Dallas: The Destination for Arts Innovation

A heroine finds her strength, technology and art join forces, a King’s influence resonates in song, and two women connect over the airwaves. These arts groups are why we call Dallas an “arts innovation town”, and their dynamic, inclusive, eye-opening projects are why we’re proud to call them our Pop-Up Grant recipients for January and February 2022.

For this cycle of Pop-Up Grants, TACA’s nominators observed 30 unique programs by nonprofit arts organizations in the community. Of these 30 programs, 13 of the them were nominated for a grant and four were selected to receive a grant.

Photo by Fabian Aguirre

Cara Mía Theatre Co.

Luchadora!

Learn More about Cara Mia Theatre Co.

Unrestricted Grant: $2,000
Artist Bonus Funds: $4,000 to support 23 key and supporting artists

Cara Mia Theater Co.’s production of Luchadora! created an intimate, exciting setting for this multigenerational story of female empowerment and lucha libre at the Latino Cultural Center. This beautifully-written story wove together themes of cultural and personal identify, family traditions, and traditional gender roles. This performance welcomed and encouraged audience participation and was highly accessible to audiences, old and new.

Founded in 1996, the mission of Cara Mía Theatre is to inspire and engage people to uplift their communities through transformative Latinx theatre, multicultural youth arts experiences and community action. Cara Mía Theatre is committed to a value system that supports an original aesthetic, excellence in practice, cultural authenticity and social justice. Cara Mía Theatre uses these values to unearth history, create new perspectives and give voice to underrepresented communities not limited to the Latinx demographic. Keep in touch with Cara Mía Theatre on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Photo by Emmanuel Lubezki

Nasher Sculpture Center

Carne y Arena
Presented in partnership with the George W. Bush Presidential Institute and Fair Park First

GET Your tickets to carne y arena

Unrestricted Grant: $2,000

Nasher Sculpture Center in partnership with the George W. Bush Institute and Fair Park First present Carne y Arena, a compelling, immersive experience that leverages cutting-edge virtual reality technology to share the stories and experience of immigrants attempting to illegally enter the United States. The innovative, relevant, exceptional nature of this work won Nasher Sculpture Center one of the first TACA Pop-Up Grants of 2022. The work is a great example of how art can be used to increase empathy, awareness, and ignite change. This Academy Award-winning exhibition is on view in the Food & Fiber Pavilion at Fair Park through April 18.

Located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, the Nasher Sculpture Center is home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world. As a nonprofit, community-supported museum and sculpture garden, The Nasher introduces broad audiences to new ideas and experiences via exhibitions and public programs, promotes access to the arts in Dallas, supports the city’s progress as a world-class cultural center, and sets the standard for the display and interpretation of modern and contemporary sculpture. Keep in touch with The Nasher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.

Photo by Ben Torres

Teatro Dallas

Pastor’s Paradox
Presented in partnership with The Juanita Craft Civil Rights House

Learn more about Teatro dallas

Unrestricted Grant: $2,000

Teatro Dallas and The Juanita Craft Civil Rights House collaborated to present Pastor’s Paradox, a composition inspired by the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This moving work, presented at the South Dallas Cultural Center, vacillated between nostalgia for Dr. King’s powerful ideas and the challenges oppressed people must face even when embracing them. The five movement composition was performed by a jazz quartet led by internationally acclaimed Cuban-born jazz pianist, Aruan Ortiz.

Teatro Dallas was founded as a non-profit theater in 1985 by Jeff Hurst and Cora Cardona. As a cultural institution, they focus on international theater and the Latinx experience as lenses through which to experience the human condition. Teatro Dallas is committed to the cultural empowerment of the Latinx community by representing varied experiences, voices, and artistic expressions. Through high quality theatrical programming Teatro Dallas employs the power of theater to celebrate our diverse traditions while strengthening our community. Keep in touch with Teatro Dallas on Facebook and Instagram.

Photo by Richard Hill

Verdigris Ensemble

Betty’s Notebook

Learn more about verdigris and betty’s notebook

Unrestricted Grant: $2,000
Artist Bonus Funds: $4,000 to support 16 key and supporting artists

Verdigris Ensemble offered exclusive performances of their notorious new composition, Betty’s Notebook, at the Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff and the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas in Downtown Dallas. The choral composition tells the story of a teenager who, while listening to her family’s shortwave radio in 1937, hears what sounds like Amelia Earhart’s distress calls. Verdigris made headlines in 2021 when Betty’s Notebook was sold for $375,000 as a Non Fungible Token (NFT) on the blockchain. Since its initial premiere in 2019, Betty’s Notebook, has been expanded to include new, multidisciplinary components which were featured in this most recent set of live performances.

Verdigris Ensemble is a Dallas vocal band pushing the boundaries of the choral medium through creative concert programming, unconventional use of space, and collaboration. With a mission to invest in the future generation of choral music, the organization also provides free music lessons and mentorship to the students at W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy. Keep in touch with Verdigris on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

WHAT’S A POP-UP GRANT?
We started our Pop-Up Grant program to shine a light on arts organizations creating programming that demonstrates exceptional quality, innovation, and accessibility safely, without skimping on the creative impact.

HOW DO YOU PICK THE RECIPIENTS?
Grant recipients are meticulously selected via a nomination process that incorporates 45+ anonymous volunteers. Nominations are made each month and a selection committee meets afterward to determine grantees based on our criteria above.

To learn more about Pop-Up Grants, please click here.