FORT WORTH ART COMMISSION | Advising Fort Worth City Council 

Margaret (Maggie) Adler (Arts Professional 1, Curator) is Curator at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas where she has organized exhibitions on Audubon, hunting and fishing in American art, Winslow Homer and Frederic Remington, Samuel F.B. Morse, Gabriel Dawe, Justin Favela, and Mark Dion among others. Prior to the Amon Carter, Maggie held the Barra fellowship at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

She started her career in college and university development. She then served as Director of Development at the Addison Gallery of American Art during a $30 million building and endowment campaign while simultaneously revamping the annual appeals process as well as spearheading the public relations and communications aspects of the museum. She brings her experience having worked in most museum departments throughout her career to her work as a curator, with keen attention to strategic planning and institutional goals.

Dr. Jennifer Giddings Brooks (Community Rep. 2) has a distinguished record in both Educational Administration and community service. An educator by avocation and training her experience runs the gamut from Founder/CEO of Brooks Educational Consultants to administrative positions in all levels of education from elementary to university.

Deeply committed to her community, Dr. Brooks serves or has served on the Boards of Directors of numerous non-profit agencies. These include (partial list): Performing Arts Fort Worth (Bass Hall)—Education Chair, THR Methodist Hospital Board—Vice Chair, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Visit Fort Worth, Jubilee Theater, Opera Association—Education Chair, Terrell STEM/Performing Arts Academy—Secretary, Amon Carter Museum—Advisory Council, The Society: Supporting the Arts—Founder and UNCF—Leadership Chair and African American Museum and Cultural Center—Steering Committee.

Branigan Contreras (Community Rep. 3) is a Fort Worth native and graduate of Texas Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She has over 10 years of experience in higher education grant management, non-profit fundraising, community outreach and advocacy. She is an artist and art enthusiast taking after her mother and grandmother’s painting skills and love of art. She’s proud to be third generation from the city of Fort Worth supporting arts initiatives and events in the community. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Women’s Network (HWNT). As a member of HWNT, Branigan has given her time and experience to serve on the Education Committee that executes and plans the Latinas in Progress Education Series (LIP). Ms. Contreras is a member of MANA and will serve on the Board of Directors for the Texas Wesleyan Alumni Association. She is thrilled to be a part of the FWAC where she can bring an array of diverse experiences to the Public Art program. Ms. Contreras believes that art is a mirror and gives us a way to process through things, to find out what we think, what we value and what we’re still questioning.

Jessica Fuentes (Arts Professional 2, Artist) is an author and artist with over 15 years of experience as an educator. She has worked in classrooms, museums, and higher education. Currently, Fuentes is the News Editor for Glasstire, an online magazine covering Texas art. In 2023 she received The Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant and a grant through the U.S. Latinx Art Forum. Fuentes holds an MA in Art Education from the University of North Texas and a BA in Art & Performance from the University of Texas at Dallas. She serves on the boards of Kinfolk House in Fort Worth and Make Art with Purpose in Dallas.

Philip Newburn (Arts Professional 4, Design) is a Fort Worth native who joined the Art Commission in 2024. He is a registered architect with a practice specializing in urban-focused modern, sustainable design. Examples of his work include new high-end residential projects, sensitive additions & renovations to historic structures, reimagining obsolete industrial buildings for new businesses, and more. Newburn has had a lifelong interest in visual art and in the design of public spaces and is excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the public art program. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Texas Society of Architects, and Near Southside, Inc., and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture.

Denise Turner (Community Rep. 1) is a retired Global Sales Excellence executive with a proven track record of success. She holds a BS in Business Administration and Marketing.
A dedicated community leader, Denise has served in leadership roles on various boards and organizations, including: Board Chair of the Black Child Development Institute – Dallas/Fort Worth Metro, City Plan Commissioner for District 6, President of the SCS-HOA Board of Directors, and Chartering Board Treasurer of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Fort Worth Metropolitan Chapter where she received the distinguished Member of the Year Award.

Deeply committed to fostering the arts, she is a docent at the Modern Museum of Art in Fort Worth. Her passion extends to the next generation of artists, as evidenced by her role as an adjudicator for the Betty Lynn Buckley Awards, which honors outstanding high school theater students. When not fulfilling these roles, she actively volunteers at six different performing arts venues throughout Fort Worth.