MISSION

The Greater Denton Arts Council (GDAC) is a catalyst for creativity, advocacy and collaboration.
The Patterson-Appleton Arts Center (PAAC) is our home where we celebrate the arts, inspire innovation, and engage community.

HISTORY

The Greater Denton Arts Council has served the Denton community for over 50 years. The Arts Council provides foundational support for Denton’s artists and community arts organizations and collaborates frequently with area universities, the Denton Independent School District, and the City of Denton. The Arts Council presents a full schedule of programs and exhibitions in its flagship facility in historic downtown Denton, the Patterson-Appleton Center Arts Center.

THE PATTERSON-APPLETON ARTS CENTER
The Patterson-Appleton Arts Center is truly the arts engine of Denton. Built in 1929 and located between Denton’s Downtown Square and emerging innovation district, this historic building was originally the city’s steam power plant. Renovated in the 1980s, the Arts Center now offers two large galleries, art studio, dance rehearsal hall and sculpture garden. The centerpiece of the venue is Festival Hall, a 5000 square foot event and exhibition space with soaring ceilings and original industrial hardware.

SUPPORTING THE ARTS
One of the Arts Council’s primary focuses is to provide financial support to its member organizations, giving over $1.5 million in grants since 1980. In addition, the Arts Council presents high quality exhibitions in its galleries, featuring both local and national artists. In 2011, The Arts Council began a partnership with the College of Music at the University of North Texas to curate exhibits of regional artists in the Murchison Performing Arts Center expanding the reach and visibility of area artists to new audiences.

CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY
Each year, over 550,000 people attend an Arts Council sponsored event. Serving community through arts education is central to the mission of the Arts Council as demonstrated by the Council’s longest running educational program Getting Started with the Arts. This annual program provides access to arts programming to over 12,500 students across Denton ISD. The Council also presents after-school arts and summer camp programs for children.

In addition to providing a robust education and exhibition program, the Arts Council is a tireless advocate for the arts within the community. The Council works with government officials, city commissions, task forces, the CVB, Parks and Recreation Department, and local businesses to ensure that all segments of the community have access to the arts. For a full schedule of programs and events offered by the Arts Council, click here.