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The Arts Council offered candidates an opportunity to respond to a set of questions about the issues important to the arts community and how the candidates would address these issues if elected. These questions and the candidates' answers will allow you compare candidates in the Fort Worth City Council Elections and help us continue to advocate for the arts with our City leaders. These answers are unedited, save for formatting issues.
List of Candidates
Michael Caceres
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Tonya Carter
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Michael Crain
In a few short sentences, tell us about yourself and your relationship to the visual and/or performing arts.
I'm a Fort Worth native who didn't grow up in the arts but learned to appreciate it through life experiences. I had always had a love for all types of music, but it was really a trip to Europe in college using Rick Steves "Europe Through the Back Door" that opened my eyes. Steves said people often dismiss modern art because they look at it and say "that looks like something I could do". His retort was "Yes, maybe you could, but they actually did and that's why it deserves appreciation". It was one of those pivotal moments in life where eyes are opened, perspective changed and I begin to understand the creative side of life. Once you have those moments, you look for the unique in everything. I've now visited more museums in more countries than I can remember. There isn't a trip to New York or London that doesn't include a show. And if there is a good band in town, I am probably going to be there watching (and dancing and maybe singing a little too). Also, during our time in China I attended more Peking operas, Chinese acrobatic shows and Bian Lian (Chinese face changing) performances than I can count. I've served in leadership capacities with the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Ford's Theatre in Washington, a part of the Fort Worth Modern's Directors Council, members of the Kimbell, season subscribers to Casa Manana (the latter being a family tradition taking the girls to the children's performances after church in Sundays) and serve on the Advisory Board of the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival (some of the greatest artists I know are chefs!). Our girls have participated in Kids Who Care as well and I've helped raise funds for their continued support. Art in all forms is an important part of a developed society and I am proud to be a supporter however I can.
How would you work to increase the City’s investment in the arts industry to meet growing needs and bring our funding in line with other major cities in Texas?
In my role as the District 3 Director, I've worked alongside the Arts Council as they administer the Fort Worth Public Art Program. I've been there through the process as public art projects in Como, Foster Park, the new west side fire station and now North Z Boaz and Las Vegas Trail are being planned. I have seen first-hand how these are projects have helped plant a seed and then transform parts of our city. Therefore, I know how much of a catalyst these projects can be for economic growth, development and neighborhood pride. I believe we do need to take critical look at our overall investment in the arts industry in Fort Worth. Whether it is increasing funds, utilizing existing funds more efficiently or creating better public-private partnerships to encourage our burgeoning art industry, it is worth our time and attention to ensure we are doing all we can to support the arts.
Please share your thoughts on how the arts can help our City lift up diverse voices, close opportunity gaps, and how can Fort Worth’s mayor help this grow?
What I enjoy most about art is that it, in it's purest form, it cuts across all socio-economic and racial boundaries. It is art for and in and of itself. Anyone at any place or station can enjoy it and experience it. Art can expose us to another life, another place, another time. We can be something else when we are experiencing art and we can empathize more with others when we understand them. One major experience for me was visiting a small memorial for the Jewish Holocaust in Berlin. The architect designed it as long hallway with a hard 90 degree turn into a large rotunda which wound around to a small chapel. His design notes stated he wanted to create a more open, airy space where people could understand that "one man's right could be another man's wrong" but the sharp turn one had to take to enter was to remind us as humans that inevitably there are some aspects of life which are just inherently, undoubtedly wrong. As a member of the Fort Worth City Council, I think I have a duty to understand all of our citizens, their struggles, their triumphs, who they are as humans. I'd work to be open, to listen, to learn. In the end, I will need to make the hard choices to represent our citizens and work to move Fort Worth forward. I would respect our past but realize we have a future to build upon where a diverse, enlightened population will only make us stronger.
As our City recovers from the pandemic, how will you ensure that the arts are part of the conversation regarding City planning, economic development, affordable housing, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives?
An active conversation around the arts is important to me at all levels. I believe our city is better when we engage all parts of our community to have the hard conversations we need to have as we grow. No doubt that art initiatives help drive creativity which in turn drives economic growth. I believe these will all work hand-in-hand to continue to help our city thrive. As we develop new initiatives, having the Arts Council and other like entities around the table can only help the city make better decisions. I'm committed to ensuring our art programs -- all of them -- continue to have adequate resources to prosper as I have done personally as a private citizen.
