Today’s Expo Center and Esports Stadium in Arlington, TX was originally built as the first Arlington Convention Center, a place for people to convene and gather. The City of Arlington will soon have a new convention center (set to open in 2024), which has paved the way for a partnership between the City and the Arlington Museum of Art to revitalize over 42,000 square feet of the Expo Center as a place for people to gather once again. The Arlington Museum of Art will not only transform this space into galleries for world-class art exhibitions, but the museum envisions itself as a hub and a gateway to art and cultural activities that engage the community and attract visitors from around the world.
Learn about opportunities for expanding programming and events in the New AMA from Chris Hightower, President and CEO:
AMA traditions—such as the long-standing Youth Art Month partnership with Arlington ISD, Eat Your Art Out, and the Articulate Lecture Series—will be able to spread their wings in the New AMA Community Gallery. The Community Gallery will also feature rotating shows by local artists and be available for private event rentals. The New AMA will also have an Education Center where our popular Summer Art Camp, adult art classes, and professional development workshops can take place.
As exciting as it is to consider how transformative the new space will be for existing AMA traditions, even more exciting is the potential for new and diversified programming that is accessible to all. Creative conversations have already taken place with the National Medal of Honor Museum, the Texas Rangers, Opera Arlington, Downtown Arlington, Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, and others. As those partnerships deepen and new ideas take shape, the vision becomes clear of how much the daily life of a vibrant, lively art museum in the Arlington Entertainment District can drive community-building and placemaking. To use a sports metaphor, the New AMA is going to be a game changer.
Outside the Lines: Reimage the AMA
By unanimous vote of the Arlington City Council on April 11, 2023, the Arlington Museum of Art officially has a new home: the Arlington Entertainment District! By late March 2024, the New AMA will offer approximately 42,000 square feet of exhibition space inside the Arlington Expo Center. That’s eight times the size (and creative potential) of our current location! The new AMA footprint will allow us to blend traditional, immersive, interactive, and evolving visual art forms in ways that will inspire, entertain, engage, and reflect our community and our world.
Our founders believed in art as a legacy gift to our community, and we’re so excited for all the ways the New AMA fulfills that vision! Thanks to our partnership with the City of Arlington, we’re being built on a platform for success. Still, there are many exciting ways for individual donors and partners to become a part of the lasting legacy. Learn how you can get involved.
Learn More
Reimagine the Traditional Art experience in the New AMA video
Reimagine the AMA in its new neighborhood: The Arlington Entertainment District video
Let’s Get Together: The Community Gallery at the New AMA video
AMA announces the “Reimagine the AMA” campaign
Immerse Yourself in Art
Outside the Lines: Reimagine the AMA homepage and video
Always Something New
Arlington Museum of Art to relocate to the Entertainment District, set to open first exhibition in early 2024
