Fort Worth’s historic Fairmount district celebrated a milestone this month as Arts Fifth Avenue marked its 25th anniversary. Founded by Gracey Tune, Peggy Bott‑Kirby and Eddie Dunlap, the nonprofit arts center opened its doors on September 11, 2001, just hours after the nation learned of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.
From Tragedy to a Place of Healing
When the founders learned of the attacks, they gathered their first students, embraced one another and declared the studio a safe haven for the community. “We hugged each other, we held each other and it created love in this building where you’re going to be safe with us,” Tune recalled.
Growth Into a Creative Hub
Over the past two and a half decades, Arts Fifth Avenue has become a beloved hub for Fort Worth artists of all ages. The center is best known for its annual National Tap Dance Day celebration each May and the Django Reinhardt Festival in June, a tribute to the legendary French jazz guitarist. Classes now span a wide range of disciplines, from acting and tango to ballroom dancing and drum lessons for children.
The venue also hosted the theater troupe SceneShop until early August, further cementing its role as a gathering place for local performers.
Founders’ Roots and Vision
Before launching Arts Fifth Avenue, each founder brought decades of artistic experience. Bott‑Kirby had long performed with Hip Pocket Theatre, known for its rustic outdoor productions. Dunlap taught drum lessons to children, while Tune operated a west‑side studio dedicated to tap, live music and art exhibitions. In 1989 she founded the nonprofit Arts On Tap Inc., and three years later began searching for a permanent home after being displaced from her previous space.
When a vacant building at 1628 5th Ave. became available, Tune saw the opportunity to create a joint home for tap and drums. The name “Arts Fifth Avenue” nods both to the street address and the iconic Saks Fifth Avenue department store.
Impact on the Community
According to the founders, the center has partnered with more than 20 Fort Worth arts organizations and welcomed roughly 900,000 guests since opening. It has served over 425,000 children in the region, many of whom now return as parents to enroll their own families. “It’s coming to the point where we’re having the people that came here as children are bringing their children,” Bott‑Kirby said.
A group of teenagers even founded a student‑led theater troupe within the center, illustrating the lasting legacy of artistic mentorship.
Financial Challenges Ahead
Despite its success, Arts Fifth Avenue faces financial strain as arts funding declines. Major donors are contributing less than they did two decades ago, and nonprofit arts revenue fell 25 % from 2023 to 2024, according to a Southern Methodist University study of national arts and culture organizations. Some local groups have also lost grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
“There’s been so many changes and I know everybody’s hands are tied in some way,” Tune acknowledged. The founders recognize the need to find new leadership to sustain the mission as they age, but remain optimistic about the center’s future.
Looking Forward
For now, Arts Fifth Avenue continues to welcome Fort Worth residents with a smile, promising a space where creativity can flourish. “With everyone that comes in the door, we want to know, ‘Are they going to leave happy?’” Tune said.
As the center looks ahead to its next quarter‑century, it remains a testament to the power of community, faith, and the arts to heal and inspire.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
