It’s All About the Arts: Ten Years with Create Arlington
By David Hopkins
Some business leaders would like you to believe they’re the secret solution to a vibrant city. All you need is the right combination of chain restaurants and convenience stores, then just watch people flock to the region. Add plenty of multi-lane thoroughfares to get your homeowners to the interstate as quickly as possible. Make their commute shorter. And voilà! You have a winning formula. Many cities have experimented with these approaches, and those cities continue to look drab and uninspired. A sea of concrete and zoning laws.
The implication is that once you get the businesses in place with all the tax breaks and support, then—and only then—we’ll slowly introduce the arts, live music, and exciting events. But this thinking is all backwards. Business doesn’t drive the art. The arts drive business.
I take this subject seriously because I want to enjoy where I live. I want to be close to great libraries, bookstores, vintage clothing and sneaker stores, coffee and tea shops, art galleries, and live music. I don’t feel like I should have to drive to Dallas or Fort Worth to enjoy these things. I want it all right here in Arlington.
Enthusiasm for the creative community
Ten years ago, Mark Joeckel founded Create Arlington. It had existed previously as “Arlington Proud” and then later renamed itself Create Texas. His goal was simple: To support a creative community within Arlington. At the time, such a notion would have been laughable. Arlington wasn’t known as being an arts hub. At the time, its primary selling point was the low tax rate and convenient commute to other cities.
However, Mark would not be deterred.
Mark is not an artist, but he has a heart for creative people and for building community. He embodies the ideal support system that every artist needs. He’s someone willing to say “yes” to whatever you may have planned, and he’ll help make it happen. (I know this is true because he hosted my “Cake and Prose” event when no one else would.) Mark has a talent for encouraging and inviting bold ideas. Sometimes the project goes well. Sometimes it doesn’t. But that’s not the point.
An artist exists to try and try and try. It’s how we function. We don’t have any other options than to keep making our art. For this reason, the business model is very different from the artist model. The artist will journey where most businesses fear to tread. Most businesses will, rightfully, give up while the artist keeps pushing ahead.
When Mark began Create Arlington, he sought to merge an entrepreneurial incubator with an artist coworking space. In other words, let’s put the calculated opportunists and the passionate risktakers in the same room and see what happens. The hope was that they’d grow and learn from each other.
Get enough artists and entrepreneurs together, and they can transform a community. They can take the quietest street in a quiet downtown and make it thrive.
Much of Create Arlington’s work happened during the uncertain times of COVID pandemic, many businesses folded during this time, but Create Arlington started a grassroots movement. Create Arlington offered more than just a physical space—it became a catalyst for community connection, economic revitalization, and cultural enrichment.
West Main Arts Festival
The West Main Arts Festival became the centerpiece of the Create Arlington experiment. It brought together artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs with the Downtown Arlington community.
It’s hard to imagine how subdued the downtown was back then because nowadays something is happening every weekend in Downtown Arlington. There is always something going on, but this wasn’t always the case.
Momentum in Downtown Arlington when it was needed most
These numbers can’t fully quantify the impact of rebranding and repositioning downtown as a place where creativity is welcome, and small businesses can flourish. There’s now momentum in Downtown Arlington. To be fair, other organizations like the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation played a vital role in this transformation. There was a synergy that can’t be denied. Lots of great people all pulling in the same direction.
Create Arlington was part of it, building meaningful opportunities for diverse creative voices to thrive. It’s a worthy investment that happened without any grants or funding from the city itself. No city council voted on it. Create Arlington just went for it.
The growth in Downtown Arlington couldn’t have happened at a better time. Businesses have been relocating north of Dallas to Plano, Frisco, and McKinney. That ideal commute, which was once the main selling point of Arlington, has shifted. As a result, Arlington needed to become more self-sufficient, more of a draw for its own sake, not just for its proximity.
The downtown has learned how to take AT&T stadium events like the World Cup and the BTS concert and provide ancillary activities, which gives visitors something to do before the big event. Arlington’s First Thursdays are a blast. (Thank you DAMC.) Concerts at the Levitt Pavilion are always packed. (One of the first big investments in our downtown.) The Farmers Market and the Night Market on Saturdays are must-attend events. We have new parks and new places to try out. The annual Shakespeare Live is an amazing event I would not have predicted for Arlington when I first moved here in 2004. And yet somehow, Arlington has benefited from a creative renaissance. Everyone is embracing this winning formula: We put the arts first. We focus on building communities. The businesses will flourish.
