Sammons Center for the Arts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Dallas, Texas
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| Website | sammonsartcenter |
The Sammons Center for the Arts is a nationally recognized arts incubator in Dallas, Texas, that offers office, meeting, rehearsal, audition and performance space to local arts organizations.[1] It is housed in the old Turtle Creek Pump Station, a landmark building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2] It opened in 1988.[3] The organization assists local performing artists, arts groups, and efforts related to arts education. It houses 14 arts organizations that represent different disciplines of performing arts.[4] Over 90 other organizations use the center for rehearsals, performances and other events.[4] As of 2019, Joanna St. Angelo serves as its executive director with Michael Cook serving as assistant director.[4]
The Turtle Creek Pump Station building was designed by Dallas architect C.A. Gill and completed in 1909.[5] The Pump Station was responsible for the entire water supply for the City of Dallas until 1930,[5] when a much larger treatment plant was opened and the Turtle Creek Pump Station was shut down.[3][6]
In 1953, the building's west wall and chimney were removed due to industrial road renovations and the building was remodeled. The building was abandoned in 1959.[3]
In 1981, the City of Dallas leased the building to an arts support group in Dallas led by Jo Kurth Jagoda, which was known as the "Turtle Creek Center for the Arts".[7] That same year, it was named as an American Water Landmark.[3]
In 1983, renovations started. The building was named a Texas Historic Landmark & State Antiquities Landmark.[3]
In February 1988, renovations were completed and the building was opened. The center was given the name the "Sammons Center for the Arts" in honor of Charles A. Sammons and his wife, who donated funds in 1987 to complete the renovations.[3][7]
In 2011, the center received a gift of $2,000,000 from Sammons Enterprises as part of a $5,000,000 fundraising campaign.[7]
In 2018, the center's Director, Joanna St. Angelo, was awarded the inaugural Jac Alder Award by the Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition.[1]