First in the World — Leading with Fine Arts: The Arlington ISD Case Study
- Jeremy Earnhart
- Sep 7
- 3 min read
Vision Meets Opportunity
In 2013, I joined Arlington ISD as Director of Fine Arts after serving in Irving ISD, where I had developed the concept of a comprehensive district Fine Arts Center, including instrument repair and virtual learning, to backstop travel time. Arlington was preparing a needs assessment and facilities improvement package for a future bond. Early conversations mentioned a “performance hall,” but the concept lacked clarity or scope.
I brought the vision — not just a hall, but a comprehensive Fine Arts Center integrated into a district-wide strategy. This was the marriage of timing and leadership: a district ready to invest, and a fine arts program ready to crystallize what that investment could mean.
Crystallizing the Concept
The idea of a performance venue became something far greater. We designed an educational hub, not just a stage:
Concert Hall with the footprint of the Meyerson Symphony Center, scaled for students but with professional-level acoustics.
Broadway-ready theater for musical theatre and UIL One-Act Play.
3,000 sq. ft. dance studio with sprung floors and professional design.
Art gallery and dedicated 2D/3D visual arts studios.
Class piano lab to build foundational music literacy.
Instrument Repair Program — a first-in-the-nation high school CTE pathway, created in partnership with Music & Arts, ensuring equity of access while providing students with career-ready skills.
This integration — world-class performance spaces plus hands-on educational programs — is what made the Center unique. To my knowledge, there is no other facility in the world that combines these elements for public school students under one roof.
Equity as the Cornerstone
We emphasized access and equity. A scientific phone survey conducted before the bond asked voters: “Would you support purchasing instruments for students who otherwise could not afford to participate in band and orchestra?”
It was the highest positive response of the survey — 70%. The bond ultimately passed with nearly the same margin. The message was clear: when communities see Fine Arts as a pathway to opportunity for all students, they rally behind it.
The Broader Fine Arts Vision
The Center was only part of a larger package that passed in the 2014 $663.1M bond, which also included:
Over $10 million in new instruments and uniforms.
The creation of two Fine Arts and Dual Language Academies, programs that remain among the most academically and artistically valued in the community.
A district-wide approach where the Center served as a hub for all six high schools — students could leave their campus, benefit from world-class instruction, and return.
This wasn’t just a building project; it was a comprehensive fine arts transformation strategy.
Lasting Impact
The Marcelo Cavazos Center for Visual and Performing Arts opened in 2020 and continues to stand in the top 1% of spaces for artistic growth and expression for students. Its facilities rival professional venues, yet its mission is education-first.
The Instrument Repair Program is now in its 10th year, widely covered by outlets like NBC, Dallas Innovates, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and NPR Marketplace. It exists only because it was embedded in the Center from the very beginning — a deliberate decision to pair performance with practical career readiness.
The Lesson for Other Districts
The Arlington story proves a timeless truth: when Fine Arts lead, communities invest.
By crystallizing a vision that was both aspirational (world-class facilities) and practical (equity, repair, access), the bond passed with overwhelming support.
By embedding educational programs into a performance facility, Arlington created something unique in the world.
By aligning timing, vision, and community values, the district built a lasting legacy.
For districts considering how to strengthen Fine Arts or prepare a future bond, the Arlington model shows the way forward: lead with the arts, and build for both performance and education.
Send a note and let's talk about anything ArtsEd — Jeremy@SchoolMusicConsulting.com
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