History

Denison Arts Council was incorporated as a non profit in 1980 with a mission to promote, encourage and otherwise develop cultural activities in order to serve the needs of all citizens through participation, exposure and educational opportunities. Local business people and artists worked together to promote the arts in Denison. Our slogan is “Small Town Big Art”. We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enriching our community through the arts. We are recognized as a tax-exempt charitable organization by the IRS and are exempt from Texas state taxes.
Our Corporation was formed for the general purpose to promote, encourage and otherwise develop cultural activities in order to serve the needs of all citizens through participation, exposure and educational opportunities. Throughout the years the Council created programs to promote the arts including Art Festivals, Art Directories and Art Demonstrations.
In 2009 the Texas Commission on the Arts selected Denison Arts Council for inclusion in the 2009 Cultural District Designation Pilot Program. In 2026 Denison was named a Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) winner - the highest honor a downtown district can receive nationwide. This national recognition, paired with the city being awarded the inaugural “Best Texas Downtown” award for cities under 50,000 people confirms what we locals have known all along: Downtown Denison is a world -class destination.

Denison Arts Council

Small Town Big Art

Active campaigns

Honoring the Legacy of Steve O. Black

Past campaigns

A Home for the Arts