August 6 - September 4
Opening Reception August 7, 5-7pm

It was just over a year ago that Rockport-area artists were applying for a share of $150,000 in grant money through THE NEW NORMAL–Rockport, an initiative challenging visual artists to create works inspired by their current experiences in the world. Rockport Center for the Arts is now preparing for the resulting exhibition, The New Normal: Rockport, Aug. 6–Sept. 5, featuring the work of 41 grant recipient artists, each of whom received a $2,000 or $5,000 grant from the program.

Themes include the lingering impact of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic and racial inequality and social injustice. The funding for the grants came through a partnership between Fine Line Group, the family office of Ed and Sasha Bass, and Fort Worth-based nonprofit arts organization Gallery of Dreams, who administered the program, along with the Alice L. Walton Foundation and Tartaglino Richards Family Foundation.

“This wonderful exhibition is the result of an ambitious program started by Fort Worth businessman, financier, philanthropist and environmentalist Edward P. Bass and his wife Sasha,” said Luis Purón, executive director for Rockport Center for the Arts. “Building on the success of THE NEW NORMAL in Fort Worth launched in April 2020, the decision was made to implement a similar program in Rockport where the Bass family has deep historic ties — and we’re so pleased that they did. This was such an incredible opportunity for our talented pool of Rockport artists and the resulting show is an amazing collection of work reflecting the artists’ interpretation and personal experience with so many life-altering events.”

Artwork in the Exhibition was funded with grants by the following supporters: