Near Southside, Inc. is the organization that helps shape, promote, and advocate for one of Fort Worth's most vibrant urban neighborhoods. It brings together businesses, residents, property owners, artists, developers, and institutions to create a walkable, creative, mixed-use district where people can live, work, and gather.
ArtsGoggle presented by Frost is Fort Worth's premier festival of local arts. This free-to-the-public, family-friendly event annually hosts more than 1,000 visual artists, 50 musical performances, artistic displays of every kind, food, drink, and fun for everyone. Unlike any event in Fort Worth, the festival exclusively focuses on highlighting the work of local artists, musicians, and performers of all media and experience levels. ArtsGoggle attracts a crowd of 80,000+ patrons that are as diverse as the event's Near Southside neighborhood. Visitors are invited to park their cars and rediscover this revitalized urban district by Trinity Metro transit, by foot, or by bicycle, including Trinity Metro Bikes.
ArtsGoggle started 23 years ago as the Near Southside's own indoor gallery night, designed to showcase the district’s revitalization efforts underway via newly established businesses hosting one-day open houses in partnership with local artists. The event remained almost exclusively indoors for the first decade before spilling out onto the street. Today, visitors are invited to stroll artists' booths on Magnolia Avenue stretching more than a mile in length, and adjacent businesses, new and old, tout ArtsGoggle as their best day of sales each year.
ArtsGoggle prides itself in providing a casual, approachable, and vibrant environment for appreciating art and learning about the talents of our own community. For almost two decades, this non-juried art festival has been the launch pad for many artists showing their work for the first time. ArtsGoggle provides a supportive setting for both aspiring and professional artists with new collections to display, sell and discuss their artwork.
Accompanying the visual artists, the entertainment at ArtsGoggle heavily features local musicians and offers performances from a variety of genres. In addition, the event partners with arts organizations across Fort Worth to draw attention to their programs. In years past, ArtsGoggle has hosted the Fort Worth Opera for pop-up concerts; showcased Ballet Folklorico de Azteca for a colorful dance performance; and presented a stellar headliner performances from indie musicians Sarah Jaffe, Ben Kweller, and Sir Woman.
