🎨 Apply For the 9th Annual West Main Arts & Music Festival!
🗓️ Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 📍 Downtown Arlington
Calling all artists, food vendors, and creative entrepreneurs!
Be a part of one of the region’s most beloved community festivals — a vibrant celebration of art, music, food, and culture. With 125+ artists, musicians and over 6,000 attendees, this is your chance to connect with an audience that *loves to buy local.
Why Should You Apply To Sell At The WMAF?
✔️ Over 6,000 enthusiastic guests
✔️ 3 blocks** of artists, musicians & small businesses
✔️ Media coverage** from Fort Worth Weekly, Living Magazine, UTA Shorthorn
✔️ Featured on **Fox News** and KXT/KERA
✔️ 80K+ social media followers, 3,000+ email subscribers
✔️ Strategic advertising throughout North Texas
✔️ Organized by Create Texas, supporting creative entrepreneurs all year
See What the Buzz is About:
Fox 4 DFW Feature: https://tinyurl.com/32apj2ws
KXT/KERA Music Spotlight: https://tinyurl.com/bddn9486
UTA Shorthorn Article https://tinyurl.com/4sdpjjca
Fort Worth Report: https://tinyurl.com/sjx5wbxw
Ready to apply?
Festival Sponsorship Opportunities
The Cultural and Economic Impact of WMAF & Create Arlington (2020–2024)
When Create Arlington launched in September 2020, few could have anticipated how vital a role it would play during one of the most uncertain times in recent history. While many communities were isolated due to the pandemic, a grassroots movement of artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and creative leaders began to take shape in the heart of Downtown Arlington. Create Arlington offered more than just a physical space—it became a catalyst for community connection, economic revitalization, and cultural enrichment.
Over the past four years, Create Arlington has emerged as a hub for the region’s creative economy, making measurable contributions to the vibrancy and economic health of our city.
By the Numbers: Community Engagement & Participation
From September 2020 to September 2024, Create Arlington has welcomed more than 35,000 people to its programming and events, including:
20,000 attendees at the West Main Arts Festival
3,250 visitors to 13 curated art exhibits and receptions
2,820 attendees at 70 Open Mic and Spoken Word Nights
1,700 music fans at 42 local band and songwriter showcases
1,500 attendees at the Black Bazaar Pop-Up Market (9 events)
3,000 attendees at Third Thursday Pop-Up Markets (20 events)
1,000 guests at private rental events
500 participants in art classes and figure drawing sessions
500 community members served through nonprofit meetings hosted free of charge
300 attendees at the UTA Football Homecoming Arts & Music Fest
450 artists received payment for participating in events and performances
Creative Workforce Development
Create Arlington directly supports artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs. A 2021 member survey revealed that 88% of our members reported improved business performance after joining.
32 full-time artists and start-ups worked at Create Arlington daily
72 members used the space regularly throughout the week
These creatives collectively generated $190,000 in revenue, resulting in $16,150 in local sales tax
The West Main Arts Festival: A Downtown Anchor
Spanning four years (2021–2024), the West Main Arts Festival has become a defining event for Downtown Arlington:
20,000 annual visitors, generating $520,000 in direct community spending ($24.60 average per attendee)
$172,500 spent by vendors on booth fees and local supplies
$891,250 total economic impact over four years
$71,280 in estimated sales tax revenue returned to the local economy
Produced and managed independently by Create Arlington with $48,200 in total production costs (Create is non a non-profit)
(Source: Americans for the Arts – Economic Impact of the Arts)
Conclusion: A Worthy Investment in Community
Create Arlington has not only brought life to Downtown through the arts, but it has also driven real economic activity, supported local businesses, and built meaningful opportunities for diverse creative voices to thrive.
Investing in Create Arlington and our statewide expansion through Create Texas is a direct investment in community vitality, small business development, cultural equity, and the economic future of our region. With your support, we can continue to grow this momentum, amplify impact, and keep Arlington at the center of the Texas creative renaissance.
