TACA Announces a Multi-Faceted Transformation of its Funding Support for the Arts July 21, 2020

The TACA Resiliency Initiative will make way for more frequent and flexible grant-making, capacity-building programming, and thought leadership to support the Dallas arts community

Media Contact: Brett Gray, Brett@BrettGrayPR.com, 214.557.6233

DALLAS – TACA – The Arts Community Alliance – announced the launch today of the TACA Resiliency Initiative, transforming how the organization will support the Dallas arts community through its mission of grantmaking, capacity building, and thought leadership.

“In response to this pandemic and its severe impact on the Dallas community, we are reframing our support for Dallas arts organizations with the new TACA Resiliency Initiative,” said Terry D. Loftis, President & Executive Director of TACA.  “At its heart, we’ve conceived a multi-faceted funding system for the arts to make grants more frequently, simplify the grant application process, ease the criteria for consideration of a grant, and remove grant use restrictions.

Tara Lewis, TACA Board Chair, added, “The pandemic has taught us much about arts organizations’ vulnerability during times of extreme crisis.  The Dallas arts community is in crisis mode and deserves our swift action to ensure it can continue to survive and thrive.  With the TACA Resiliency Initiative, we’ll help ensure needed funding is flowing regularly to arts organizations who are demonstrating resiliency in their missions at this critical time.”

The TACA Resiliency Initiative will be represented by a specially created brand and will be composed of three core elements:

Grantmaking.  Two new grant programs – Resiliency Grants and Pop-up Grants – will be provided as unrestricted funds to replace TACA’s former grant programs, including annual Arts General Operating Grants, Artist Residency Fund Grants, and New Works Fund Grants.  The unrestricted grants will be made to local arts organizations that are demonstrating resiliency in their ability to creatively fulfill their mission in the current COVID-19 landscape through live, virtual or other delivery mediums.

“Looking ahead, our grants will be made to organizations based on their mission delivery, community relevance, and organizational adaptability,” said Maura Sheffler, Deputy Director of Programs and Marketing.  “With the revamp of TACA’s support for the Dallas arts community, we’re responding to the rapidly changing needs arts groups have encountered in recent months.  At the same time, we’re re-imagining how we can best support their missions now and in the future.”

• Resiliency Grants will be made in three disbursements over the next 12 months – in October 2020, February 2021, and June 2021. Eligibility for Resiliency grants will be limited to organizations that have received TACA Arts General Operating Grant funding in 2018, 2019 or 2020.
• Pop-up Grants will kick off in August and be distributed more broadly as small, unrestricted disbursements to organizations demonstrating quality programming, exceptional creativity and innovation.  TACA will award merit-based funding more frequently to raise the visibility of artistic work happening in the community. No application will be required, but rather awarded based on observation of work – in person, virtually, or via other mediums.

Both grant programs will be administered by the TACA Resiliency Committee, an evaluative body of 14 individuals representing diversity in artistic expertise, age, ethnicity and gender.  Committee members include:

Kymberlaine Banks – Business Engagement Officer, Communities Foundation of Texas
Matrice Ellis-Kirk – Managing Director, RSR Partners
Sheyna Ferraro – Community Programs Director, Texas Center for Arts + Academics
Veletta Forsythe Lill – Community Leader
Anne Marie Gan – Interim Business Operations Manager, City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture
Gus Hinojosa – Owner, HINOJOSA, Architecture & Interiors*
Sheilon King – Director Mobility Transformation, AT&T
Cam Kirkpatrick – Creative Resource Manager, Baylor Scott & White Health*
Tara Lewis – Chair, TACA Board of Directors*
Carol March – Vice Chair of Grants, TACA Board of Directors*
Jim Nugent – Vice Chair of Grants, TACA Board of Directors*
Nick Weege – Financial Advisor, RBC Wealth Management
Kurt Wolber – General Counsel & Risk Manager, Thackery Partners*

(*) Denotes TACA Board of Directors member

Capacity Building.  Resiliency Workshops will replace former Amplifier workshops for North Texas arts organizations.  The workshops will be aimed at providing local arts and cultural administrators with access to expertise that will support their ongoing efforts to sustainably create and present art in the pandemic era.

The first Resiliency Workshop will feature UT Southwestern epidemiologist Dr. Robert Haley in a July 22 webinar where he’ll provide the most recent COVID-19 information through the lens of arts organizations.  Haley will provide strategies for arts genres to continue making art and reopening venues with advice for reduced risk, in a Q&A format for those attending.

Thought Leadership.  TACA will continue its mission of thought leadership to inform and support the arts community through collaborative strategies and programs, such as the recent COVID-19 impact study of 57 Dallas arts organizations fielded with the Dallas Arts District and the Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition.

TACA’s Perforum, an annual community-wide arts symposium designed to advance a collective vision for a thriving arts and cultural community in Dallas and North Texas, will take on a new relevance as artists and arts groups navigate the new dynamic of COVID-19’s impact on their missions.  The 2020 Perforum symposium will transition to a fully-virtual experience to allow for maximum community participation.

For additional information about the TACA Resiliency Initiative, granting process, workshops, and thought leadership please visit the TACA website.

To make a gift to TACA and the Resiliency Initiative, please contact us at development@taca-arts.org or 214.520.3930.

About TACA
TACA – The Arts Community Alliance – supports excellence and impact in the arts through grant-making, capacity building, and thought leadership. TACA envisions an innovative, inclusive, sustainable cultural sector recognized for its essential contribution to a vibrant, prosperous community. Since its founding in 1967, TACA has worked to establish North Texas’ cultural community as one of the strongest in the nation. TACA’s growing investment in the arts translates to new premieres and productions, impactful residencies and community initiatives, and more opportunities for artists and audiences to connect – all striving to make Dallas a dynamic city and a great place to live and work.

For more information about TACA, call 214-520-3930 or visit taca-arts.org. Connect with TACA on Facebook at facebook.com/tacadallas, Twitter at @TACADallas or on Instagram at @TACADallas.