Nonpro t
BY SHELBIE HAMILTON
The annual Allen Arts Festival event includes a dedicated space for young artists and performers.
Blue House Too Gallery is located in Watters Creek Village.
The annual Allen Arts Festival showcases artists from across the country.
PHOTOS COURTESY ALLEN ARTS ALLIANCE
Allen Arts Alliance looks to keep arts “alive and thriving” as 18th annual Allen Arts Festival approaches
Set to celebrate its 18th year in 2026, the Allen Arts Festival is expected to draw both local artists as well as artisans from across the country to show- case their art in Allen on Mother’s Day weekend. The festival is one of the annual events hosted by the Allen Arts Alliance, a nonpro t organization that works to advocate for and support local arts within Allen. Executive Director Wendy McIntyre said the organization works to highlight talented local artists. “Traditionally, there’s been a huge misconcep- tion that we in the arts elds continually battle, that if [art] doesn’t come from a large metropolitan city, it can’t be that good,” she said. “Well, that’s not true. We have just phenomenal talent here locally.” The details The Allen Arts Alliance originated as a city advisory board in 1998 prior to establishing as a nonpro t in 2006, its website states. The umbrella organization serves as a hub for arts and cultural organizations in Allen, and works to promote local cultural arts organizations and arts education opportunities. The organization is funded in part through donations and grants, and also receives some city funding, McIntyre said. Members of the orga- nization include various local art organizations including Allen Quilters Guild, Visual Arts League
of Allen, Allen Contemporary Theatre, Allen Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Chorus, Allen Civic Ballet and more. The organization o ers grants to its members, as well as use of its gallery as event and meeting space. The Blue House Too Gallery, a nonpro t art gallery run by the arts alliance, is located in Watters Creek Village. The alliance awarded over $50,000 in grants in 2025 to support the operating costs of cultural arts organizations, McIntyre said. The Allen Arts Alliance also o ers classes for youth and adults in various mediums. “Our whole mission is to keep the cultural arts alive and thriving within the Allen community,” she said. Mark your calendar The Allen Arts Festival, a three-day event held in Watters Creek Village, will be hosted May 8-10. The event, one of the annual festivals hosted by the organization, showcases painters, woodwork- ers, metalworkers and more. The festival has historically featured between 60-80 vendors, but McIntyre said she is looking to grow the event. “Within the next couple of years, we have large aspirations to grow it to over 200 [vendors] because we want to be one of the largest festivals in North Texas,” she said.
The Blue House Too gallery features artwork by local artists and art students.
Art shows are showcased at Blue House Too Gallery.
75
WATTERS CREEK BLVD.
ENTERPRISE BLVD.
MONTGOMERY BLVD.
N
Blue House Too Gallery, 970 Watters Creek Blvd., Allen www.allenartsalliance.org
19
ALLEN EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook