Artisan Productions Inc. is a 501(c)3 charity founded in 2003 (IRS Non-Profit EIN 81-0575548) for the purpose of serving the community with high quality, family-friendly entertainment, theatrical education for youth that includes dance and performing arts classes throughout the year and community outreach programs serving local schools and senior centers across Tarrant County. Using a small staff and over 1,000 volunteers, Artisan Center Theater, Artisan Children's Theater and the Artisan Ambassadors serve over 100,000 patrons annually throughout Tarrant County and beyond.

 

Artisan Center Theater produced our first show, Steel Magnolias, March 28, 2003 in the space originally known as Birraporetti's Restaurant in the North Hills Mall located in North Richland Hills, Texas. The mall was closed in January of 2005 forcing Artisan to find a new location. Founder and Executive Producer, DeeAnn Blair, remembered the unoccupied Belaire Theater located on Pipeline Road and Brown Trail in Hurst and contacted the owners. A lease was signed and a crew of volunteers worked to help restore the original Pizza Inn (our current Main Stage theater) allowing us to occupy the space in only two weeks.

 

Since that time, Artisan Center Theater has experienced several renovations and expansions with the latest remodel increasing the main stage capacity to 197 seats when new chairs were installed in 2016. Artisan now occupies 28,000 sq. ft., using the original Belaire Theater as a rehearsal hall, dance studio, costume storage and scenery shop.

 

Artisan Children's Theater is well known for using children (18 and under) in productions designed to entertain, inspire and educate other children and families. This unique opportunity provides youth of all ages a chance to learn and master performing arts, not only in the classroom, but on-stage and in front of live audiences. Children performing for children in the new 143 seat Children's Theater. The enormous success of this inspired youth program has impacted thousands of children throughout the community and continues to grow each year.

 

The Artisan Children's Theater, along with the advanced Artisan Ambassador Youth Program, form the "outreach" entertainment arm of our charity, reaching thousands of school children, hospitals, senior living centers and special performance opportunities in the community. 

 

The original Mission Statement and Guiding Principles remain the foundation for growth and demonstrate the continuing need for family-friendly entertainment in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.