Fort Worth residents have several opportunities to provide input on public art projects before the pieces are installed at roundabouts or in neighborhoods.
Community members can hear updates on specific projects or share their feedback during monthly Fort Worth Art Commission meetings at the Ella Mae Shamblee Library.
The art commission is an advisory board that oversees the city’s public art program by recommending artists, artwork placements and maintenance for projects funded through voter-approved bond packages. The board is made up of five arts and design professionals and four community members appointed by City Council.
On Nov. 17, commissioners will select artists for a proposed project at Westhaven Park in southwest Fort Worth. Staff also will present the final design for artwork coming to the new far north Fort Worth library and share updates on upcoming projects for fiscal year 2026.
Involvement is very important to ensure proposed projects resonate with the local community, said Anne Allen, public art program manager with Arts Fort Worth. The nonprofit oversees the day-to-day operations of public art on behalf of the city.
“All citizens are welcome at all of our commission meetings. It doesn’t matter if the projects are in your district or not,” Allen said. “The great thing about coming to our meeting is residents see how the city’s bond funds are being spent on public art projects across the city.”
Interested in attending a Fort Worth Art Commission meeting?
Keep up-to-date with the commission’s meeting times and monthly agenda items here. Meetings are typically held at the Ella Mae Shamblee Library at 1062 Evans Ave.
The city typically sets aside 2% of bond money for public art. Fort Worth policy requires new infrastructure, such as parks, include aesthetic elements of public art to reinforce community identity.
While public comments are appreciated, residents can have an impact on new installations by volunteering to serve on the art commission’s project core teams, Allen said.
These core team members represent the area surrounding a potential commissioned work and are selected by the City Council member of the district the project falls within. They consult on the project from its initiation to public dedication. That includes interviewing and helping to select artists and provide input on project designs.
“The core team acts like a grand central station that takes information about a project out to their neighborhood associations, community groups and shares how they feel about it,” Allen said.
New public artworks and core teams may be coming down the pipeline soon. Fort Worth city leaders are expected to ask voters to approve an $840 million bond program with six propositions in May. Under the current proposal, $10.8 million will be designated for public art.
The city’s $560 million bond package in 2022 allocated $7.1 million to public art. That funding paid for an art installation at the Northwest Patrol Division and a community mosaic at Ciquio Vasquez Park in south Fort Worth.
The 2026 bond package doesn’t have a final list of art projects as it’s still developing, Allen said. The Arts Fort Worth team is participating in the city’s community engagement meetings across every council district, which includes seeking feedback from residents on potential locations for new installations.
City officials expect to finalize the bond package in January. If propositions pass, the arts team will determine the locations and budgets for new installations based on geographic equity, visibility, accessibility for community engagement and opportunities for local artists.
The Fort Worth Art Commission will invite community members in fall 2026 to share their thoughts on proposed projects before making final recommendations to the City Council.
David Moreno is the arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports.
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