Nijeul X has been appointed as the executive and artistic director of Forest Forward, a nonprofit leading the revitalization of the Forest Theater and the surrounding South Dallas community, and is committed to creating a space where the people of South Dallas can thrive through job creation, creativity, and skill-building.
Category: Art
Black Excellence Shines as Five Artists Receive MacArthur Fellowships
Five Black artists, scientists, musicians, and activists have been awarded the 2025 class of MacArthur Fellows for their innovative work in storytelling, environmental protection, community building, and music.
Sorcery and Sustenance: The Art of Food and Racial Healing
Artist Masud Olufani’s extended trip to Sierra Leone changed his perspective on Black people and their relationship to food. It also inspired a series of mixed-media artwork that uses the subject to connect the past to the present.
The Future of Black Cultural Institutions in Dallas
The African American Museum of Dallas, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters have all experienced recent changes in leadership, funding, and programming, and are facing political pressure to preserve Black history and culture.
Federal Compliance or Federal Concession?
The City of Dallas is hosting community engagement meetings to discuss the potential loss of federal funding due to President Trump’s executive orders, and residents are expressing frustration over the city’s compliance with the orders.
A Sisterhood of Strength: The Color Purple at Kalita Humphreys
Urban Arts Collective’s The Color Purple, adapted from Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is a powerful and moving production celebrating love, resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit, running at the Kalita Humphreys Theater through August 31, 2025.
Jessie Reyez Showered With Bras & Flowers At Unexpectedly Huge South Side Ballroom Show
Jessie Reyez surprised herself and her fans with a sold-out show at the South Side Ballroom in Dallas, where she performed her multi-genre style and addressed the deportation issue, while encouraging her fans to follow their dreams.
Moody Fund for the Arts Distributes $445,000 in Funding to Dallas Arts Organizations
The Moody Fund for the Arts has awarded grants to 66 Dallas arts organizations, ranging from $3,500 to $12,000, to support a broad range of art forms and cultural enrichment to underserved communities.
New Free Guitar Classes Launch in Deep Ellum, Centering Black Musical Legacy
Deep Ellum’s community arts initiative, led by Jess Garland and Kierra Gray Thomas, offers free guitar classes to honor the city’s legacy of Black musical innovation and foster creativity, cultural awareness, and community connection.
Oak Bluffs: The Legacy of Black Martha’s Vineyard and Black Artists
Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, has been a sanctuary for Black, middle- to upper-income, educated professionals for generations, with many Black artists and creatives finding inspiration and refuge in the town.
