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Gala Honors Performing Arts Advocate
San Antonio Express News
Jacob Beltran
Published 15 May 2013
The downtown San Antonio Performing Arts Center that comprises the Majestic Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theater will be renamed the Joci Straus Performing Arts Center, it was announced Tuesday evening at a gala in honor of Jocelyn “Joci” Straus.
Straus is the founder of Las Casas, or the Foundation for Cultural Arts in San Antonio, a nonprofit organization begun in 1988 that is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and development of the theaters. Tuesday’s Las Casas Scholarship Foundation GALA recognized her selfless contributions to the performing arts community.
Posted in General News
Laura Street: Letter to the Editor, Amarillo Globe News
Laura Street, Texas Cultural Trust Board member wrote to the Amarillo Globe News thanking Representative Four Price and Senator Joan Huffman for their leadership and successful support of the TCA Sunset Bill.
http://amarillo.com/opinion/letters-editor/2013-05-10/keep-arts-industry-thriving-amarillo
Posted in Uncategorized
Arnold Garcia writes in the Austin American Statesman about the importance of investing in the Arts.
Posted in Uncategorized
State Board of Education Approves new Fine Arts TEKS
On April 19th the SBOE approved the new Fine Arts TEKS. The new Fine Arts TEKS includes the Trust’s Arts and Digital Literacy Curricula (all eight courses: Art and Media Communications I; Art and Media Communications II; Music and Media Communications I; Music and Media Communications II; Theater and Media Communications I; Theater and Media Communications II; Dance and Media Communications I and Dance and Media Communications II.)
Once the new Fine Arts are implemented, all of these courses can be offered as a fine arts credit. The new Fine Arts TEKS will be implemented in the 2015-2016 school year.
For more info, visit: www.txartandmedia.org
Posted in Uncategorized
Texas Commission on the Arts Announces Texas State Artists

The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is pleased to announce the Texas State Legislature’s 2013 and 2014 appointments to the positions of state poet laureate, state musician, state two-dimensional artist and state three-dimensional artist.
Continue reading…
Posted in General News
Last year the Trust distributed copies of Adventures in the Arts to elementary school students in Marfa, Alpine, Fort Davis, Fort Stockton and Valentine, Texas.
Marfa made its debut on 60 minutes last night.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/
Posted in Uncategorized
2013 Texas Medal of Arts Awards
Texas Monthly
Published: April 8, 2013
The Texas Medal of Arts Awards spotlighted and celebrated Texans who have achieved greatness through their creative talents, as well as those whose generosity has opened doors to artistic opportunity for Texans of all ages. Hosted by Chris Harrison of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” the event was attended by honorees, legendary artists, entertainers and arts patrons from across the state. The 2013 honorees included Texas Monthly, Steve Miller, Eva Longoria, Ricardo Chavira, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams, James Surls, Houston Ballet, Gigi Antoni, Gene Jones and Charlotte Jones Anderson, and the Kimbell Art Foundation. Guests also enjoyed performances by Steve Miller, Ray Benson, and The Tuna Guys.
Posted in Announcement, TMAA
Lawmakers table budget amendment to transfer arts funding to VFDs
Marshall News Messenger
Written by: Naomi Prioleau
Published April 5, 2013
The Texas Legislature voted on Thursday to table an amendment to the 2013 Texas budget that would transfer funds from the Texas Commission on the Arts to volunteer fire departments.
The amendment to amendment 116, authored by Representative David Simpson of Longview, was tabled in a 108-38 vote…Continue Reading
Posted in Economic Development, General News
Charles Matthews: Sustaining arts, culture is key to jobs creation
Charles Matthews, Vice Chair of the Texas Cultural Trust authored an op-ed on the Importance of the Arts & Culture Industries to sustaining Texas’ vibrant economy. The op-ed ran in the Austin American Statesman, The San Antonio Express News, the Waxahachie Daily Light and in the Houston Chronicle.
Posted in Uncategorized
The Arts Put on Quite an Economic Show
Corpus Christi Caller Times
Written by: Charles Matthews
Published March 30, 2013
Arts and culture help fuel our state’s economy — it’s that simple. Economic impact studies have proven time and time again that there’s an inextricable link between the creative industries in a community and that community’s economic development, job recruitment and tourism.
I had the privilege of serving on the Select Committee on Economic Development, created by the Legislature in 2011 and signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry. One of the areas of focus was relocation of companies to Texas. Although many factors were discussed as reasons for a decision to relocate, the cultural landscape can be a very important part of the decision-making process….Continue Reading
Posted in Economic Development, General News, Uncategorized




