Bass Hall is the cultural capital of downtown Fort Worth. “In its five-year history, the hall has easily fulfilled its promise, becoming a grand symbol of Fort Worth’s commitment to the performing arts and a striking monument to the private and proud family for which it is named. But over the past year, as the recessionary economy ravaged arts institutions everywhere, the hall’s seemingly impregnable facade has begun to show cracks.” With revenue and attendance down, “the current economic hardships hint at a deeper problem – one that has persisted since the early days of the hall and now prompts the fundamental question: Can Fort Worth still afford Bass Hall?”