Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth is celebrating a significant milestone, having welcomed its 2 millionth student or educator since opening in 1998. This achievement is a testament to the venue’s commitment to arts education and its impact on the community. The hall’s Children’s Education Program has been a cornerstone of this effort, providing students with transformative experiences in the arts.
The annual awards luncheon, held on May 12, honored six exceptional students from Fort Worth ISD’s I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and Visual Performing Arts. Among the honorees were Josephine Clapper, a violist bound for Drake University, and John Michael Schwind, a French hornist heading to the Rochester Institute of Technology. These students, along with others, have been inspired by the professional performances and educational opportunities offered at Bass Hall.
Inspiring the Next Generation
For many students, visiting Bass Performance Hall is a transcendent experience. Josephine Clapper, a recent graduate, shared her awe of the venue’s grandeur and its ability to encapsulate the beauty of the arts. “It’s just really beautiful,” Clapper said. “It encapsulates the arts very beautifully.” The hall’s open space, statues, and stairways create an atmosphere where the building itself seems to be part of the performance.
The Children’s Education Program offers a variety of arts education opportunities, including student matinees, summer camps, literacy programs, workshops, student ticketing, and virtual programming. Each year, over 70,000 students and teachers attend free education performances. The program’s partnership with Fort Worth ISD ensures that every district student in first through fifth grade participates, with additional programming reaching middle and high school students across Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and North Texas.
The Impact of Arts Education
Taylor Woods, Performing Arts Fort Worth’s director of education and community engagement, emphasized the program’s goal of making students feel like part of the community. “When a student walks through our doors and takes in a show, participates in an intensive or engages in a talkback, our hope is that experience not only teaches them, but inspires creativity, stimulates conversations and encourages them to consider other points of view,” Woods said.
The program’s reach is impressive. Since 1998, student matinees have drawn more than 1.6 million participants. The literacy program has distributed 98,847 books, and summer performing arts camps have served 5,809 students over 14 years. These numbers highlight the program’s significant impact on the community.
Looking to the Future
John Michael Schwind, another honoree, shared how the program’s rehearsals were particularly meaningful. “You really got to see a bit of the process itself,” Schwind said. Despite pursuing a career in mechanical engineering, Schwind plans to continue playing the French horn. “I do not ever want to stop playing French horn,” he said, underscoring the lasting influence of the arts.
Patricia Linares, a Performing Arts Fort Worth board member and former Fort Worth ISD interim superintendent, emphasized the importance of making Bass Hall accessible to all students. “Without these opportunities, many children might never have the chance to visit Bass Hall or experience the transformative power of live performance and the arts,” Linares said.
The program’s success is a result of support from donors, corporations, foundations, and community partners. Dione Kennedy, president and CEO of Performing Arts Fort Worth, highlighted the importance of sustaining this access. “This year’s awards honor students and educators who, through a thorough adjudication process, have been selected for their excellence in theater, dance, vocal performance and music,” Kennedy said.
As Bass Performance Hall continues to inspire young minds, it remains a beacon of arts education and community engagement. The venue’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists and thinkers ensures that the transformative power of the arts will continue to thrive.