Shakespeare Festival to get grant

The Texas Commission on the Arts has approved the investment of $2,333,702 in grants to arts organizations for fiscal year 2009, including more than $4,000 for next year's Texas Shakespeare Festival.

These funds represent TCA's initial grants distribution for FY 2009 and include both annual panel grants and first quarter grants. Throughout the coming year, additional grants will be allocated through TCA's ongoing quarterly grant review process.

The commission received and processed 586 applications from 383 arts, cultural and educational organizations in 88 Texas cities for this initial round of funding. More than $615,000 of these grants went to arts education programming across Texas.

TCA awarded $4,639 to Kilgore College's Texas Shakespeare Festival "to support the education programs that are part of Texas Shakespeare Festival's summer season, serving over 3,000 youth in rural east Texas."

The Longview Symphony League received $2,319 "to support artistic expenses toward a season of concerts and outreach programs."

Marshall received several grants. The Marshall Regional Arts Council was awarded: $ 6,926 for subgranting; 3,591 for core support for various educational programs; and $1,610 for performance support. The Marshall Visual Arts Center/City of Marshall Arts Education Project received $2,643, and another $2,327 for core support. The Michelson Museum of Art was awarded $236 for "art consultant service provider."

"The non-profit arts organizations funded by TCA assure the quality of life in Texas remains high thus retaining our reputation as a great place to live and conduct business," said TCA Executive Director Gary Gibbs. "By investing in these organizations, TCA is taking the lead in supporting a creative economy."

In recent years, TCA has seen a decline in the amount of funds available for the agency to invest in the creative industries. For this reason, TCA has asked the Legislature to provide $1 in per capita funding for the arts. If approved, these funds will enable TCA to invest more in grants to arts organizations across the state ultimately enabling TCA to have a greater and more strategic impact on Texas' arts and cultural industries.

In addition to the grant awards, TCA has announced a slate of 114 Texas-based performing artists selected for the 2009-2010 Touring Artists and Companies Roster. Touring artists offer one-time performances as well as optional services such as workshops, master classes, lecture-demonstrations, arts education components, residencies, or short performances. The artistic disciplines covered by the roster include dance, literary arts, music, storytelling, and theatre. Arts organizations, schools, libraries, festivals, among others, may apply to to TCA for funds to bring these artists into their local communities. The complete Touring Artists and Companies Roster can be accessed at www.arts.state.tx.us.

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, visit www.arts.state.tx.us. A full list of the organizations and cities where TCA distributed grants is available on the TCA Web site a t www.arts.state.tx.us/cities/09.