Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party: The Arts as a Safe Space

Name: Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party: The Arts as a Safe Space
Start: 2025-09-19T17:30:00-05:00
Location: Round-Up Saloon

Schedule

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025 at 05:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Round-Up Saloon | Dallas, TX

FREE EVENT Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party: The Arts as a Safe Space.
Join the organizers of the Dallas Arts District annual Pride Block Party to hear how they built an inclusive, diverse celebration centered around the arts that continues to grow, even in challenging times. The Crow Museum of Asian Art, Dallas Arts District, Dallas Museum of Art, and Nasher Sculpture Center’s goal and purpose is not simply and event for the Queer community, but rather a joyful celebration created alongside and in full collaboration with the community acknowledging and honoring the vital ongoing and historical role of LGBTQ+ artists, curators, performers, and advocates.
Headshots attached separately.
In alpha order by last name.
Lily Cabatu Weiss – Dallas Arts District
Lily became Executive Director of The Dallas Arts District in 2016. Her goals to create access and connectivity in the Dallas Arts District are seen in the Connect Urban Master Plan, the Signature Block Party Series--a free, family-friendly event featuring international and regional artists attracting over 50,000 visitors, and a vibrant, dynamic neighborhood. Dallas Arts District ranked 1st in USA Today’s 2024 and 2025 10Best Arts Districts. She is proud of her nearly four-decade impact at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts as Chair of the Dance Department and Artistic Director. Much of her work was instrumental in BTWHSPVA’s distinction as a Texas Medal of Art awardee and resulted in her recognition by the Commission on Presidential Scholars in the Arts.
Her commitment to the arts is reflected by serving on several boards such as TITAS/ DANCE UNBOUND, Downtown Dallas, Inc., while working with the Texas Commission on the Arts and internationally with Global Cultural Districts Network. Recent awards span Women Who Steam Award, the Obelisk Award for Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader, and D CEO’s Dallas 500 three years in a row. One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is that it requires dedication, resilience, and a willingness to continuously learn and evolve while pushing boundaries and opening a world of possibilities.
Sara Greenberg – Crow Museum of Asian Art at UT Dallas
Sara is the Director of Museum Experience at the Crow Museum of Asian art at UT Dallas. Prior to joining the Crow Museum, she was the Manager of Adult Programs at the DMA and the Education Coordinator for the Greater Denton Arts Council. Sara holds a BA in Art History from the University of Denver and an MA in Art History from the University of California at Riverside.
Moderator: Shannon M Linker – DMA
Shannon is currently serving as the DMA League Director of Adult Programs at the Dallas Museum of Art where she oversees educational programing and events for adult audiences and leads the production of annual museum wide events such as the Pride Block Party and the Black History & Culture Celebration.
Prior to her return home to Dallas in 2021, she held the position of Vice President and Director of Gallery 924 for the Arts Council of Indianapolis. During her 19-year tenure at the Arts Council, Shannon developed and oversaw one of the most robust and comprehensive Artist Development programs in the country. Serving as the city’s primary advocate for artists, she created programs and services for professional artists of all disciplines including professional development training, networking opportunities, fellowship and grant programs, and the city’s Buy Local movement created to highlight artists and their economic impact to a broader audience.
Shannon taught college level art history for six years and served on various nonprofit boards supporting the artist community. To ensure artists are represented during city-wide events, she served on numerous local organizing committees for national sporting events including the NCAA Final Four, Super Bowl XLVI Host Committee, Indy 500 Host Committees, various Olympic trials, and many others.
Shannon holds a BFA in Art History from the University of North Texas and an MA in Art History from Texas Woman’s University.
Stacey Lizotte – DMA
Stacey Lizotte is the Allen and Kelli Questrom Center for Creative Connections Chief Learning Officer at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA). Stacey has been with the DMA for 20 years, after starting at the museum as an intern in 2004. Working with a team of 18 educators, Stacey oversees all educational programming offered by the DMA, including family programs, adult programs, access programs, and community engagement programs, which serve an average of 100,000 visitors each year.
Lizotte holds a Master of Arts in Art Education with Museum Certification and Teacher Certification from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography with a minor in Printmaking and Education from Syracuse University.
Molly Sydor – Nasher Sculpture Center
Molly Margaret Sydnor is a Dallas-based multidisciplinary fine artist with an eye for fiber. Molly enjoys her thriving freelance career as an artist, speaker, and DEI+ advocate, with work that has been shown in solo and group exhibitions nationally. Originally brought to Texas for a career in product development specializing in interiors, textiles, and rug design, Sydnor traded in her corporate career for advocacy and creative direction for non-profits. She currently works full time as the Marketing and Digital Engagement Manager for the Nasher Sculpture Center.