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Want to experience North Texas’ arts and culture on a budget? Here’s 15 under $15

Maggie Simmons Ward (left) and Jaquai Wade Pearson.
Daniel Carde
/
The Dallas Morning News
Maggie Simmons Ward (left) and Jaquai Wade Pearson in Single Black Female, presented by Soul Rep Theatre Company at the South Dallas Cultural Center.

It’s Saturday night and you want to enjoy a fun night experiencing North Texas’ arts and culture, but don’t want to break the bank.

That’s where our list of 15 under $15 comes in. From theater shows to museum visits to poetry and jazz nights, our list shows that having a good time doesn’t have to feel like you’re giving up all your coin.

What: These live are dedicated to storytelling for audiences that are young and young-at-heart. Now you don’t even have to go in person; virtual on-demand shows are available to stream.
Where: Online
How Much: $10+ per show

What: This puts on innovative plays that make audiences think deeply about the communities they live in. Ticket prices for events are tiered; pay what you can afford, with discounted tickets starting at $15
Where: Amphibian Stage, 120 S. Main St., Fort Worth, TX 76104
How Much: $10+ per show

Anna Xie (left) and Evelyn Chun walk past the Abode of the Immortals (Jade Mountain) from the Qing Dynasty at the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. The Crow is known for having one of the best collections of Qing Dynasty jades in the Western world, which Crow director Amy Lewis Hofland says "you can't find in one place anywhere else."
Rose Baca
/
The Dallas Morning News
Anna Xie (left) and Evelyn Chun walk past the Abode of the Immortals (Jade Mountain) from the Qing Dynasty at the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. The Crow is known for having one of the best collections of Qing Dynasty jades in the Western world, which Crow director Amy Lewis Hofland says "you can't find in one place anywhere else." (Rose Baca/Staff Photographer)

What: The , and in downtown Dallas’ Arts District are worth spending a day at to people watch and admire the collections.
Where: Dallas Museum of Art, Crow Museum of Asian Art or Klyde Warren Park
How Much: General admission is free

What: Visit the or walk through its collections of modern and contemporary sculptures.
Where: Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora St., Dallas, TX 75201
How Much: General admission is $10 for adults, $5 students with ID, free for children under 12, free first Saturday of every month

What: Explore folk art, African art, Black Renaissance paintings and more at this inside Fair Park in South Dallas.
Where: African American Museum of Dallas, 3536 Grand Ave., Dallas, TX 75210
How Much: Free

What: Dabble in fiber arts, zine-making and more on Thursday nights with fellow art lovers.
Where: Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, 400 E Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201
How Much: Free

Erykah Badu
Rose Baca
/
The Dallas Morning News
Erykah Badu speaks at a press conference about her upcoming one-woman-show at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters in Dallas on Oct. 16, 2015.

What: From poetry and jazz to a Christmas Kwanzaa concert, the uplifts African, African American and Caribbean artistic expression.
Where: Inside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, 1309 Canton St., Dallas, TX,
How Much: Typically $10 to $15

What: You can walk through dozens of acres of trees, plants and flowers and enjoy the outdoors next to White Rock Lake.
Where: , 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218
How Much: Tickets are typically $12-$20, but they will be discounted from Jan. 2 to Feb. 18; $5 for adults, seniors and children

What: This is something to admire, with water cascading down its steps.
Where: Fort Worth Water Gardens, 1502 Commerce St., Fort Worth, TX 76102
How Much: General admission is free

What: Immerse yourself in nature with butterfly house and a visit to the snake shack.
Where: 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas, TX 75210
How Much: General admission is $12 for adults; $10 for students, seniors, teachers, first responders and military.

Boys playing video games.
Rose Baca
/
The Dallas Morning News
Boys play video games at the National Videogame Museum in Frisco on Aug. 2, 2018.

What: If you’ve ever wanted to learn about the evolution of video games or visit an old-school arcade, is a worthwhile stop.
Where: National Video Game Museum, 8004 Dallas Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034
How Much: $12 for adults; $10 for children, seniors, educators and military.

What: Maybe you know all about Taylor Swift or all things science. Now, it’s time to compete for prizes in this weekly trivia night.
Where: TBA new locations each week
How Much: Cover charge of restaurant or bar, usually no more than $15.

What: Get ready to be live and loud for an open mic night of slam poetry.
Where: Twisted Bar and Grill in The Colony, 6520 Cascades Court #200, The Colony, TX 75056
How Much: Cover charge of restaurant, no more than $15.

What: Whether it’s a classic, contemporary work or new play, wants to challenge audiences to ask deeper questions about justice and morality.
Where: Kitchen Dog Theater, 4774 Algiers St., Dallas, TX 75207
How Much: Theater provides up to 20 free tickets to every production.

What: Attend one of ’s shows that explores Black art and narratives.
Where: Theatre Three, 2688 Laclede St., Dallas, TX 75204
How Much: $2

Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and ËÄ»¢Ó°Ôº.

This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, The University of Texas at Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and ËÄ»¢Ó°Ôº retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.

Brittany Stubblefield-Engram is the Digital Engagement Fellow for Arts Access. She previously served as the Marjorie Welch Fitts Louis Fellow for the ËÄ»¢Ó°Ôº newsroom. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, she received her Bachelors of Applied Arts and Sciences from the University of North Texas at Dallas. She is a Hip-Hop scholar and prior to her trajectory into journalism, Brittany worked in non-profit management.
Elizabeth Myong is ËÄ»¢Ó°Ôºâ€™s Arts Collaborative Reporter. She came to ËÄ»¢Ó°Ôº from New York, where she worked as a CNBC fellow covering breaking news and politics. Before that, she freelanced as a features reporter for the Houston Chronicle and a modern arts reporter for Houstonia Magazine.