Guest blogger Brad Ford Smith is a Dallas artist and arts conservationist.

It would seem like a no-brainer that if the Dallas Art Fair is coming back to town with its 50-plus national galleries and drawing in more than 5,000 art-loving visitors, then it might be a good idea to set up an art fair across the street. One that focuses on emerging North Texas galleries and independent artists. Thankfully, Jordan Roth and a group of his artistic associates saw the light, and the Art In The District 2010 art fair was born.

Art in the District is a grassroots satellite art fair that is literally being held right across the street from DAF, in a space that the Fairmont Hotel has donated to the cause.

Mighty Fine Arts and the  Decorazon Gallery are the more established of the eight participating galleries. All will be showcasing their stables of artists. Plus, there is an exhibition hall of artwork by 18 independent artists, plus EASL will be having a silent auction, which by the way closes at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Here’s the facts:

Fairmont Hotel, 1717 N. Akard St.

Banquet Level/2nd Floor

Fri – Sat noon-8 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

If you have a DAF ticket stub, you get in for free. If not, it’s a suggested donation of $5; proceeds benefit Big Thought.