Irving Arts Center

Ben and Betty Carpenter provided the catalyst for construction of a community arts center in 1980 with the donation of six acres of land to the City of Irving. Their dream was to build a home for the arts organizations of Irving. The versatile facility was a decade in the making. In 1980, the Irving City Council established the City of Irving Arts Board, which was charged with the responsibility of encouraging and supporting local arts activities and with the development and oversight of Irving Arts Center. The work of the 11-person Board is funded through a portion of the local hotel room occupancy tax. Careful planning ensured that the two theaters could support any range of skill from local beginners to internationally-known professionals. In April of 1986, the first phase of Irving Arts Center opened and included administrative offices, meeting rooms and the 3808 sq. ft. Main Gallery. The facility was completed in 1990 when Carpenter Hall and Dupree Theater opened. The City acquired the gas station at the corner of the property on MacArthur and Coker Street in 1995. Once demolished, a Sculpture Garden and additional parking were added to completed the project. Since opening its doors, the Arts Center has been a lively hub of community celebration. Irving Arts Center alone hosts approximately 1,400 events annually, including 200+ performances and 25+ exhibitions, welcoming more than 100,000 visitors.