Dallas, Texas — The South’s Emerging Creative Market
Written By Darragh Dandurand for LE BOOK
Fashion designer Jeremy Scott, once quoted by Fashion United regarding Dallas, Texas, said it was near and dear to his creative heart. “Suddenly, Dallas has become a big part of my life, and now I feel like I’m part of the fabric of the community here. There is a lot of glamour and fun…people really give a little gusto and I like that.”
As the ninth largest US metropolitan area, the Southern city boasts of 25.7 million annual visitors, is home to 24 Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T and Southwest Airlines, as well as the largest urban arts area in the United States, The Dallas Arts District, spanning 118 acres.
Dallas’ fast-growing reputation as a blossoming creative sector has caught the attention of artists, designers and creative decision makers around the world, with its dedicated City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture bringing live acts, exhibitions, educational resources and advocacy to the forefront through their arts-enabling mission.
Organizations, like The Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC), formerly the Dallas/Fort Worth Art Directors Club, have even been fostering a creative climate since 1957, embracing arts professionals across advertising, broadcasting, filmmaking, new technologies and other industries. Its members have continued for decades to uplift Dallas’ creative community and the opportunities available to them.
Unanimous government votes also now include support, up to 22.5%, to create in-state with qualifying film, television, commercial, video game, animation, visual effects and extended reality (AR, VR, MR) productions through the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program.
The regional studio scene of Dallas, including companies such as DHD Films, Red Productions, Stray Vista, and recently acquired South Side Studios, finds success in the rising rate of commercial and narrative productions choosing to shoot in the Lone Star state.
CEO of Infinity Sound Ltd., Max Curry, is cited saying his company’s move to the greater Dallas area comes from the region’s rapidly growing film industry, with supporters betting on the area becoming Hollywood’s go-to Southern sector.
"We looked around, looking for all the different areas and spaces, and that seemed to be the best fit for us," Curry said to WFAA, a Dallas-based television station.
Interviewed by Local Profile earlier this year, Joe Worth, CEO of Trilogy Studios, says, “We believe virtual production stages are the future of filmmaking, and we are thrilled to bring this world-class facility to the state of Texas as the industry's new creative beacon.”
On October 29th, LE BOOK comes to Dallas’ The Joule to present CONNECTIONS, an intimate curated showcase presenting the best of production and creativity the city has to share.