We're pleased to share good news for Kerrville: it is home to the newly-designated Kerrville Cultural District. Read more about this new cultural district below! Photo courtesy of Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

On October 20, TCA will start accepting applications for the 2026-2028 Texas Touring Roster. The application deadline is February 2, 2026.

The program is designed to ensure that all Texans have the ability to enjoy work done by outstanding Texas-based companies and artists in their own communities. Artists from throughout the state apply to be included on the Texas Touring Roster. Touring artists offer performances as well as optional services that may include workshops, master classes, lecture-demonstrations, arts education components, residencies, or short performances. These artists must have a history of touring and must be willing to travel outside of their community to work. They are also required to maintain a reasonable fee range. Evaluators with expertise in touring arts evaluate applications to this highly competitive program.

Also on October 20, TCA will update application resources, all linked in the program guidelines. We recommend that potential applicants review all these resources. TCA staff will also be offering live online Q&A sessions. The first session will be held on Wednesday, October 22 at 2 PM Central. Registration is required, and can be done here.

TCA has an upcoming application deadline. As always, the TCA staff is happy to discuss your goals and eligibility to determine which programs are right for you. You may also request that a TCA staff member review your application and provide feedback. Ideally, these requests would be made at least two weeks before the application deadline.

Arts Respond Performance Support

This program provides professional artist fees to Texas nonprofits, schools, colleges, and units of government for hiring an artist from the Texas Touring Roster to do a performance. These applications are funded based on a percentage of contracted fees.

Activity dates must start: Between December 15, 2025 and March 14, 2026

Application deadline: Midnight on November 3, 2025

Application form: Online

Resources: Grant guidelines, contact TCA staff, FAQ

For four more weeks, the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Cultural Trust are accepting applications for the 2026 class of Young Masters, a joint initiative that provides exemplary Texas student artists in grades 8-11 with the financial help they need to pursue advanced study in the areas of visual arts, literary arts, music, theater, dance, musical theater, folk arts, and media arts.

The state’s most talented young artists will receive the title of “Young Master” and be awarded grants of $5,000 per year to further their studies in their respective disciplines. Students are eligible to receive the grant for two years, but they must submit a report and an update. The students selected for this program will represent the 13th class of Young Masters, which is generously supported by the Butler Texas Young Masters Endowment. To date, the Trust and TCA have given 431 grants to 199 Young Masters, awarding more than $1.3 million. “The Young Masters grant program was created as a way to recognize and support young people pursuing the dream of becoming prominent Texan artists of the next generation,” said TCA Executive Director Gary Gibbs. “We look forward to receiving applications from candidates who are already demonstrating outstanding artistic ability, talent and dedication to developing their knowledge in their chosen discipline.”

Applications, information and guidelines are available online at arts.texas.gov/initiatives/young-masters/. Applications and required supporting materials must be submitted by November 3, 2025. To be considered for the grant, students must be legal U.S. residents living in Texas and participating in a school-based program, a summer institute, or a specialized course of study or receiving private lessons from a qualified professional instructor. They must also maintain passing grades in all academic areas. The Young Masters will be selected by a panel of arts experts from across the state based on artistic excellence, level of commitment and quality of their proposed plan of study. The 2026 Young Masters recipients will be honored at a celebration in spring of 2026 in Austin. To read more about how this program helps young artists, see our article further down. A flyer to help promote this opportunity is available here.

TCA is signing up high schools across the state to participate in the Poetry Out Loud program. Interested educators should sign up here to conduct the program during the fall semester. Information on the national program is online here: https://www.poetryoutloud.org/.

The Poetry Out Loud recitation contest is a national project of the National Endowment for the Arts. This exciting program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. High school students memorize poems from the online anthology and perform them in competition. For this year, Poetry Out Loud will focus on America 250 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, featuring poems celebrating the rich tapestry of American stories. Each participating high school will hold its competition to determine its school winner by December 15, 2025. The school winner will go on to compete at the state competition in February 2026. The state winner will represent Texas in the national competition. More information on the state competition is here.

Texas Commission on the Arts invites you to a free, optional convening titled Tourism as Economic Development with Travel Texas. This event is an opportunity to learn about the ways in which tourism ties in to the arts and culture industry, and how the work done by the Office of the Governor's Travel Texas staff can help you integrate tourism into your organization and community economic development plans. You'll also hear how to better identify, define, and attract new audiences to your events. Our speaker will discuss their work, the research they conduct, and the partnerships and resources that they help make available.

The virtual meeting will be on Wednesday, October 15 from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Central. It is open to arts nonprofits, artists, and members of the public.

TCA staff will be joined by Travel Texas’ Research Specialist, Spencer Zamora, with a wealth of information to share.

Spencer Zamora is the Research Specialist with the Office of the Governor, Economic Development & Tourism and has been a part of the team for six years. The Travel Texas program promotes the state as a premier travel destination in domestic and international markets through an integrated advertising, public relations and marketing program. In this role, she also supports the research program that serves as a foundation for the state’s tourism promotion and a resource for the travel industry and tourism development. Mrs. Zamora has a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration and Minor Art degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has been involved in the tourism industry since 2014, starting at Visit Austin. She is a member of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA), newly serving on the board for the TTRA CenStates Chapter, and currently working on her Tourism Executive certification with the Texas Travel Alliance.

