The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) is set to return to the downtown Dallas convention center in December 2028, promising a modernized and upgraded facility.
In a briefing held on Monday at the academy, TBAAL previewed its plans for an extensive renovation of the almost 70-year-old building.
The upgrades will focus on improving the theatrical system, enhancing ADA accessibility, and upgrading the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructures.
In addition, TBAAL plans to expand the facilities through a reconfiguration of the existing space.
Curtis King, the founder of TBAAL, reminisced about the organization’s journey, noting that it took nine years to secure a permanent home.
“Thirty-eight years later, we’re still here,” he stated, reflecting on the enduring legacy of the academy.
As part of a larger city master plan aimed at revitalizing the area, the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, which currently houses TBAAL, is scheduled to be demolished in phases.
In preparation for this transition, TBAAL will temporarily relocate this fall to The Women’s Museum in Fair Park, which has been unoccupied.
A significant milestone occurred in February 2024 when the Dallas City Council awarded a four-year, $9.2 million contract to engineering consulting firm Dikita Enterprises for the renovation work.
Additionally, a $22.3 million contract was approved in January 2025 with the architecture firm KAI Enterprises.
During the briefing, Brien Graham, an architect from KAI Enterprises, shared that the firm drew inspiration for TBAAL’s overhaul by visiting prominent cultural venues, including the Apollo Theater and Lincoln Center in New York City, as well as the Hale Centre Theater in Utah.
Construction for the renovation is projected to start in May 2026.
In his opening remarks at the Naomi Bruton Theatre, King discussed the origins of TBAAL, tracing back to his time as a graduate student at Texas Christian University.
He was inspired by the New York-based Black Academy of Arts and Letters, which had notable artists like Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee among its members.
Unfortunately, that academy became defunct, and much of its legacy faded into obscurity.
A friend of King’s managed to salvage four boxes of archives that had been discarded, reigniting the importance of preserving artistic history.
“As a director, as an artist, if we don’t salvage and save our history … then it doesn’t have a purpose,” King explained.
Accompanying his remarks was piano music filtering in from outside the theatre, leading him to humorously highlight the need for improved sound equipment during the renovations.
King was joined by city officials and community leaders praising the academy’s immense contribution to community engagement.
Diane Ragsdale, a former Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, reflected on her involvement in helping the academy secure its initial contract with the convention center back in the 1980s.
“That moment marked a new beginning,” she said, commending TBAAL for providing a critical platform for artists.
The academy has showcased numerous well-known performers, including comedian Dave Chappelle and actress Jennifer Holliday.
TBAAL’s summer youth arts institute was also a focal point during the briefing, with speakers noting its transformative impact on participants.
Martine Elyse Philippe, director of the Office of Arts and Culture, highlighted that the program is “changing lives,” while Joe Carreón, president of the Dallas Independent School District board, referred to it as a vital pathway for students.
Celebrated artists such as Erykah Badu and Rachel Simone Webb, who starred in the touring Broadway musical & Juliet, are among TBAAL’s distinguished alumni.
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