Since 2001, the TMAA have celebrated 118 Texas leaders and luminaries who have achieved excellence through their creative talents, as well as those whose generosity has opened doors to artistic opportunity for Texans of all ages. As the signature fundraising event of the Texas Cultural Trust, the two-day affair is a star-studded celebration that spotlights the power of the arts to not only improve children’s education, stimulate the economy, improve health and wellbeing, but also to keep us connected, engaged, inspired, and to preserve the unique and proud culture of Texas.

Past TMAA honorees have included 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.