I often find myself talking about how important the arts are to our lives. In these tough economic times, I frequently emphasize their phenomenal economic impact or the positive effect that exposure to the arts has on students’ educational achievements. Both of these things are true, and they are important outcomes.

As we enter the holiday season, though, I am also reminded of the important role the arts play in our quality of life. We choose to celebrate that which is truly important to us through the arts – whether it is a school play with a Thanksgiving theme, a performance of The Nutcracker, a concert of sacred music, or any of the other seasonal arts celebrations. Our lives are far richer because of our exposure to the arts, even if we cannot attach a dollar figure to the richness.

With this in mind, I am excited to update you on the plans for the upcoming Texas Medal of the Arts Awards. The events will be held in Austin on April 6 and 7, 2009. We will announce our accomplished and distinguished honorees on January 22, 2009. They exemplify the wide range of talented artists with which Texas has been blessed. The Texas Medal of Arts Awards gala will highlight their achievements. It will also include performances by Los Lonely Boys and the Kilgore Junior College Rangerettes and some fun surprises.

Texas Cultural Trust continues to make progress on another exciting project, Create Texas. With support from the Founders for the Arts, the Trust hired Texas Perspectives (TXP) to provide economic analysis of the “Creativity Quotient” of Texas and exactly what that “CQ” means for the state. They will submit their report early in 2009, and I’ll tell you more about it at that time.

Finally, we congratulate Jesús Moroles, current Trust Board member and 2007 Texas Medal of the Arts Award winner. President George W. Bush presented him with the National Medal of the Arts Award in a ceremony on November 17. We are so proud of this outstanding Texas artist!

I encourage you to get involved in the Texas Cultural Trust. Working together we can make a difference.

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the holiday spirit. With the season of giving upon us, the Texas Commission on the Arts wants to remind you that you can give two gifts in one when you buy a State of the Arts license plate. As a supporter of the arts in Texas, we invite you to view our short holiday video, and please pass it along to your family, friends and co-workers.

Proceeds from each sale directly benefit arts organizations of all types across the state, and TCA depends on the plate to provide grant dollars more and more each year. Over $4 million has already gone to the arts in Texas, but that number can be much bigger. So, in true Texan style, give the gift that keeps on giving with a State of the Arts license plate. Success for the plate means success for arts and cultural organizations in Texas.

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Arts Education Presentation for Deans of Schools of Education

The Texas Cultural Trust was given an incredible opportunity by Commissioner Raymund Paredes of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to present the justification for arts education and its integration in K-12 curriculum to Deans of Schools of Education.  In collaboration with leaders in arts education from across the state, Richard J. Deasy, former Director of the Arts Education Partnership, will present the persuasive research on the integral importance of the arts in education to the Deans on Wednesday, December 17, 2009. The arts education collaborative team included:

• Kris Andrews, Director, Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts (CEDFA)
• Gigi Antoni, President/CEO, Big Thought
• Amy Barbee, Executive Director, Texas Cultural Trust
• José Antonio Bowen, Dean, Algur H. Meadows Chair and Professor of Music, Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University
• Jack Davis, Director of the North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts, University of North Texas
• Doug Dempster, Dean, College of Fine Arts, University of Texas at Austin
• Robert Floyd, Executive Director, Texas Music Educators Association
• Gary Gibbs, Director, Texas Commission on the Arts
• Brent Hasty, Consultant to Big Thought, Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies
• Janice N. Killian, Chair, Music Education, School of Music, Texas Tech University

The Deans of Education meeting will be broadcast live on December 17 at 2 p.m. on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website at http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Events/.

Mr. Deasy’s PowerPoint presentation is available by clicking here.

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Texas Medal of Arts Entertainment: Kilgore Rangerettes and Los Lonely Boys

We are proud to announce that the high-kicking excitement of the Kilgore Rangerettes and Grammy award winning talent of Los Lonely Boys will both appear on stage during the 2009 Texas Medal of Arts Awards Ceremony on April 7th at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.  And this is only the beginning.  Honorees will be announced on January 22, 2009.  Join us as we again celebrate the creative excellence and outstanding arts patronage of our state by awarding the 2009 Texas Medal of Arts Awards on April 6 and 7. The Awards are given to those who have excelled in the disciplines of dance, film, literature, music, theater, visual arts, arts education, and arts patronage, raising the cultural profile of our state.

To ensure that you have the best seats for all of the Texas Medal of Arts events, purchase your sponsorship/table today. Information about sponsorship opportunities can be found on the Texas Medal of Arts website at www.txculturaltrust.org/tmaa.  Join our sponsors, AT&T, Anheuser Busch, Gulf States Toyota, BP, Texas Monthly, ConocoPhillips, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Emerson Electric, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Charles Butt, Sindy and David Durham, Gene and Jerry Jones, Shell Oil Company, Summit Alliance and many others as we celebrate Texas Legends and Rising Stars.

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Economist Hired For Create Texas - Put Your ART Into It

Jon Hockenyos and Texas Perspectives, Inc. have been hired to do an economic study assessing the impact of the arts and creative industries in Texas.  Create Texas and the economic findings will be rolled out in January.

