Overview:DMA’s ‘A Jeweled Affair’ Showcases Local Artists and Commitment to Accessibility

The Dallas Museum of Art’s Junior Associates hosted their annual Winter Party, “A Jeweled Affair,” which showcased the museum’s commitment to accessibility and local artists. The event featured the museum’s newest exhibition, Constellations, which is dedicated to modern jewelry and wearable art. The party is the Junior Associates’ largest fundraiser of the year, with all proceeds reinvested into the DMA’s community outreach programs. The event also highlighted the work of the McDermott Fellows Cohort Two, a group of Dallas-based artists who are part of the DMA’s McDermott Artist Fellowship.

The spirit of the Dallas Museum of Art extended beyond its walls as the museum’s Junior Associates hosted their 2026 Winter Party, a creative formal themed “A Jeweled Affair,” celebrating art, couture, and community impact. The event blended art, fashion, and philanthropy while spotlighting the museum’s growing commitment to accessibility and local artists.

CeCe Stiggers and Matt Araiza, Junior Associates Event Chairs 2025-2026. Photo Credit: DMA Junior Associates.

According to Laura Wise – DMA Co-Chair 25-26, the evening’s theme was directly inspired by Constellations, the DMA’s newest exhibition centered on modern jewelry and wearable art.

“It was all about wearable art in the form of jewelry and accessories,” Wise said. “Constellations has been getting incredible reception in the art world and was recently written up in Forbes. There aren’t many exhibits dedicated to modern jewelry, so we wanted to honor that and connect Junior Associates more closely to the larger museum’s initiatives.”

Beyond its visual appeal, the Winter Party serves a critical role in sustaining the museum’s mission. Wise emphasized that the event is the Junior Associates’ largest fundraiser of the year, with all proceeds reinvested into the DMA.

Brandon Montgomery (Junior Associates Co-Chair 25-26), Sharon Young (Board Chair, DMA), Deedie Rose (Board Member, DMA), Junior Associates Member, Brian Ferriso (The Eugene McDermott Director, DMA), Don Short (Managing Partner, New Artisan Spirits), and Laura Wise (Junior Associates Co-Chair 25-26).

“The DMA is free for everyone, all the time,” Wise noted. “But many people don’t realize the scope of our community outreach.”

Through its year-round fundraising efforts, the Dallas Museum of Art’s Junior Associates play a critical role in sustaining the museum’s mission of access, education, and community engagement. Funds raised support free admission, outreach programs for under-resourced communities, student and senior art initiatives, transportation access, and direct investment in emerging Dallas artists through fellowships like the McDermott Artist Fellowship. Collectively, these efforts ensure that the DMA remains not only a cultural institution, but a truly public resource—one that reflects, serves, and uplifts the diverse communities of Dallas.

DMA Junior Associate Members look as Laura Wise (Junior Associates Co-Chair 25-26) addresses crowd at Winter fundraiser. Photo Credit: DMA Junior Associates.

“There’s a lot happening behind the scenes to make sure art is truly for everybody,” she added.

One of the evening’s standout elements was the featured work of the McDermott Fellows Cohort Two, a group of early- to mid-career Dallas-based artists selected for the DMA’s McDermott Artist Fellowship.

“These are the things artists really need to further their careers,” Wise said. “We want to make sure they’re supported, seen, and connected.”

The fellowship is designed to provide artists with direct access to museum resources, including curatorial staff, studio visits, and professional development opportunities. Artwork from the McDermott Fellows was displayed throughout the event, reinforcing the Junior Associates’ commitment to investing in local creative talent.

Looking Ahead: Black History & Culture Celebration

Wise also highlighted an upcoming marquee event on the DMA calendar: the Annual Black History & Culture Celebration on January 31.

Attendees L-R. Jess Washington, Amber Fleet, Kian More, Laurel Bush. Photo Credit: DMA Junior Associates

“It’s a huge deal,” she said. “What’s especially exciting is that a large percentage of attendees are people who have never visited the museum before. It’s a powerful way to welcome Dallas’ Black community into the space.”

Following the daytime celebration, Junior Associates will partner with Nostalgia & Noise for the official afterparty at the W Hotel.

“It’s going to be good vibes,” Wise said.

The Future of Creative Programming in Dallas

Looking forward, Wise sees cultural programming in Dallas evolving amid broader global challenges, but remains optimistic about the role of institutions like the DMA.

“My hope is that we continue to engage locally and invest in the talent that’s already here,” she said. “Introducing collectors to artists, artists to curators, and creating pathways into galleries is how we strengthen the ecosystem.”

She added that the diversity of the McDermott Fellows cohort is particularly meaningful. And to add context, we can understand why. For decades, Dallas arts institutions such as the DMA were widely viewed as exclusive spaces, reflecting the broader legacy of racial exclusion that shaped cultural access across the South. Let’s be clear, institutions like the African American Museum of Dallas exists based on that exclusivity. In 2024, Roslyn Walker, the Dallas Museum of Art’s first and only Black senior curator, retired, marking the end of a significant chapter in the institution’s curatorial history. As the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex continues to grow—fueled by an influx of transplants less accustomed to historically segregated cultural environments—and as public expectations increasingly demand racial and gender equity, shifts in the DMA’s leadership, programming, and public-facing identity have become not only necessary, but inevitable.

As the Junior Associates’ “Jeweled Affair” demonstrated, when art, access, and intentional investment align, Dallas’ cultural future shines a little brighter.

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