TCA Announces More than $2.9 Million for Arts Grants in FY 2008

October 1, 2007, AUSTIN, Texas – During its quarterly meeting held September 6 in Austin, the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) approved $2,906,079 in direct panel grants to arts organizations for fiscal year 2008.

The Commission received and processed 469 eligible applications from 329 arts organizations in 70 Texas cities for this initial round of funding. More than $750,000 of these grants went to arts education programming across Texas. These funds represent TCA’s initial grants distribution for FY 2008. Throughout the coming year, additional grants will be allocated for mini-grants, initiatives and partnerships.

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“The non-profit arts organizations funded by TCA utilize these funds to enhance their organizations to further serve a public agenda,” said interim executive director Jim Bob McMillan. “All TCA grants require matching funding, resulting in even greater economic impact in local communities.”

Funding for TCA grants comes from a variety of sources including state General Revenue, the National Endowment for the Arts, interest earnings from the Texas Cultural Endowment Fund, support from the Texas Cultural Trust Council and revenue earned by TCA through sales of the State of the Arts specialty license plate. Additional funds for music education are provided through TCA’s participation in the Texas Music Project.

TCA was organized in 1965 by the Texas Legislature to develop a receptive climate for the arts in Texas. TCA provides funding and other supportive measures, such as arts education and cultural tourism programs, for a variety of arts-related activities, including visual and literary arts, film and multi-media, music, dance and theater. For more information on TCA and its programs, please visit www.arts.state.tx.us .

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts