Arts Development Campus

Arts Junction is an arts incubator, culture lab, and development program located on the Old Rail Station campus in Duncanville. The program was created to support the emergence of nonprofit arts organizations across disciplines.

The campus supports a range of artistic, cultural, and creative activity. It includes rehearsal and performance space, administrative offices, gallery space, green space, and shared social areas. A pickleball court anchors the outdoor section of the property, contributing to a layered environment where physical activity, cultural life, and community interaction coexist. The site also welcomes non-arts-related businesses through structured partnerships, creating opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, resource sharing, and sustainable revenue models.

The Old Rail Station campus is designed for flexibility. Its configuration supports public programming, creative work, and the day-to-day operations of both cultural and mission-aligned enterprises.

Old Rail Station Campus

The Old Rail Station campus is home to Arts Junction, the Duncanville Arts Foundation’s incubator for emerging and established arts organizations in Duncanville. The campus is designed as a flexible environment where artistic work, nonprofit development, civic programming, and local business activity can coexist and inform one another.

Campus Features

  • REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE
    Suitable for music, theatre, movement-based work, and public events.

  • OFFICE & ADMINISTRATION
    Offices and meeting areas that support organizational development, day-to-day operations, and collaborative planning.

  • GALLERY & EXHIBITION
    Designed for visual presentations, temporary installations, and curated shows.

  • FOOD & CULINARY
    A dedicated restaurant space provides hospitality infrastructure for the campus, serving as a public-facing gathering point and supporting long-term economic viability.

  • GREENSPACE & COURTYARD
    Outdoor environments for informal gathering, community dialogue, and cultural programs.

  • SOCIAL & COMMON AREAS
    Shared interior and exterior spaces that encourage interaction among organizations and the public.

  • PICKLEBALL COURT
    A permanent outdoor court supporting recreational and civic use.

  • MIXED-USE PURPOSES
    The campus supports non-arts-related businesses that contribute to civic and cultural goals.

Strategic Planning

Cultural Infrastructure Development

  • Adaptive use of the Old Rail Station development into a multi-use arts and culture development campus and arts organization incubator.

  • Grant-seeded incubator space maturing into self-sustaining, off-campus spaces for sustainable arts and cultural programming within Duncanville.

  • Establish long-term residency opportunities for local and relocating arts organizations.

Creative Enterprise Incubation

  • Provide technical assistance, fiscal sponsorship, and mentorship for emerging cultural groups.

  • Partner with business and civic leaders to pilot creative placemaking and social entrepreneurship projects.

  • Launch programs that link artists with economic development opportunities.

Community Engagement & Public Programming

  • Activate the site with recurring events: open studios, night markets, performances, community murals, and workshops.

  • Prioritize accessibility through multilingual outreach, intergenerational programming, and ADA-compliant design.

  • Foster collaborations with local schools, libraries, and neighborhood associations.

Regional Connectivity & Recognition

  • Position Arts Junction as a model of municipal and nonprofit partnership in the Best Southwest region.

  • Develop pathways for touring artists and regional festivals to include Duncanville as a stop.

  • Use strategic marketing to elevate Duncanville’s profile as a creative destination.

Sustainable Growth & Governance

  • Establish a leadership circle of local stakeholders to guide policy, programming, and partnerships.

  • Launch a capital campaign and donor engagement strategy to support phased development.

  • Align with the broader missions of the Duncanville Arts Commission, City of Duncanville, Duncanville Community and Economic Development Corp., and Armstrong Park Cultural District.