mall is that “not every owner of a mall would be open-minded to do some- thing this unique.” “Grapevine Mills deserves a lot of credit for their willingness to think out of the box continuously with us,” Freed said. “When malls are dying, Meow Wolf is registered as a pub- lic-bene t corporation and certi ed as a bene t corporation, or B corp. This designation is for a for-pro t company that considers additional stakeholders along with shareholder pro t, according to the o cial Bene t Corporation website. Registering as a bene t corporation essentially gives companies a way to protect their missions and values, the website states. Meow Wolf is the only certi ed bene t corporation in the themed entertainment industry, according to the company’s May 11 press release. Meow Wolf was rst certi ed as a bene t corporation in 2017 and recerti ed in 2021, according to its website. The certi cations are done independently, based on a third- party assessment of the company’s policies and actions, including social this mall is thriving.” A bene t corporation
MEOW WOLF LOCATIONS
NV
CO
House of Eternal Return Santa Fe, New Mexico Opened in 2016 Omega Mart Las Vegas, Nevada Opened in February 2021 Convergence Station Denver, Colorado Opened in September 2021 Meow Wolf in Grapevine Grapevine, Texas Expected opening in 2023 Meow Wolf in Houston Houston, Texas Projected to open in 2024
NM
TX
SOURCE: MEOW WOLF COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
overall mission is working with local
and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. The company focuses on ve areas as a bene t corporation: governance, workers, community, environment and customers, the website states. When it comes to employees, one of the ways Meow Wolf meets its vision of contributing to their well-being is with its companywide minimum wage of $17 an hour. Meow Wolf also helps the commu- nity by donating to nonpro ts and ensuring its exhibitions are designed for all abilities. As a bene t corporation that also focuses on environmental impacts, Sheehan said choosing a mall with an existing space that could be reused was another factor in its decision to open in Grapevine Mills. “[Meow Wolf] takes [being a bene- t corporation] really seriously, and a lot of work goes into it,” Sheehan said. “And it’s not easy. There is a tremendous amount of extra work or extra attention and communication that has to go into not doing the easy thing.” Boost for local artists A signi cant part of Meow Wolf’s
artists to ensure they have a plat- form to share their work, according to Sheehan. “Collaboration with outside artists, collaboration with local artists, col- laboration with emerging artists and underserved communities of artists is paramount to what we do,” Sheehan said. “It’s a huge priority.” The arts and entertainment com- pany plans to begin recruiting artists and sta this summer, the May 11 release states. Those interested are encouraged to follow Meow Wolf’s Instagram and Twitter accounts; monitor its website; or sign up at https://texasportals.com. “One of the most exciting aspects of Meow Wolf coming to Grapevine Mills is they work with local and emerging artists right here in Texas to help craft that experience,” Cresswell said. “Those here that are yet to be discovered might be discovered here through Meow Wolf.” When it comes to the types of artists Meow Wolf looks for, Shee- han said “nothing’s o the table, by nature.” However, the exhibitions tend to focus on visual mediums,
such as paintings and sculptures. The company also looks for light artists who work in digital and electronic interactives. “It’s not just a picture on a wall,” Freed said. “It opens up an opportu- nity for people that are artisans that are not your sort of typical, standard perceived artists.” Because the art is done with as few restrictions as possible, Sheehan said there are a few things people should know when they walk into a Meow Wolf location for the rst time. “Expect the unexpected, [and] expect to play,” Sheehan said. “Expect to leave realizing you had no idea what you were getting into, and please … just come with the intention of having a good time with yourself, with your friends and family, and with strangers.”
WE ARE ACUTELY AWARE AS A PREMIUM NORTH TEXAS DESTINATION THAT PEOPLE WANT MORE THAN JUST FOOD OR SHOPPING THEY WANT AN EXPERIENCE. LARRY HOLT, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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