Forney, Texas – The Forney Arts Council (FAC) celebrated their three year anniversary with an open house at the FAC Gallery of the Arts at Crumbzz tasting pavilion in downtown Forney on Monday night, January 27, 2014.
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Crumbzz was packed with old and new members of the Forney community with a common goal of supporting the arts. Guests enjoyed refreshments and Crumbzz's very own world-class crumb cake while local artist Brent Basham performed classical guitar music. Ashley Howell and Mark Conaway also performed vocal and guitar combos.
Forney High School Percussion instructor Mario Luna, FHS percussion private lesson instructor Shannon Jacobs, Jordan Jacques, former Forney High School graduate and current University of North Texas music student Colin Knowles, and Conaway later performed a five-piece jazz combo.
The vision for the FAC grew as a seed in August of 2010 with 20 people discussing the need for an arts council in Forney. By May of 2011, the FAC was already holding their first house concert. The FAC then partnered with Crumbzz to provide a permanent place to display the many art exhibits of its members – the first showing was in January of 2012.
“When we formed the Forney Arts Council three years ago, I had no idea where we were headed,” Forney Arts Council Chairman Robert Dobbs told inForney.com. “I am an optimist, but I never envisioned it growing this quickly.” Dobbs has served as the chairman since its inception.
Just six short months after the first gallery show at Crumbzz, the FAC began offering arts classes across the street at the new FAC Arts Center. According to Dobbs, they currently teach 20 different art classes per week with over 80 students. Then in March of 2013, the FAC began the downtown artisan market “2nd Saturdays.”
“The 2nd Saturday and Forney Live programs have been tremendous successes for us,” Dobbs said. “Our collaboration with Crumbzz for a place to show our art in a gallery setting has been great for both parties.”
The FAC's current space needs have outgrown the current Arts Center and, with the construction of the new Zanata restaurant downtown, the FAC will be searching for a new home to serve as their new Arts Center. The FAC has their sights on the old historic Reagin House just south of their current Arts Center on South Bois D'Arc Street and have been working with the City of Forney to obtain a grant to help purchase the building. A Forney City Council workshop will be held in February to discuss the grant option.
If the FAC is able to obtain the Reagin House, they expect to expand their class options and workshops which will include culinary, pottery, sewing, music, and photography classes. The FAC also hopes to provide an incubator atmosphere for new business startups with available extra space at the Reagin House which will, in turn, provide income for the FAC.
Also, the FAC plans to include a visitor and volunteer center at the Reagin House to function as a central downtown location for visitors. The house will also be the new home to the artisan market which features 36 FAC members' crafts and wares for sale to the public.
“I would say that we have made quite an impact on our community in a relatively short period of time,” said Dobbs.
For more information on the Forney Arts Council visit their website at ForneyArts.org.
Forney High School Percussion instructor Mario Luna, FHS percussion private lesson instructor Shannon Jacobs, Jordan Jacques, former Forney High School graduate and current University of North Texas music student Colin Knowles, and Conaway later performed a five-piece jazz combo.
The vision for the FAC grew as a seed in August of 2010 with 20 people discussing the need for an arts council in Forney. By May of 2011, the FAC was already holding their first house concert. The FAC then partnered with Crumbzz to provide a permanent place to display the many art exhibits of its members – the first showing was in January of 2012.
“When we formed the Forney Arts Council three years ago, I had no idea where we were headed,” Forney Arts Council Chairman Robert Dobbs told inForney.com. “I am an optimist, but I never envisioned it growing this quickly.” Dobbs has served as the chairman since its inception.
Just six short months after the first gallery show at Crumbzz, the FAC began offering arts classes across the street at the new FAC Arts Center. According to Dobbs, they currently teach 20 different art classes per week with over 80 students. Then in March of 2013, the FAC began the downtown artisan market “2nd Saturdays.”
“The 2nd Saturday and Forney Live programs have been tremendous successes for us,” Dobbs said. “Our collaboration with Crumbzz for a place to show our art in a gallery setting has been great for both parties.”
The FAC's current space needs have outgrown the current Arts Center and, with the construction of the new Zanata restaurant downtown, the FAC will be searching for a new home to serve as their new Arts Center. The FAC has their sights on the old historic Reagin House just south of their current Arts Center on South Bois D'Arc Street and have been working with the City of Forney to obtain a grant to help purchase the building. A Forney City Council workshop will be held in February to discuss the grant option.
If the FAC is able to obtain the Reagin House, they expect to expand their class options and workshops which will include culinary, pottery, sewing, music, and photography classes. The FAC also hopes to provide an incubator atmosphere for new business startups with available extra space at the Reagin House which will, in turn, provide income for the FAC.
Also, the FAC plans to include a visitor and volunteer center at the Reagin House to function as a central downtown location for visitors. The house will also be the new home to the artisan market which features 36 FAC members' crafts and wares for sale to the public.
“I would say that we have made quite an impact on our community in a relatively short period of time,” said Dobbs.
For more information on the Forney Arts Council visit their website at ForneyArts.org.