When we think of Arlington culture, it’s easy to first envision blue and white Rangers jerseys, or silver and blue Cowboys license plate covers – but beyond the surface is a bustling art scene. The scene is driven by local businesses, and most importantly, by community participation.
I’ve got a pet theory – everyone is an artist. Singing, painting, dancing – it’s all part of the human experience. You might say, “I’m not creative,” but when your favorite song hits in the car, I know you belt it out. Creativity isn’t just for prodigies—it’s for all of us.
On a family trip to Terlingua, Texas, in the Big Bend area, we cooled off on the porch of the Starlight Inn. I noticed guitars, banjos, and maracas leaning against the wall, ready for anyone to play. Locals drifted in and started up a jam session. I was struck by the ease in which these folks conversed through the notes of well-versed songs. No fame, no streaming, just communal joy. It drilled into me that art doesn’t need validation—it just needs presence.
In today’s world, it’s easy to think creativity only counts if you post it on Instagram or sell it on Etsy. But art’s value isn’t in likes or sales, it’s in connection. When we don’t participate, we lose chances to discover ourselves and to connect with our community.
Here in Downtown Arlington, creativity is woven into our identity:
• Monday nights at Binion’s Ice House host Chuck Moore’s beloved open mic from 7–10 pm. It’s a weekly chance to bring your voice (or just your ears) to the stage.
• First Thursdays at Division Brewing (Growl Records) features “Rock the Growl – Open Mic Night.” Check in starts at 6 pm, with the show kicking off at 7 pm – perfect for midweek inspiration.
• Truth Vinyl invites local artists every Sunday, 3–6 pm, for open mic performances in a cozy, music lover’s record store atmosphere.
More than music:
• Theatre Arlington offers classes for ages 4 to 100! These welcoming classes are the opportunity to explore your inner thespian, and make some friends along the way.
• Board & Brush Creative Studio offers DIY wood sign workshops (BYOB!), where you’re guided through sanding, painting, and staining—leaving with décor you made yourself. Several workshops are scheduled weekly, including Mini Sign and “Pick Your Project” sessions.
• Catalyst Creative Arts, just off West Main, hosts pottery socials (“Pottery Share & Learn”), water marbling on silk, paint wars, and seasonal art camps, a haven for all ages and mediums.
• Miss Persis Studio of Dance is known far and wide for its dance and cotillion classes for talented youngsters, but did you know there are adult programs as well? You can learn to dance ballet, jazz, or tap at evening classes.
Let’s not overlook the most underrated role in the arts: the audience. You don’t have to step on stage to make an impact. Your claps, cheers, laughter, and quiet attention create the energy every performer needs to be fulfilled. Audience members turn empty rooms into electric spaces.
At the Levitt Pavilion, the Share the Stage program offers young, local musicians the opportunity to perform on one of the biggest stages in town, and these artists thrive because of you. This amazing free outdoor music venue launches its fall concert season on Labor Day weekend, with free music under the stars through October 18th.
On September 20th, the West Main Arts Festival fills the Cultural District with booths of local artists, where you can find the perfect handmade piece for that sparse shelf or empty wall.
Your presence validates the courage of artists, young and old, to show up and share something deeply personal. Being in the audience is participating – it’s saying, “This matters.” You don’t need to be a performer to matter; you just need to show up. When you make (or witness) art, you join a living, breathing creative community.
That’s what I love about First Thursdays, the monthly art walk through Downtown Arlington, where businesses host an artist on the first Thursday of the month. You truly get to experience creativity in action, whether you’re trying your hand at a craft or watching a painter complete a signature piece, you get the chance to discover creativity in action.
Art has always been communal, from porch jam sessions to dance sessions. So come out, bring your curiosity, clap for strangers, or take the mic yourself. Downtown Arlington is waiting, because creativity isn’t just seen; it’s shared.
