Olaf Growald
A scene from Arts Goggle, the Near Southside's annual art festival.
When Near Southside, Inc., announced the cancellation of Friday on the Green, citing COVID-19 concerns, the economic development group hinted at the possibility of its signature festival, ArtsGoggle, likely being affected as well.
Now it's official.
ArtsGoggle has been postponed to April 23, 2022. In an email announcement, Near Southside, Inc., wrote that the decision was made "in response to public health concerns and guided by our district’s health professionals."
All applications submitted for artists, food vendors, venues, and entertainers will be honored for the April date, according to Near Southside, Inc. In the meantime, applications will remain open until Feb. 15, 2022.
ArtsGoggle has been a staple event in the Near Southside since it launched 19 years ago, attracting crowds of more than 60,000 coming to view more than 1,000 artists sprawled out for more than a mile along Magnolia Avenue. Per Megan Henderson, director of events and communications for Near Southside, Inc., the event is significant not just for the artists but for the surrounding local businesses as well.
“This is one of [local businesses’] busiest days of the year, if not the biggest sales day of the year,” Henderson told Fort Worth Magazine back in August. “It's critical income to our artists — some artists will make as much at an ArtsGoggle as they make the whole rest of the year.”
While the decision to postpone "wasn’t what we hoped for," according to Near Southside, Inc., "we’re setting our [sights] on making this the best ArtsGoggle yet."
Further updates and more information are available at artsgoggle.org.
