ABOUT ARTSGOGGLE
ArtsGoggle is Fort Worth's premier festival of local arts. This free-to-the-public, family-friendly event annually hosts more than 1,000 visual artists, 50 musical performances, artistic displays of every kind, food, drink, and fun for everyone. Unlike any event in Fort Worth, the festival exclusively focuses on highlighting the work of local artists, musicians, and performers of all media and experience levels. ArtsGoggle attracts a crowd of 60,000+ patrons that are as diverse as the event's Near Southside neighborhood. Visitors are invited to park their cars and rediscover this revitalized urban district by Trinity Metro transit, by foot, or by bicycle, including Fort Worth Bike Sharing bikes.
ArtsGoggle started 20 years ago as the Near Southside's own indoor gallery night, designed to showcase the district’s revitalization efforts underway via newly established businesses hosting one-day open houses in partnership with local artists. The event remained almost exclusively indoors for the first decade before spilling out onto the street. Today, visitors are invited to stroll artists' booths on Magnolia Avenue stretching more than a mile in length, and adjacent businesses, new and old, tout ArtsGoggle as their best day of sales each year.
ArtsGoggle prides itself in providing a casual, approachable, and vibrant environment for appreciating art and learning about the talents of our own community. For almost two decades, this non-juried art festival has been the launch pad for many artists showing their work for the first time. ArtsGoggle provides a supportive setting for both aspiring and professional artists with new collections to display, sell and discuss their artwork.
Accompanying the visual artists, the entertainment at ArtsGoggle heavily features local musicians and offers performances from a variety of genres. In addition, the event partners with arts organizations across Fort Worth to draw attention to their programs. In years past, ArtsGoggle has hosted the Fort Worth Opera for pop-up concerts; showcased Ballet Folklorico de Azteca for a colorful dance performance; and presented a stellar headliner performances from indie musicians Sarah Jaffe, Ben Kweller, and Sir Woman.
ATTENDANCE
An estimated attendance of 80,000+ attendees during the 10-hour event.
FREE TO ATTEND
Free to the public to attend
APPLICATION FEES
ARTISTS - $100 application fee for participating artists. Indoors artist and student artists may receive a 50% discount.
FOOD VENDORS - Free application. Food vendors pay a $250 fee to participate if approved. We do not take any percentage of sales or require you to report sales.
VENUES - Free application. If approved, Near Southside member venues pay no fee. Non-member venues pay $100 to participate.
MUSICIANS - Free booking application.
VOLUNTEERS - Listen, we'll pay you... in hugs. Please help us. We need you!
LOCATION
The traditional ArtsGoggle footprint is primarily outdoors, centered along Magnolia Avenue from 8th Avenue to S. Main Street, 21 blocks, one mile stretch. A feast of art!
Due to the exciting campus reconstruction and expansion underway at JPS hospital, this year's ArtsGoggle will shorten the festival footprint along Magnolia Avenue stretching from 8th Avenue to St. Louis Avenue, three blocks shorter than previous years to make way for construction needs. So the 2024 ArtsGoggle will be 18 blocks.
ArtsGoggle also hosts artists indoors at participating Near Southside venues such as restaurants, bars, offices, and retailers who are hosting artists, live music, and other entertainment in celebration of ArtsGoggle!
EVENT PRODUCER
ArtsGoggle is produced by Near Southside Arts, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in partnership with sister non-profit organization Near Southside, Inc.
Near Southside, Inc. is a private, member-funded, non-profit 501(c)(4) development company dedicated to the revitalization of Fort Worth’s Near Southside. NSI began as a small coalition of Near Southside businesses and community leaders and has grown dramatically over the last two decades. We invite you to join us as we promote the redevelopment of Fort Worth’s Near Southside as a vibrant, urban, mixed-use neighborhood.
