Texas Cultural Trust

Adventures in the ARTS – The Adventure Begins!

The Texas Cultural Trust is proud to announce that copies of Adventures in the ARTS are now available for purchase! Along with our partners, the Texas PTA and Brighter Industries, and our sponsor, AT&T Foundation, we have created a chapter book, interactive CD, and website to entertain and educate elementary school children. In this exciting story, our three heroes, Katie, Josh, and Tina must use their creativity and artistic know-how to solve the Mystery of the Gooey, Grey Glob to save the magical Academy of Reality Twisted Slightly. The book is accompanied by a CD with lots of fun and engaging activities for your young budding artists, and it is TEKS compliant for 2nd through 5th grades! Order a copy online today at http://www.adventuresinthearts.com and support your PTA and the arts in Texas.

Letter from the Chair

As we welcome the New Year 2006, we would also like to welcome the new commissioners for the Texas Commission on the Arts. We look forward to working with you to support, expand and promote the arts in Texas. Congratulations, as well, to the Texas Commission on the Arts on it's 40th Anniversary.

The Texas Cultural Trust is proud to launch Adventures in the ARTS, a book and CD aimed at teaching elementary students about the magic of art. Endorsed by the Texas PTA, it will be sold by the schools as a joint fundraising project between the schools’ PTAs and the Trust. It can also be purchased online at www.adventuresinthearts.com. The characters, three elementary students, have a thrilling experience trying to solve a puzzle and find themselves at a magic art school. With an interactive CD and website, your children can experience the excitement along with the characters and learn about art at the same time. Buy a book and support your PTA and the Texas Cultural Trust.

Last fall, we launched Texas Women for the Arts, a giving circle. The mission is to nurture the artist in every child through enhanced opportunities for arts education in Texas. To date we have 60 founding members and have qualified for a $25,000 matching grant from the AT&T Foundation. The requirement is $1,000 a year for three years. If you are interested in joining, contact our Executive Director, Amy Barbee. The Trust is also proud to be the sponsor this year of the Texas Music Industry Directory, supporting all disciplines of the arts in Texas.

Finally, under the chairmanship of Margaret Mills of Waco, our 2007 Texas Medal of Arts committees are hard at work planning our next celebration on April 2-3, 2007 in Austin. Our selection committee received over 100 nominations from all over the State. Thanks Texas---I know that we will have another outstanding class of honorees.

Catch our vision---share our dream!

Donna Axum Whitworth
Chair
Texas Cultural Trust

Young Masters Class of 2006
Mark your Calendars for April 5, 2006, when the Texas Cultural Trust hosts a luncheon to announce the new class of Young Masters. Come meet these rising stars from Texas and hear the stories and experience the art of past recipients. Previous Young Masters include violinist Caitlin Tully, dancer Christopher Vo, and pianist Alexander Lue. Details for the luncheon will be available soon. To learn more about the Young Masters scholarship program, please click here.

Please contact Amy Barbee at abarbee@txculturaltrust.org to find out about available sponsorship opportunities.

Institutional Partner Big Thought Receives $1.06 million Wallace Foundation Grant

Big Thought, an arts education nonprofit organization in Dallas, is the recipient of a $1.06 million grant from the Wallace Foundation. This grant will go towards the Dallas Arts Learning Initiative (DALI), a 10-month citywide research program to transform arts education in Dallas. The Wallace Foundation, after surveying cities across the country, selected Dallas and New York, to invest resources and expertise in expanding learning and enrichment opportunities for all children and their families. Big Thought Executive Director Giselle Antoni states, “With the Wallace Foundation’s visionary investment, we have a chance to help change the face of arts education in our city, and to provide a model for other cities across the nation.” In addition to their financial gift, the Wallace Foundation will also provide technical resources, research, and consultation. The Texas Cultural Trust is partnering with Big Thought in conjunction with the Wallace grant to coordinate our communication effort to elevate the perception of the arts in Texas.

To learn more about this exciting project, visit the Big Thought and Wallace Foundation websites.

Texas Medal of Arts Awards – More Nominations Received than Ever Before!

In just a few short months, the Texas Cultural Trust was overwhelmed with nominations from the public for the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Awards. By the time nominations closed on December 15, 2005, we had received over 10 times the number of nominations we had ever received in the past. Nominations were received in the categories of lifetime achievement, arts education, arts patron (individual and corporation/foundation), literary arts, music, theatre, media/multimedia (including film), visual arts, craft, and folk art. Thank you to everyone who shared in helping us identify the best and brightest in our great state. We hope that you will be there to share in the excitement of this marquis event on April 2nd and 3rd, 2007. To learn about past Texas Medal of Arts Awards, please click here.

Governor Appoints Commissioners to Texas Commission on the Arts

Governor Rick Perry announced the appointment of five individuals to the Texas Commission on the Arts. The new commissioners are Patty A. Bryant of Amarillo, David C. Garza of Brownsville, Billye Proctor Shaw of Abilene, Polly Sowell of Austin, and Norma Helm Webb of Midland. Also appointed by the Governor is the Chair of the TCA, Victoria Hodge Lightman of Houston. The Commission encourages appreciation for the fine arts in Texas and acts in an advisory capacity regarding the construction and remodeling of state buildings and works of art. For biographical information on the new commissioners, please visit the TCA website.

Texas Commission on the Arts Turns 40!

This year the TCA celebrates 40 years of serving the arts in Texas. Over the years, the TCA has choreographed innovative programs ranging from the Texas Cultural Endowment Fund and the State of the Arts License Plate to an online grant system and unique arts education initiatives. In honor of this occasion, commemorative events will be held throughout the state from now until September. To find out how you can participate in this exciting celebration, click here.

Texas Women for the Arts Exceeds AT&T Foundation Challenge Grant

Texas Women for the Arts has made exceptional efforts towards their vision “to awaken and nurture the artist in every Texas child”. Since kicking off in September 2005, this new giving circle is already up to 60 esteemed members, well exceeding our $25,000 AT&T Foundation match! In May 2006, these distinguished Texas women will meet to decide where their money will be donated. Women who join pledge a commitment of $1000 a year for a period of three years or a one-time gift of $3000. For more information about Texas Women for the Arts and to see a list of members, please click here.