TACA Announces First Round of Resiliency Grants to 30 Local Arts Organizations November 9, 2020

The TRI is made possible through gifts from Bank of America, Communities Foundation of Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth Area Lexus Dealers, The Donna Wilhelm Family Fund, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, The Moody Foundation, and other generous donors.

“We are honored to have such an incredible and generous outpouring of support for the TACA Resiliency Initiative,” said Terry D. Loftis, President & Executive Director of TACA. “These individuals, corporations, and family foundations understand the importance of supporting arts and culture in Dallas. The pandemic continues to adversely impact the sustainability of organizations and artists, both financially and emotionally. The amazing support of TRI enables TACA to stand side-by-side with arts organizations, and in doing so, continue cultivation of the arts across Dallas.”

“Support for the arts is critical in this time of unparalleled health, economic and societal challenges,” advocates Donna Wilhelm, president of her family fund. “I’m proud to help empower TACA’s initiative that rewards arts organizations demonstrating exceptional resiliency.”

“The TACA Resiliency Fund is an essential lifeline to arts group during these challenging times,” said Mary McDermott Cook, president of The Eugene McDermott Foundation. “It’s an honor and privilege to make a gift to TACA to for their timely work to sustain arts organizations that have been heavily impacted by the pandemic.”

Grant Eligibility, Selection
Since 2018, TACA has supported 56 organizations through its traditional granting program that were eligible to apply for TACA Resiliency Grants. Of those organizations, 49 applied and were evaluated using the following criteria: Mission Delivery (50%); Community Relevance (25%); and Organizational Adaptability (25%). The 14-member TACA Resiliency Committee selected the first round of grant recipients.

“We realize that some art forms such as chorale ensembles, for example, have more inherent hurdles to new methods of programming due to potential risks of virus transmission,” said Jim Nugent, TRI Grants Committee Co-Chair. “So, they may be slower to pivot in a way that shows resiliency. In the same vein, other organizations governed by union rules may not be able to return to programming quickly. We’re hopeful that over time, these organizations will find ways to overcome barriers to return to programming that aligns with the grant criteria for resiliency.”

TACA Resiliency Initiative
An integral TRI component of is the Pop-up Grants program, which TACA has distributed since August as small, unrestricted disbursements to organizations demonstrating quality limited programming, exceptional creativity and innovation. The awards are merit-based and made more frequently to raise the visibility of artistic work happening in the community. Recipients of Pop-up Grants made so far include Cry Havoc Theater Company, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and TITAS/Dance Unbound.

In addition to Resiliency and Pop-up grantmaking, key elements of TRI include capacity building through Resiliency Workshops (formerly Amplifier Workshops) on timely issues relevant to local arts and cultural administrators.

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 TACA 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.