Applications Open for 2018 Young Masters Class

The state’s most talented young artists will receive the title of “Young Master” and are awarded grants of $5,000 per year to further their studies in their chosen arts disciplines. Students are eligible to receive the grant for two years, but they must submit a report and update application. The students selected for this program will represent the ninth class of Young Masters. The Trust and TCA have given 313 grants to 139 previous Young Masters, awarding $857,500 to aspiring artists since its inception in 2002.

“The Young Masters grant program was created as a way to recognize and support young people pursuing the dream of becoming prominent Texan artists of the next generation,” said TCA Executive Director Gary Gibbs. “We look forward to receiving applications from candidates who are already demonstrating outstanding artistic ability, talent and dedication to developing their knowledge in their chosen discipline.”

Applications, information and guidelines are available online at http://tinyurl.com/youngmaster. Applications and required supporting materials must be submitted by November 15, 2017. In order to be considered for the grant, students must be legal U.S. residents living in Texas and participating in a school-based program, a summer institute, or a specialized course of study or receiving private lessons from a qualified professional instructor. They must also maintain passing grades in all academic areas. The Young Masters will be selected by a citizen panel of experts from across the state based on artistic excellence, level of commitment and quality of their proposed plan of study. The 2018 Young Masters recipients will be honored at a star-studded event on Monday, April 16, 2018 in Austin, Texas.

“The Texas Cultural Trust is honored to continue supporting the next generation of talent in Texas,” said Texas Cultural Trust Executive Director, Heidi Marquez Smith. “We are thrilled to help these Young Masters take their education to the next level and bolster their creative training. This program opens doors to opportunities never imagined for these young artists and will help create the Texas legends of tomorrow.”

The Young Masters program is made possible through the generous support of the contributors listed below.

Organizational Sponsors: Anheuser-Busch Companies, AT&T, Exxon Mobil, City of San Antonio, Frost Bank, Holt Foundation, Pelle Legna, South Texas Money Management, Texas Monthly, The Texas Tribune, Texas Women for the Arts, The Tobin Endowment 

Program Founders: AT&T Foundation, AB Foundation, Applied Materials, BNSF Railway, The Honorable David Dewhurst, Emerson Electric, Mrs. Gene Jones, Mr. George Mitchell, Mrs. W.D. Noel, Plum Foundation, Ray C. Fish Foundation, and Raytheon

About the Texas Commission on the Arts
TCA was organized in 1965 by the Texas Legislature to develop a receptive climate for the arts in Texas. TCA supports a diverse and innovative arts community in Texas, throughout the nation and internationally by providing resources to enhance economic development, arts education, cultural tourism and artist sustainability initiatives. For more information on TCA and its programs, please visit www.arts.texas.gov.