. The space is filled with visual artists, web designers, photographers and writers, and more. The space also creates opportunity for creators to network with one another.
It’s an exciting time to be an art-lover and creator in our city.
Two things can be true at once: While Arlington is a sports town, it is also a performing and visual arts town thanks to many local supporters of the arts. And we can’t wait to see how much more it will blossom.
LINKS
- Texas Live!
- Theatre Arlington
- Levitt Pavilion Arlington
- Arlington Music Hall
- Arlington Improv
- Arlington ISD Center for Visual & Performing Arts
- CREATE Arlington
Meet Katie Robb, AMA Intern, Summer 2023
Katie Robb is a journalism senior at the University of Texas at Arlington and has a passion for covering all things pop-culture, whether it be music, travel, art and especially mental health related issues. She loves to interview people from all different backgrounds and get deep.
In her free time Katie enjoys going on long walks while listening to podcasts (her free self-therapy!), attempting to learn how to cook, and watching way too much Bravo.
