TACA Announces Emergency Relief Fund for Arts Organizations March 30, 2020

$350,000 Raised to Date in Partnership with Area Foundations
2020 Annual Arts General Operating Grants Also Announced

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

DALLAS – TACA – The Arts Community Alliance – today announced the formation of the TACA Emergency Arts Relief Fund, a resource to provide short-term immediate relief to Dallas County nonprofit arts organizations experiencing a loss in revenue or increased expenses due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19.  The special fund was established in collaboration with The Eugene McDermott Foundation, The Donna Wilhelm Family Fund, Hoblitzelle Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, Texas Instruments Foundation, the March Family Foundation, and the Embrey Family Foundation.

To date the fund partners have raised $350,000.  Grants of up to $10,000 will be made available to eligible arts organizations in Dallas County in two waves, at the end of April and again at end of May.  Funding is not limited to 2020 TACA Arts General Operating Grant recipients.

Terry D. Loftis

“Today we’re announcing the establishment of the TACA Emergency Arts Relief Fund to help arts organizations in Dallas County who are struggling,” said Terry D. Loftis, Carlson President and Executive Director of TACA. “We are privileged to work alongside our amazing emergency fund partners who share our goal of supporting organizations that contribute to a vibrant arts and cultural community.  We owe it to these organizations to provide assistance to them during this unprecedented time in history.”

Emergency Fund Grant Eligibility
TACA is accepting applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing and visual arts organizations in Dallas County that have been directly impacted by the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.  Eligible applicants must have an annual operating budget of less than $5 million and provide performing/visual arts programming for a live, public audience as a core part of their mission.  The majority of an applicant’s programming must take place in Dallas County.  Priority consideration will be given to current TACA-supported organizations, although all arts organizations that meet the applicant criteria will be considered.  The application is available at https://taca-arts.org/emergency-arts-relief-fund/.

“The entire Dallas arts community is reeling right now from the effects of the COVID virus,” said Jennifer Scripps, Director of the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture.  “Many of our relatively smaller groups add so much to the vibrancy of our city – they often train our emerging artists and arts professionals and experiment with new works. However, they do not have the resources – endowments or established large donor bases – to see them through this challenging time. Thankfully, TACA has been able to rapidly coalesce some of most stalwart Dallas arts donors to build this emergency fund to assist them. Long-term, shoring up these groups will be a tremendous help to shoring up the artistic diversity and vibrancy of our city!”

“It takes so many wonderful people that do part-time and hourly work that makes all our arts organizations function and do what they do best. The Eugene McDermott Foundation and TACA wants to make sure that we are providing much needed financial support to these individuals impacted by COVID-19,” said Mary McDermott Cook, President, The Eugene McDermott Foundation.

TACA’s former board chair, Donna Wilhelm, advocates, “For the arts of our city, this monumental crisis is a time to reflect relevance, retain vitality and nourish the creative soul of our community. The arts inspire us to move beyond ourselves toward greater good. I’m honored to support TACA’s initiative that strengthens arts organizations to inspire the human spirit to triumph over adversity.”

Katie H. Robbins, president and CEO of Hoblitzelle Foundation, added, “For almost 80 years, Hoblitzelle Foundation has been a passionate supporter of the Dallas arts community.  We believe TACA is perfectly positioned to allocate these needed resources to our arts organizations at this challenging period, and we’re honored to be a partner in this important initiative.”

2020 Arts General Operating Grants Announced
In addition to the Emergency Fund, TACA also announced that 46 North Texas arts organizations – representing theater, music, dance, youth performance and visual arts – will share in the 2020 General Operating Grant distribution of $400,000.  Grant amounts range from $20,000 to $5,000.

Tara Lewis

Tara Lewis, TACA Board of Directors Chair, added, “As in years past, we’ve placed a priority on funding organizations that are excelling in their missions and mirror our five criteria of artistic excellence; innovation and originality; support of local artists and local creation; access, diversity and inclusion of all Dallas County residents; and financial and administrative stewardship.  We are working diligently to fulfill our mission of supporting worthy arts organizations, with every intention of increasing distributions in future years.”

This year, 45 volunteers spent 2,500 hours observing programming by grant applicants.

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.