Fort Works Art - The New Normal: An Artists Response to COVID-19
Healing A Community Through Art
Opening Reception - TBD
Fine Line Group, the Family office of
Sasha and Edward P. Bass, announced the launch of an artist initiative to support Fort
Worth area artists. THE NEW NORMAL: An Artist's Response to COVID-19
challenges local visual artists to create works that reflect their experience living through
the pandemic as members of the Fort Worth area community.
Led by a $50,000 gift from the Fine Line Group, and additional support from the Alice L.
Walton Foundation, the Donny Wiley Memorial Fund at the North Texas Community
Foundation, and Kit and Charlie Moncrief, this innovative program is designed to support
Fort Worth's economic and emotional recovery through both service and art. THE NEW
NORMAL will culminate in the creation of an important and profound body of work that
interprets and documents this uniquely Fort Worth experience, during these uncertain,
surreal, and often worrisome times.
A panel of eight influential leaders from Fort Worth's most prestigious museums,
including the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Amon
Carter Museum of American Art, and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
will manage the selection process for this competition. Panelists will review candidate
applications and provide grants of either $2,000 or $5,000 to Fort Worth artists based on
the strength of their proposal, portfolio, and demonstrated financial need.
THE NEW NORMAL is administered by Gallery of Dreams, a Fort Worth nonprofit arts
organization established by Lauren Childs of Fort Works Art.
A recent survey commissioned by Americans for the Arts found that as many as twothirds
of artists in the U.S. are without income due to the pandemic, making it one of the
hardest-hit professions in the country. THE NEW NORMAL initiative is the first of its
kind in the U.S., aiming to jumpstart Fort Worth's creative economy by providing a
highly focused support structure that helps its artists get back to work, while also
bringing the Fort Worth community together to share, process, and heal through art that
truly speaks to what members of the community are experiencing.
"Throughout history, artists have responded to major catastrophes and provided the world
with visual interpretations of a reality that captures and preserves the human experience
of the time," commented Sasha Bass, the initiative's founder. "Ed and I, along with our
partners, are thrilled to launch this program, which will provide much-needed income to
our talented local artists and sustain the creative experiences essential to our communal
spirit. Even in this age of social distancing, coming together through art is possible. We
believe this is a powerful antidote to the isolation, fear, and uncertainty communities may
be experiencing during this time. Through the lens of the artist's eye, we can heal
together as one."
THE NEW NORMAL model will be made available via open-source to any community
interested in adopting it in support of their local artists. "We are already in discussions
with leaders from three other cities who are working to implement a program like ours,"
said Bass. "All our efforts so far have been focused on getting THE NEW NORMAL up
and running in Fort Worth as quickly as possible. Our artists need help now." Interested
parties are welcome to reach out via phone or email.
"The Donny Wiley Memorial Fund at North Texas Community Foundation supports
women artists in Fort Worth. THE NEW NORMAL fulfills Donny's legacy by providing
local artists the resources they need respond to this unprecedented disaster…and thereby
help our community process, understand and heal from the experience." said Rose
Bradshaw, president and CEO, North Texas Community Foundation.
Applicants are asked to submit a written proposal including a personal statement sharing
their views on how this opportunity will help them create, an overview of the COVID-19-
related work they intend to create, and an idea on how their art can support others in our
city. Examples of the artist's current work, along with a statement of need demonstrating
loss of income due to the COVID-19 crisis, are also required. The full application is
available here. There is no fee to apply.
Please visit our website for details or email us at
info@fortworksart.com with questions
About FORT WORKS ART
FORT WORKS ART: Fort Works Art is committed to bringing life, vitality and
energy to the art scene in Fort Worth, TX. They are a resource for both
seasoned collectors and the everyday individual. Existing somewhere between
a gallery, a cultural center and a museum, Fort Works Art strives to
continually evolve into its' own entity, free from the traditional labels
of the art world. They exist to support the arts, to give back to the
community and to inspire youth.
Fort Works Art
2100 Montgomery Street
Fort Worth, Texas, 76107
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday 11 am - 5 pm; Saturday 10 am - 6 pm
https://www.fortworksart.com/
