PILLAR: Vibrant
AGENDA DATE: August 25, 2026
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): Citywide
DEPARTMENT: Office of Arts and Culture
PRIORITY: N/A
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the (1) application for and acceptance of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for the Arts Projects Spotlighting the Spirit of Sports program (Federal Award ID No. 1953643-62-26, Assistance Listing No. 45.024) in the amount of $30,000.00 to support the project titled “The World is Ours,” for the period May 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026; (2) establishment of appropriations in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 in the NEA Arts Projects Spotlighting the Spirit of Sports Grant Fund; (3) receipt and deposit of funds in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 in the NEA Arts Projects Spotlighting the Spirit of Sports Grant Fund; and (4) execution of the grant agreement with the NEA and all terms, conditions, and documents required by the agreement - Not to exceed $30,000.00 - Financing: NEA Arts Projects Spotlighting the Spirit of Sports Grant Fund
Body
BACKGROUND
In March 2026, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) created and implemented an invitational grant opportunity in amounts not to exceed $30,000 per recipient for Local Arts Agencies at each of the 11 United States host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The grant opportunity titled, “Arts Projects Spotlighting the Spirit of Sport,” supports projects that spotlight each respective community’s artistic and cultural traditions as they intersect with activities celebrating world soccer.
As the invited local arts agency for Dallas, the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) submitted an application for this grant opportunity for a project titled “The World is Ours.” The project scope included the temporary installation of the prominent sculpture, The World is Ours, by artist Risk Rock in collaboration with artist Mesplé. The World is Ours is a large-scale sculpture measuring eight feet wide and twelve feet high. The work features a bold bronze hand lifting an immense, gently rotating globe. The globe itself is engineered from repurposed spray cans and embellished with vibrant license plates collected from around the world. This fusion of art and engineering invites viewers to engage with the work through curiosity, cultural recognition, and a sense of shared global identity.
In April 2026, the NEA awarded the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture with a $30,000 grant. After official award notification, OAC began working to organize logistics of the loan of the sculpture by Dallas-based art gallery, Gallery DeFi. Following, plans were made for temporary installation of the work in time for the beginning of the FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park.
The World is Ours temporary exhibition was on display at Fair Park Dallas for the period of June 11, 2026, through July 19, 2026. The work sat atop the same platform as the historic “Big Tex” which welcomes all to the State Fair of Texas every year. Encircling the sculpture was a series of informational signs about the work. To reflect the diversity of languages spoken by Dallas residents and 2026 World Cup visitors, the informational signs were provided in English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Croatian, French, Portuguese, German, and Arabic. Translated signage provided language access to guests and enhanced the experience of those engaging with the work to learn about the sculpture, the artists, Dallas Fair Park, and the Office of Arts and Culture.
The opportunity to install The World is Ours at Fair Park for Fan Fest illustrated that, despite the vastness of the world, arts and sports are the common threads that bring people together. The World Is Ours celebrated not only the spirit of sport but the spirit of unity, offering a public landmark that reinforces the idea that, collectively, the world truly belongs to all of us.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
This item has no prior action.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2026 |
FY 2027 |
Future Years |
|
NEA Arts Projects Spotlighting the Spirit of Sports Grant Fund |
$30,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |