Texas Cultural Trust Announces Co-Chairs for 2027 Texas Medal of Arts Awards on February 22 and 23

13th Biennial Event, Co-Chaired by Elle Moody of Austin and Corinna Holt Richter of San Antonio, Spotlights Texan Leaders and Luminaries of the Arts

AUSTIN, TEXAS (July 1, 2026) – Texas Cultural Trust (TXCT) announced today the return of its signature, star-studded event, Texas Medal of Arts Awards (TMAA), on Monday, Feb. 22, and Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2027. The 13th biennial TMAA will highlight the role the arts play in our lives and our communities while celebrating the creative excellence, exemplary talents and outstanding contributions made by Texans in selected disciplines. 

The 2027 event is chaired by 2025 TMAA honoree and incoming TXCT board member Elle Moody and TXCT board member Corinna Holt Richter. TXCT has selected The Panacea Collective, an Austin-based firm, to produce the upcoming fundraising event. 

“Texas isn’t just a place on the map — it’s a reservoir of creativity, passion, and artistic excellence,” said TXCT CEO Heidi Marquez Smith. “Our 2027 Texas Medal of Arts co-chairs match that spirit. Elle and Corinna’s commitment to the arts isn’t ceremonial. It’s personal. They invest deeply, they believe in what art and culture can bring to life, and their creative vision will make every moment of this biennial celebration unforgettable. I am thrilled to work with them as we honor the creatives, organizations, and patrons who continue to inspire in Texas and beyond.”

Moody and Richter bring deep leadership experience across business, philanthropy and the arts to their roles as co-chairs. Moody, an Austin resident, serves as senior vice president of grants and chief communications officer at the Moody Foundation and has been a member of the foundation’s board of trustees since 2015. A graduate of Rice University with a master’s degree in visual art administration from New York University, Moody brings experience spanning arts, culture, strategic communications and philanthropy, including previously led communications for cultural organizations worldwide. In her current role, Moody guides the foundation’s investments that support cultural institutions and the arts statewide. 

Along with serving on the board of TXCT, Moody also serves on Rice University’s board of trustees and Moody Center for the Arts advisory board, Ballroom Marfa’s board of trustees, and the University of Texas at Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art national leadership board and Moody College of Communication advisory council. 

Richter, a resident of San Antonio, serves as president and chief administrative officer of HOLT Group, where she leads the family-owned industrial company, carrying forth a fifth-generation legacy of service and innovation. She is also a committed leader in the San Antonio community, serving on the board of managers for Spurs Sports and Entertainment and as chairwoman of Spurs Give. 

In addition to serving on the board of TXCT, Richter sits on the boards of Texas Biomedical Research Institute and the McNay Art Museum, as well as the advisory boards of The Tobin Center and Haven for Hope. She supports the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County through its strategic planning committee, Women United, Tocqueville Society, and the HOLT Group’s annual giving campaign.

“Texas has long been home to bold creativity, visionary storytelling and world-class artistic talent, and the Texas Medal of Arts Awards is a powerful reminder of the impact the arts have on our communities and culture,” Moody said. “I am deeply honored and excited to serve as co-chair and celebrate the individuals and organizations whose work enriches lives across our state.”

“The Texas Medal of Arts Awards is a celebration of artistic achievement and the people whose support helps creativity thrive,” Richter said. “As co-chair, I’m honored to help bring together artists, advocates and supporters from our great state of Texas to recognize those shaping our cultural landscape. I am honored to be a part of a community working to build a strong future for artists to come.”

Since 2001, the awards have celebrated 139 Texas leaders and luminaries whose creative achievements and generosity opened doors to artistic opportunity for Texans of all ages. Over the years, TXCT has proudly honored a roster of influential artists, patrons and cultural champions, including Dennis Quaid, Richard Linklater, Gary Clark Jr., Elizabeth Crook, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Sheridan, Luke Wilson, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Eva Longoria, ZZ Top, Willie Nelson, Boz Scaggs, Dan Rather, Neiman Marcus, H-E-B, Anheuser-Busch, Margaret McDermott, Tommy Lee Jones, Bob Schieffer, Debbie Allen, Robert Rodriguez, Walter Cronkite, Lawrence Wright, Sandra Cisneros, Lyle Lovett, Texas Monthly, Ray Benson, Bill Wittliff, Gene Jones and Charlotte Jones Anderson, Craig Dykers and Elaine Molinar (Snøhetta), Brandon Maxwell, and Exxon Mobil, among others.

The 2027 honorees will be announced this fall. For more information on the Texas Medal of Arts Awards, please visit txculturaltrust.org/what-we-do/texas-medal-of-arts-awards. For more information on the Texas Cultural Trust, please visit txculturaltrust.org.