The Dallas Office of Arts and Culture announced on April 29 that it has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the “Arts Projects Spotlighting the Spirit of Sports” program. The grant, totaling $30,000, will support projects in cities hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026, including Dallas.
The funding aims to promote artistic initiatives connected to major sporting events. According to officials, each recipient organization will use its award for projects taking place between May 1 and December 31, 2026. These include performances, exhibitions, concerts, festivals, and educational programs.
“Dallas is honored to receive this support from the National Endowment for the Arts as we prepare to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Projects like ‘The World is Ours’ reflect the creativity, culture and energy that define our city,” said City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “By uniting art, community and a global event of this magnitude, we are creating an experience that celebrates Dallas while connecting us with an international audience.”
A press release from the National Endowment for the Arts stated: “A grant for the City of Dallas will fund a temporary public art installation titled The World is Ours by artist Risk Rock.” The statement continued: “The sculpture will be installed at Fair Park on the same platform as iconic Big Tex and coincide with Fair Park’s role as host site for team activities and Fan Fest events during FIFA World Cup 2026.” Currently, this piece is exhibited at Gallery DeFi in West Dallas.
Martine Elyse Philippe, director of Dallas’s Office of Arts and Culture said: “We are very excited to display Rock’s work so residents and visitors can enjoy it. The sculpture and its representation of our world are a clear example of how we can unite art with sport. As a beacon welcoming many international fans expected this summer, ‘The World is Ours’ truly embodies what makes Dallas a welcoming and vibrant place.”
“The World is Ours” by Risk Rock measures eight feet wide by twelve feet high. It features a large bronze hand lifting a rotating globe made from reused spray paint cans decorated with colorful license plates collected from around the world. This blend invites public interaction through curiosity and cultural recognition while symbolizing how communities unite through shared experiences such as those provided by international sports.
