Business struggles force Daisha Board Gallery to relocate from Tin District to Oak Cliff: unbearable expenses cause difficult decision.
After two years in the vibrant arts hub of the Tin District in West Dallas, Daisha Board Gallery is moving to a smaller space in Oak Cliff. The move comes amidst an increasingly challenging arts ecosystem, with recent federal funding cuts and a decline in arts spending putting strain on budgets of arts groups.
Founder Daisha Board shared that the high overhead costs, including rent, utilities, and exhibition expenses, were unsustainable, amounting to over $10,000 per month for the gallery's current 7,000-square-foot space.
Board launched her inclusive gallery in 2017, representing artists from marginalized communities, including those who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and with disabilities. The gallery thrived in its first location on Sylvan Avenue before moving to a larger space in the Tin District in 2023.
Now in her new space at the Oak Cliff Assembly, Board plans to focus on boosting sales and generating more revenue. The smaller space and reduced overhead will provide a financial advantage, allowing the gallery to offer one-on-one consultations, weekend exhibitions, mixers, and classes.
AJ Ramler, founder and owner of the Oak Cliff Assembly, expressed admiration for Daisha Board Gallery's commitment to supporting local artists and creating inclusive spaces. He welcomed the gallery to his property, emphasizing the shared vision of fostering community, arts, and culture.
Board also sees the transition as an opportunity for collaboration and expanding programming. She hopes to host pop-up art events with companies that have found ways to reallocate funds, and she aims to engage with other organizations to strengthen her nonprofit initiative, Black Sheep Art Culture, which seeks to expand arts education and cultural programming in the community.
Running a private gallery in Dallas has proven to be a costly endeavor, with the volatility of art sales making it difficult to cover expenses. Last year's drop in sales significantly influenced Board's decision to relocate from the Tin District.
The gallery has also faced added costs due to tariffs, such as those imposed by Canada on art shipped from the U.S. These tariffs have resulted in increased shipping expenses, further straining the gallery's resources.
The abrupt ending of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts has left many arts groups, including those in North Texas, competing for alternative funding sources. These funding losses and the competitive grants ecosystem have made it challenging to achieve the gallery's goals, but Board remains optimistic about the future.
- Daisha Board Gallery, known for its focus on marginalized communities, is moving from the Tin District in West Dallas to a smaller space in Oak Cliff.
- The move is due to an increasingly challenging ecosystem for arts groups, with federal funding cuts and decreased arts spending.
- Founder Daisha Board is seeking to boost sales and generate more revenue in the smaller space, which will result in reduced overhead.
- The gallery represents artists from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disability communities, and thrived in its first location on Sylvan Avenue before moving to the Tin District in 2023.
- The high costs, including rent, utilities, and exhibition expenses, amounted to over $10,000 per month for the gallery's current 7,000-square-foot space.
- In the new space at the Oak Cliff Assembly, Daisha Board plans to offer one-on-one consultations, weekend exhibitions, mixers, and classes.
- AJ Ramler, owner of the Oak Cliff Assembly, expressed admiration for Daisha Board's commitment to local artists and creating inclusive spaces.
- Board views the transition as an opportunity for collaboration and expanding programming, including hosting pop-up art events with companies that reallocate funds.
- Running a private gallery in Dallas has proven to be costly, with volatile art sales making it difficult to cover expenses.
- Last year's drop in sales significantly influenced Board's decision to relocate from the Tin District.
- The gallery also faced added costs due to tariffs, such as those imposed by Canada on art shipped from the U.S.
- These tariffs have resulted in increased shipping expenses, further straining the gallery's resources.
- The abrupt ending of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts has left many arts groups in North Texas competing for alternative funding sources.
- These funding losses and the competitive grants ecosystem have made it challenging for the gallery to achieve its goals, but Board remains optimistic about the future.
- The move to Oak Cliff Assembly will provide an opportunity for the gallery to strengthen its nonprofit initiative, Black Sheep Art Culture, which seeks to expand arts education and cultural programming in the community.
- The lifestyle section of the local newspaper might cover the gallery's move to a smaller space in Oak Cliff.
- The change in location could also attract attention from the food-and-drink section, as they could feature the new gallery in their pieces about the Oak Cliff area.
- Besides sharing news about the gallery's move, social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram could help Daisha Board Gallery promote upcoming exhibitions and events.
- The entertainment industry, including celebrities and pop-culture enthusiasts, might show support for Daisha Board Gallery by attending its mixers and supporting its artists.