Create Arlington in the news
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/sj
Pay the registration fee and submit your application to be considered
Artist Application Maker Application Food Truck Application
Call for Artists! 10th Annual West Main Arts & Music Festival
Downtown Arlington, Texas | Saturday, September 19, 2026
Create Texas is proud to announce the 10th Annual West Main Arts & Music Festival, one of North Texas' most vibrant celebrations of creativity, culture, and community. We invite visual artists, makers, musicians, performers, artisan vendors, food vendors, and creative entrepreneurs to apply for this milestone event taking place in the heart of Downtown Arlington on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from Noon to 6:00 PM.
For ten years, the West Main Arts & Music Festival has connected artists with new audiences, supported small creative businesses, and transformed Downtown Arlington into a destination for arts and culture. What began as a grassroots event has grown into one of the region's most anticipated arts festivals, attracting thousands of visitors eager to discover local art, enjoy live performances, and support independent creators.
Whether you are an emerging artist building your brand, an established maker growing your customer base, a musician seeking new audiences, or a food vendor looking to connect with the community, the West Main Arts & Music Festival provides an exciting platform to showcase your work and expand your reach.
Please pay your $25 JURY FEE and fill out the application below to be considered.
We Are Seeking
Visual Artists
Handmade & Artisan Makers
Costume & Fantasy Creators
Street & Strolling Performers
Theatre Performers
Interactive Entertainers
Jugglers, Magicians, Storytellers, and Character Actors
Food Vendors & Specialty Concessions Musicians & Performers
Community & Cultural Organizations
Arts groups, educational organizations, nonprofits, and cultural organizations that contribute to the creative vitality of our community.
Food Trucks & Artisan Food Vendors
Local food entrepreneurs offering unique culinary experiences and specialty food products.
Festival Highlights
Three live music stages featuring local and regional performers
More than 70 artist and maker booths
Interactive art experiences and live demonstrations
Street performances and community engagement activities
Food trucks and artisan food vendors
Family-friendly programming
4,000 to 5,000 attendees throughout the day
Opportunities to connect directly with art buyers, collectors, and new customers
Why Participate?
The West Main Arts & Music Festival is more than an event—it is an opportunity to grow your creative business.
Participating artists benefit from:
Direct sales opportunities
4,000-5,000 attendees
Exposure to thousands of attendees
Brand and audience development
Networking with fellow creatives
Connection to the growing Arlington arts community
Marketing and promotional support through festival channels
Our mission is to support artists and creative entrepreneurs by creating opportunities for visibility, economic growth, and community engagement.
Event Information
10th Annual West Main Arts & Music Festival
📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
⏰ Noon – 6:00 PM
📍 West Main Street, Downtown Arlington, Texas
Located between City Hall, the Levitt Pavilion, and Theater Arlington, the festival creates a walkable arts district filled with creativity, music, food, and interactive experiences.
Application Timeline
Applications Open: Now
Application Deadline: August 15, 2026
Artist Notifications: August 20, 2026
Apply Today
Join us as we celebrate ten years of supporting artists, makers, musicians, and creative entrepreneurs in Arlington.
Be part of one of North Texas' most dynamic arts events and help us make the 10th Annual West Main Arts & Music Festival our biggest and most inspiring celebration yet.
PLEASE PAY A $25 REGISTRATIN FEE FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED
Create. Connect. Celebrate.
Create Texas Website – www.createtexas.art
Follow festival updates and announcements on social media:
ble upon request.
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
The Cultural and Economic Impact of WMAF & Create Arlington (2015–2026)
When Create Arlington launched, 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 6 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 2015 to September 2026, Create Arlington has welcomed more than 65,000 people to its programming and events, including:
50,000 attendees at the West Main Arts Festival since 2016
5,250 visitors to 13 curated art exhibits and receptions
4,820 attendees at 70 Open Mic and Spoken Word Nights
3,200 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
700 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
52 full-time artists and start-ups have been resident artists at Create
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 10 years (2016–2026), the West Main Arts Festival has become a defining event for Downtown Arlington:
55,000 visitors, generating over $600,000 in direct community spending ($24.60 average per attendee) (Source: Americans for the Arts – Economic Impact of the Arts)
$172,500 spent by vendors on booth fees and local supplies
$891,250 total economic impact over 10 years
$71,280 in estimated sales tax revenue returned to the local economy
Produced and managed independently by Create Arlington, over $100,000 in total production costs and musicians’ pay
Conclusion: A Worthy Investment in Community
For the last 10 years, 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.