For information about Create Texas, please visit www.createtexas.org.

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Texas Cultural Trust Supports Texans for the Arts

Texans for the Arts, the arts advocacy organization for Texas, will advocate in the 2009 Legislative Session for the development and implementation of statewide public policy that supports a strong and vibrant arts and cultural industry. Texans for the Arts legislative priorities for the 81st legislative session are:

1. Promote the passage of increased appropriations for arts funding with a minimum goal of $1 state support per capita, to be distributed on an equitable basis across the state.
2. Protect existing authorized funding level and uses of municipal hotel occupancy tax for the development, support and promotion of the arts.

At the quarterly Board Meeting in September, the Texas Cultural Trust Board of Directors voted to endorse this legislative agenda

The Texas Cultural Trust issued a $15,000 challenge grant with a 3-to-1 match to Texans for the Arts to support their legislative agenda. To date, Texans for the Arts has met the first benchmark by raising $15,000 in private dollars and received a $5,000 grant from the Texas Cultural Trust.

Show your support for the arts in Texas by joining and helping them meet the challenge. For information on how you can help, visit www.texansforthearts.com.

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The Grand Will Recover and Reopen After Devastating Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike roared ashore on September 13th and upstaged Steve Tyrell as the opening act for The Grand 1894 Opera House’s 2008-2009 “Signature Season.” Billed as Galveston Island’s “most destructive” hurricane since The Great 1900 Storm, “Ike” forced a postponement of The Grand’s season until January 3, 2009.

The 2008-2009 “Signature Season” – it’s Recovery and Reopening – is now set to kick off with a “grand” 114th birthday open house Saturday, January 3rd, from 10am-2pm. Entertainment, cake and door prizes will highlight the birthday celebration. The “grand” re-opening weekend continues Saturday evening with Jerry Jeff Walker at 8pm and with a Sunday performance by the “Gospel Stars” at 3pm.

For almost three decades, Maureen Patton, Executive Director for The Grand, has told the theatre’s “story” to countless visitors and media groups.  A central theme of Patton’s presentation has always been “The Grand is a survivor” – having rebounded from the nation’s worst natural disaster - The Great 1900 Storm, as well as other hurricanes.

Considered the most damaging hurricane in 108 years, “Ike” left parts of the Island under 10-12 feet of water.  All in all, over 75% of Galveston Island was severely flooded and damaged. Along with most of Galveston’s historic downtown, The Grand suffered major water damage. 

Yet Galveston, her citizens, and certainly its crown jewel – The Grand 1894 Opera House, are indeed survivors.  The Island continues to recover and progress can be seen every day –thus enabling the theatre to set this special “GRAND” re-opening on its 114th Birthday.

The Grand 1894 Opera House is located in historic downtown Galveston at 2020 Postoffice Street.  For information about The Grand’s recovery, rescheduled season and other events, visit www.thegrand.com or call 409.763.7173.

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Arts Education Testimony at State Board of Education

Business leaders and arts education advocates testified at the State Board of Education on November 20, 2008 asking for greater flexibility in High School Graduation Plans for arts courses. Dr. Putnam, a physician in Austin stated, “Actually, art is life. The same skills a student learns in diligence, sensitivity, team work and goal direction from artistic exploration and performances are the same used in scientific research, business development and management, the practice of medicine, and problem solving in every arena of adult life.” The State Board of Education was very supportive of the testimony and the arts. To view the testimony click here.

The Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education is preparing for the upcoming legislative session. You can assist in their effort by going to GoArts.org

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Guest Editorial: Billye Proctor Shaw, Chair of Texas Commission on the Arts
Arts - A Smart Investment in the Texas Economy

If you ask your next-door neighbors, they will tell you the arts enrich our lives, our schools and our communities.  But, if you ask them how arts impact our economy, they might not have an answer.

As the Chair of the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), I lead a 17-member board that provides grants to arts organizations across the state. We promote the arts and play a leadership role in the arts and cultural industries in Texas – and those industries have a major impact on our state’s economy.

Arts are big business.  They are one of the top factors corporations and businesses cite in deciding where to locate, stay and expand.  Arts attract cultural tourists that will spend nearly twice the time and money as the average visitor and return more often. The arts are a major contributor in reversing the trend of outflight by bringing populations back to city centers.

The economic impact of the arts in Texas is staggering. Organizations that receive support from TCA report total audiences of more than 35 million attendees each year.  Those patrons will spend more than twice the cost of their tickets in the local economy.  In Austin alone, the cultural sector contributes over $2.2 billion to the economy annually and creates 44,000 permanent jobs. The arts are good business and artists are powerful creative capital.

Arts are smart business.  Arts are essential to a well-rounded education. The arts not only encourage self-expression and teamwork but are great complements to a strong education in math, science and literacy. Every dollar and each minute spent on arts education is an investment, paying us back with improved student performance, a more vibrant economy and a richer American culture. The research is overwhelming – students involved in the arts do better in school, score higher on tests and are more likely to graduate.

