Texas Cultural Trust in Response to COVID-19

by Heidi Marquez Smith

Dear Texas Cultural Trust Family,

Our state and our world are navigating extraordinary circumstances. The Texas Cultural Trust is taking steps to responsibly protect the overall health and wellbeing of our staff and their families, our supporters, constituents, partners, and the Texas community at large. In accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance for large events and mass gatherings, the Texas Cultural Trust joins other nonprofits, businesses, organizations, and individuals in cancelling, postponing, and altering scheduled events and operations. Please find a brief update on Trust activities and events affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) below:

  • Texas Cultural Trust has implemented Work from Home (WFH) as of Monday, March 15, 2020. The office will be closed; however, staff will remain diligent in our correspondence with donors, partners, and constituents. Please do not hesitate to contact us during business hours: 9 am to 5 pm.
  • The 2020 Texas Young Masters Celebration scheduled for April 20 at ZACH Theatre in Austin, TX, has been cancelled. The Trust and the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) will honor our commitment to provide two-year scholarship grants for 15 Texas Young Masters. If you would like to invest in these young artists, please consider making a small gift by visiting https://txculturaltrust.org/young-masters/. Though the Awards Celebration will not take place this biennium, we plan to recognize these exceptional students through social media and other mediums. Please stay tuned!
  •  The Texas Women for the Arts Spring Travel to New York City scheduled for March 31 – April 3, 2020 has been cancelled. There is a possibility of rescheduling travel to New York City in the future.
  • The Texas Women for the Arts Annual Meeting scheduled for May 4 – May 6, 2020 in Dallas will be cancelled. These dates fall within the eight-week CDC cancellation recommendation period for large events. Depending on COVID-19 developments over the next several months, this meeting could potentially be rescheduled for late fall. Additional details regarding this cancellation will be sent directly to TWA members.
  • The 2021 Texas Medal of Arts Awards is currently slated for February of 2021. At this time, we are delaying announcement of the event dates, TMAA chairs, and call for honoree nominations.

Please know, The Trust is continuing its work as the leading voice for the arts in Texas. The arts drive our economy and many artists, cultural institutions and programs have been significantly impacted by the spread of COVID-19. We are evaluating how we can provide and increase assistance to our neighbors and communities across Texas. It’s times such as these that magnify the power of art – as an emotional comfort, a reflection of current events, a universal language, and a symbol of hope – and strengthen our resolve as advocates and as a support system for communities across the state. We will provide additional information in the coming weeks. Please stay in good health and know you are in our thoughts.

Warmest regards,

Heidi Marquez Smith
Executive Director,
Texas Cultural Trust

Related Posts