Gala will celebrate Texas Medal of Arts winners
The Texas Cultural Trust usually divulges its Texas Medal of Arts Awards honorees all at once. Most times, the big reveal happens during a semiformal announcement party. But with bold-face recipients including Matthew McConaughey, Mark Seliger, Brandon Maxwell and Trenton Doyle Hancock headlining the 10th biennial list, the Austin-based nonprofit couldn’t wait that long — or resist a little early name-dropping. Fellow Texans Stephen Harrigan, Elaine Molinar and Craig Dykers have also been tapped, as has Laredo’s Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts. On Thursday, former TMAA recipients Lynn Wyatt and Lauren Anderson will unveil the three remaining awardees at Houston Ballet, bringing the total headcount to 11. Why the extended drumroll? “We want to garner as much support and celebrate these legends for as long as possible,” said Heidi Marquez Smith, Texas Cultural Trust’s executive director.
The state generates more than $5.5 billion in annual revenue from arts industries, she said. Since 2008, Texas Cultural Trust has invested more than $3.2 million into five arts-awareness and education programs including TMAA, Texas Women for the Arts, the Texas Young Masters, Arts & Digital Literacy and the Art Can campaign.
“The Young Masters program invites students in eighth through 11th grade to apply for $10,000 scholarships to enhance their education, so they can attend the university or college of their choice,” Smith said. “It’s competitive out there, and arts education isn’t equitable across the state.”
Other initiatives, such as Art Can, quantify the impact art has.
Come Feb. 26, supporters and patrons will experience its effect first-hand over a two-day celebration chaired by Leslie Ward and Houston’s own Leslie Blanton in Austin. “Typically we start with dinner for big donors, but now it’s going to be called Arts Alive with live music and performances at the Blanton (Museum of Art) instead,” Smith said.
She anticipates between 250 and 300 attendees for openingnight festivities, followed by up to 1,000 guests the next day for a red-carpet reception at the Long Center. There’s also a Rise with Arts brunch at the Texas Governor’s Mansion and black-tie gala dinner on the schedule, too.
Smith hinted that at least one of the three undisclosed honorees is a Houston name. Will Beyoncé, Jennifer Garner or Travis Scott make the final cut? TMAA’s honorary selection committee has already cast its deciding votes, but it’s not too late to book an Austin getaway and celebrate with the stars.