Tell us about the visual and/or performing arts in your Council District. What are you most proud of? What needs help to grow?
Where do I start? Outside of the individual public art projects I have already mentioned, I am CU has an excellent art program and I am proud to know more than a few District 3 residents whproud to have facilities such as FWAFA, Texas Ballet Theater and Stage West in District 3. To are creative artists themselves. I love that each district has its own unique interpretation of art, representing the individuality of the city. I do believe we need art more widespread throughout the city and I am proud of the Arts Council's dedication to ensure that it invests monies throughout all parts of the city.
Daniel Fattori
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Andy Gallagher
In a few short sentences, tell us about yourself and your relationship to the visual and/or performing arts.
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
How would you work to increase the City’s investment in the arts industry to meet growing needs and bring our funding in line with other major cities in Texas?
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Please share your thoughts on how the arts can help our City lift up diverse voices, close opportunity gaps, and how can Fort Worth’s mayor help this grow?
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
As our City recovers from the pandemic, how will you ensure that the arts are part of the conversation regarding City planning, economic development, affordable housing, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives?
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Katie Johnson
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Anne Low
In a few short sentences, tell us about yourself and your relationship to the visual and/or performing arts.
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
How would you work to increase the City’s investment in the arts industry to meet growing needs and bring our funding in line with other major cities in Texas?
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Please share your thoughts on how the arts can help our City lift up diverse voices, close opportunity gaps, and how can Fort Worth’s mayor help this grow?
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
As our City recovers from the pandemic, how will you ensure that the arts are part of the conversation regarding City planning, economic development, affordable housing, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives?
Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Tell us about the visual and/or performing arts in your Council District. What are you most proud of? What needs help to grow? Awaiting a reply from the candidate. It will be uploaded as soon as we receive it.
Adrian Smith
In a few short sentences, tell us about yourself and your relationship to the visual and/or performing arts.
I'm a Fort Worth native, as well as a Fort Worth Independent School District graduate. My relationship to the visual/performing arts is nothing directly, however I've always had a fascination with creativity of various forms. As I child my interests delved into the creation of animation, and as an adolescent in high school I discovered the life of poetry. I had a stint in theater while enrolled at Tarrant County College (student only), and as an adult have attended live theater performances here locally.
How would you work to increase the City’s investment in the arts industry to meet growing needs and bring our funding in line with other major cities in Texas?
I would begin with seeking meetings with the various representatives of the arts industry, for their input for how they would desire to make things better. Considering the general fund will not exists without tax revenue from tax payers, who I'm sure appreciate all what the arts industry has provided Fort Worth throughout the years. I also will be an advocate for all things art, bringing more attention to the importance of what it provides for those directly involved.
Please share your thoughts on how the arts can help our City lift up diverse voices, close opportunity gaps, and how can Fort Worth’s mayor help this grow?
Arts is a representation of all things life, and with the current state of the world, life is something we should seek to preserve. I feel that arts can bring about positive change within areas affected by crime/violence, and give the younger generation seeking an outlet of hope, a means by which they can do it. I feel that there should be monthly events throughout the city which highlight local talent, and would seek to establish a place for local art of all means to be on display. The mayor will have to be someone open for new ideas, if we are going to make Fort Worth Arts shine beyond our city.
As our City recovers from the pandemic, how will you ensure that the arts are part of the conversation regarding City planning, economic development, affordable housing, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives?
I again would seek input, as well as advice from all of those within leadership of the arts community for what they desire most. We have to be willing as council representatives to meet, as well as implement necessary change for the survival of the arts community in Fort Worth.
Tell us about the visual and/or performing arts in your Council District. What are you most proud of? What needs help to grow? I'm not aware currently of any visual/performing art within my Council District. This isn't to say they don't exist, I just have no personal knowledge of any.
Phone
817-392-8803
Fax
817-392-6187
Location District Office 3
200 Texas St., Fort Worth, 76102
Learn more about District 3
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