[L I F E] C O M M U N I T Y
Uniting People From All Walks of Life
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Chris Dahlquist, well-established visual artist and one of five jurors for MAIN ST. 2022 says, “Art festivals nationwide are exploring ways to improve and ensure diversity, equity and inclusion in both the artists and audiences participating in festivals. Because the jury process is subjective, seating a jury of diverse artists and arts professionals who bring a range of backgrounds and perspectives to the process is important.” Unlike curated collections presented in museums and galleries, festivals are unique in that they allow indigenous, lesser-known artists to gain exposure. “It’s important to acknowledge that there are plural perspectives and experiences in our society. By showcasing and highlighting a diverse set of artists, we
Above: Photo of past MAIN ST. Arts Festival event Above Right: Artwork by Chris Dahlquist
encourage a much more diverse set of audiences to engage with art. By allowing more diverse perspectives into our leadership roles — those of curators or gallerists — we foster an art community that better and more realistically reflects our society,” Brenda says. MAIN ST. has an emerging artist program for those who have limited or no prior experience participating in festivals. With deeply discounted booth spaces and a separate adjudication process, it’s a great way for artists to see if art festivals are an avenue they would like to pursue. To reach the younger demographic, the Growing Young Artists program, presented by Tarrant County College, is designed to leverage the assets of MAIN ST. toward middle and high school students in the Fort Worth ISD and surrounding local schools.
