Early in the planning process, the project team began a series of in-depth interviews with key stakeholders affiliated with the Arts District. Starting in January 2016 and continuing through the remainder of 2016 and into 2017, NBBJ and Arts District staff members scheduled and conducted individual and small group conversations with dues-paying members of the Dallas Arts District as well as property owners, institutional administrators, real estate developers, City staff, and neighborhood organizations whose activities are likely to be impacted by or influence those of the Arts District. Through these interviews, stakeholders clarified their top priorities, concerns, and plans for their own organizations as well as for the Arts District, which have all helped educate the project team and inform the vision for the plan. 

Regular coordination meetings between the project team and other relevant planning entities and organizations have been critical to the Arts District planning process. Frequent exchanges of information and sharing of resources with groups such as Downtown Dallas, Inc.; Uptown, Inc.; and Texas Trees Foundation (TTF) have resulted in a more thorough understanding of the context in which the Dallas Arts District Master Plan will be implemented. 

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Though the public hearing process for the Arts District’s proposed zoning changes requires two public hearings, the Dallas Arts District has always had the intention of holding multiple public, community, and smaller group meetings throughout the planning process. On November 7th, 2016, the project team presented its initial findings and general intentions for the Dallas Arts District Master Plan to the Dallas City Council Arts, Culture, and Libraries Committee. This was the City’s first formal introduction to the plan’s motivating principles and general timeline. Though many stakeholders had already had an opportunity to speak with the project team, on February 27th, 2017, the Dallas Arts District hosted a stakeholder forum at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. During that forum, the project team presented its analysis in addition to the updated set of key strategies and project timeline.

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The Dallas Arts District has presented its preliminary vision for the plan to the City of Dallas Urban Design Advisory Committee on two occasions: April 6th, 2017, and June 8th, 2017. Additional stakeholder and public events are expected in the summer and fall of 2017, with advance notice published in this space in addition to the required public outlets.