Texas is the number one state for Fortune 500 company headquarters.  These companies
require a strong and capable workforce.  A recent study revealed that among the top ten concerns of CEO’s are employees that demonstrate creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills.  Both CEO’s and school superintendents rank arts study and experience in performing arts and entertainment as the top factors for instilling these qualities.

TCA is your arts “voice” in the Capitol, and as the Chair of TCA, I am asking for your help.

Texas currently ranks 49th out of 50 states in arts funding at 22 cents per person. TCA is asking our state leaders, as leaders who care about community and economic development, to invest $1 per person per year in the arts.  This $20 million dollar request is but .0002 percent of the state’s $167.8 billion budget – a small investment with a priceless return.

Chambers of Commerce and City Councils in cities throughout Texas have already endorsed this request and will present this endorsement to their legislators. But, the arts also need the support of Texans all across the state. Contact your city and state officials and tell your friends and neighbors. Be a part of this grassroots appeal to elected officials. 

When tough budget choices are required, our legislators should be reminded that arts can help prevent crime; arts education contributes to academic achievement, particularly for low-income students; arts programs in corrections facilities result in lower recidivism and less crime; and arts programs engage disadvantaged youth more effectively than other programs. 

Not only do arts bring beauty and meaning to life, arts are big business, good business, and smart business.  “One generation plants a tree, the next sits in its shade,” says the Chinese proverb. An investment of $1 per year per Texan is an investment in our economy and an investment in the future of Texas.

For more information about the Texas Commission on the Arts, visit www.arts.state.tx.us.

  
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Texas Women for the Arts Travels to Washington, D.C.

On October 1 – 4, 16 members of Texas Women for the Arts traveled to Washington, D.C. for an inaugural members-only excursion. The schedule included breakfast at the Capitol with Congressman Pete Sessions (the morning after the Senate voted to approve the bail-out), tours of the State Department and White House, lunch at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and dinner at Café Milano. The women enjoyed a private dinner at the Kennedy Center, followed by their choice of either Broadway: Three Generations or La Traviata. The Texas Women for the Arts trip will be an annual adventure and discussion has already begun regarding next year’s destination.

The Annual Texas Women for the Arts meeting will be in Austin in the spring.  Details will follow.  The Texas Women for the Arts meeting is when members gather to choose the recipients of their funds. Jan Bullock is the Program Chair and Teresa Lozano Long is Nominating Chair.

This year Texas Women for the Arts will celebrate its third anniversary and the distribution of over $350,000 dollars to arts education programs statewide. To view a map exhibiting where dollars have been contributed across the state click here and view the second page of the PDF. It is time for many of our Founding and Charter Members to renew.  To ensure the success of Texas Women for the Arts and to continue to Awaken and Nurture the Artist in Every Texas Child, renew or join by contacting Amy Barbee at abarbee@txculturaltrust.org or visit http://www.txculturaltrust.org/programs_d.html.

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strataTX Celebrates Two Years with Second on Sixth

On November 12, over 260 people came out to the East side of Austin to celebrate strataTX’s two years of existence. Second on Sixth took place at Este Condominiums, one of the properties of Title Sponsor Constructive Ventures. The party consumed four different rooms and an outdoor area, featuring a diverse slate of creative entertainment. In the Hip Hop Room, sponsored by Fish & Richardson, BBoy City breakdancers moved to the beats of DJ Lo-Res. The Improv Room bustled with laughter thanks to troupe Parallelogramophonograph, in the midst of visual artwork by Young Master Katie Pipkin. Upstairs in the Members-Only Lounge, Austin Music Award winner John Pointer sang to an intimate group of strataTX members and VIPs. Outdoors, party guests were impressed by graffiti artist Sloke painting live and video art projected on a large screen by Austin Museum of Digital Art.

Thanks to our in-kind donors: Brown Distributing, Spicewood Vineyards, Tito’s Vodka, Ciao Chow Catering, and Austinist. That night also marked the launch of the strataTX website redesign.  Check it out at www.stratatx.org. We’d like to thank Boldface Creative for the generous donation of all their hard labor on the website.

In February, we will join up with some good friends for Catalyst 8 + strataTX 4ever, our Valentine’s themed party at Gallerie Jean Moulin. Only members plus a guest will be invited, so be sure to join strataTX today. You won’t want to miss out on all the exciting opportunities in 2009!

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Young Master Sarah Welch Makes a Transition

Sarah Welch is in her second year at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and as of this newsletter deadline she is actually in the middle of final critiques.

In the midst of her academic studies this year, she’s found little time to devote to painting, however, she discovered a great screen printing studio class that has served as her primary artistic outlet. She has been accepted into the school’s advanced fiber program for the Spring semester, and she even has future sculpture plans already in her sketchbook before classes start next month.

Sarah was in the juried freshman exhibition “Art Bash” in Spring 2008 in Chicago. Texans will have a chance to view her recent installation at Austin's Co-Lab in early January. She’s particularly excited by the installation work, since she will be actually installing it with her dad in Austin. Sarah successfully received a school travel grant to participate in the Austin exhibition. Right now, Sarah says she’s happy to be busy and productive, and warm (as of press time she said it was 17 degrees!).

For more information about Austin Co-Lab, please see colabspace.org.

For more information about Young Masters, please click here.

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