South Dallas arts leaders prepare for FIFA World Cup Fan Festival at Fair Park

In this clip, VanAnthony Williams, general manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center, Lisa Brown Ross, president and CEO of the African American Museum of Dallas and Nijeul X, executive and artistic director of Forest Forward, share how South Dallas’ arts and cultural institutions are preparing for next summer’s FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park and what visitors can expect from the local arts community.

🎥 Watch the full roundtable discussion here.

Transcript

Introduction

Lisa Brown Ross: I’m happy to report that we made a major announcement to our board on Wednesday, and what we will be mounting is the Nelson Mandela exhibit during FIFA.

DFP: How are you preparing for next summer’s FIFA World Cup and the festival at Fair Park?

VanAnthony Williams: I am daydreaming. Right now, we already have some scheduled programming that was already calendared, and so we will be continuing with that. But I will be looking for opportunities to provide access to the space for those guests, right? I want them to come over here and experience what South Dallas culture is, rather than the other way around, which is me creating something for FIFA. What is this community doing? What are we producing over here?

Lisa Brown Ross: I’m happy to report that we made a major announcement to our board on Wednesday, and what we will be mounting is the Nelson Mandela exhibit during FIFA. 

Nijeul X: That’s fire.

Lisa Brown Ross: It is going to be big. Our vision is big. I’m looking at it as the fulcrum. Everything we do outside of the exhibit – the programming, some of the relationships with the museum, fundraising, is going to be centered around that exhibit. So it will take up our entire gallery space. I’m super excited about it, not only because we are offering this for South Dallas, but also, internationally, Nelson Mandala was a huge soccer fan. So we are looking at the educational aspects of how we can replicate that, how we can partner – all of the good things. So, I’m excited about that. 

Nijeul X: Okay, I gotta get the theater open. I’m looking forward to finding ways to support. I also think it is not neutral that hundreds of thousands of people will descend on South Dallas from around the world. I’m curious how we can maximize that opportunity to tell stories, but also to build relationships. I do think Dallas is underrated, and there’s an opportunity to continue spreading the knowledge, wealth, and history that’s here. Especially from an artistic point of view. 

Lisa Brown Ross: Absolutely. And integrate that message. I think there are opportunities for our branding and message integration to happen next year. Even if we are telling the story that the theater is coming, you know? And get people excited with you.

Nijeul X: Yes, yes.