APEX Arts League



Community Impact Newspaper recently spoke with APEX Arts League Chairwoman Terri Messing, who leads the nonprofit organization that has a goal of presenting quality art, enhancing education efforts through the arts and promoting space for the arts in northeast Tarrant County while positioning the organization to be able to open an art hall for the performing and visual arts.



When do you foresee the organization being able to open an art venue?



Right now we are positioning ourselves to be able to be a part of something like this. It is still being talked about and we have done a lot of research, but we have to make sure that the venue will be right for us. It has to be sustainable because we want it to be here 20 to 30 years from now.



Where does APEX hold its events since there is no APEX venue?



Most of our events are held at White's Chapel [United] Methodist Church in Southlake. They have been wonderful over the years, and we have never had trouble. Unfortunately, since we don't have a venue that actually has a theater, we are very limited on what we can offer in terms of theater and ballet.



How is it that APEX can bring quality events to the area at low costs?



We are very lucky to be able to do what we do with the money we take in. Mostly everything we make at the door goes to the performers. We get a couple of grants, but most of our funds come from donations and membership dues. I encourage the community to become members so we can continue to provide expensive art programs such as chamber music, manage emerging artists for Art in the Square and provide educational components at almost all our events. We offer the best of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex arts, from visual to ballet to rock to dance.



How important do you think it is that APEX continues to bring the arts to Tarrant County?



Without the arts the community isn't complete. They already have great schools, great shopping areas, and we are able to provide them with great art. We are bringing the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphony at a minimum cost, which is a big deal because they don't travel everywhere. We bring them to our own backyard here in Tarrant County because we know people want the arts where they live. I think there is a need to have things close to home, which is why the community heavily supports our efforts. It's gratifying knowing we created something that is sustainable, and people take advantage of it. We have a big impact on the community.