Register today! Please note: registration does not guarantee a spot in this event, as spaces are limited. Be quick to join us on the day-of to experience this conversation in real time.

TCA selected this topic using feedback from constituents, and we expect that future meetings in this series will continue addressing needs expressed by members of the Texas arts field.

Mark your calendars for our last Speaker Series installments of the year, where the speaker can be YOU! In November, TCA is holding free, online listening sessions. These listening sessions are an opportunity for TCA to learn more about you and your recent successes, challenges, and needs. Help TCA assess the needs of our field and guide the next year's slate of TCA Speaker Series events.

Each session will follow the same agenda, and will be held on:

Thursday, November 13 at 10 AM – 11:30 AM Central (register here).

Friday, November 14 at 10 AM – 11:30 AM Central (register here).

Monday, November 17 at 2 PM – 3:30 PM Central (register here).

TCA’s chic black-and-silver State of the Arts minimalist design license plate is available to order at https://www.myplates.com/go/arts. This plate design can go on a passenger car, motorcycle, trailer, or private bus (attention, Texas bands!). TCA will receive a portion of the sales of the plate. Note that this plate is part of MyPlates’ “Lone Star Series,” but only the State of the Arts plate supports TCA. There is a price break for those ordering their plate for multiple years. Make a long-term commitment to the arts!  

At their September meeting TCA Commissioners approved the designation of four new cultural districts. Cultural districts are special zones that harness the power of cultural resources to stimulate economic development and community vitality. These districts can be focal points for generating business, attracting tourists, stimulating cultural development and fostering civic pride.

The Texas Commission on the Arts is the only body able to officially designate cultural districts on behalf of the State. Cultural districts are marketable tourism assets that highlight the distinct identity of a community and encourage in-state, out-of-state, and international visitors. Cultural district development helps a community boost its economy while realizing other cultural and civic benefits. The outcomes of cultural districts extend beyond the arts and benefit all members of a community. Official designation allows cultural districts and qualifying resident arts organizations to be eligible to apply for significant Cultural District Project funding through TCA.

The Kerrville Cultural District encompasses the core area of downtown Kerrville. The Kerr County Courthouse grounds are the location of many civic events and celebrations. The beautiful new City Hall complex dedicated in 2018 also has a large civic plaza where events, celebrations and memorial events take place. The Cultural District is an eminently walkable area with wide sidewalks and is also compact with a dense array of restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and retail shops. Weekend and nightlife activities are hosted by the Arcadia Live theater, a large sports bar, and five restaurants. The Kerr Arts & Cultural Center presents as many as 20 exhibitions per year, including the Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show. The majority of buildings date from the late 19th to the early 20th century and have been lovingly restored. The Guadalupe River embankment defines the southern border of the district. The embankment features a beautiful public pavilion and stairs leading down to the river and an extensive network of walking and biking trails. The cultural district will be officially designated at the Water Street Festival on Saturday, October 25. TCA staff will present a proclamation marking the official designation.

Photo courtesy of Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau

Since its inception in 2002, the Young Masters grant program has provided 431 grants to Texas high school students for their advanced studies in the arts. As we take applications for the next class of Young Masters, we want to celebrate our current Young Masters and the work they did with their grant money this summer. Each Young Master pursued advanced training at prestigious institutions around the world, showcasing their dedication to artistic excellence.

In dance, Allen’s Adeline Dunlap trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School Summer Course, a highly regarded program known for producing top ballet talent. She refined her classical technique in the Avancé and Supérieur levels under the guidance of world-renowned instructors and gained valuable international performance experience. Beth Anne McGowan from Dallas sharpened her technique at the Orsolina 28 Art Foundation in Italy with artist Sharon Eyal and at the Arts Umbrella Summer Intensive in Vancouver. These programs are celebrated for their immersive ballet and contemporary training, offering mentorship from leading choreographers. Beth Anne was recently announced as one of three dancers named as a 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar. Gisele Elise Wilson, also from Dallas, completed her third trimester at the European School of Ballet in Amsterdam, where she expanded her classical technique under the instruction of renowned ballet masters such as Olivier Wecxsteen, Maurice Causey, and Arthur Sai. Gracelyn Weber from Savannah participated in the Summer Pre-Professional Intensive with the New York City Dance Alliance, a program known for exposing dancers to a wide variety of genres. Frisco’s Hudson Pletcher was accepted into the highly competitive Ballet BC 44 Summer Intensive in Vancouver, where he trained in diverse dance styles to further prepare for a professional career.

In theater, Adrianna Rodriguez from Harlingen attended the AADA Camera Acting for Film & Television Intensive in New York City. Through mentorship from industry professionals, she learned to meet the unique demands of on-camera performance while maintaining emotional authenticity. Brownsville’s Madelynn Mircelle Gonzalez trained at the Open Jar Studios BroadwayEvolved Intensive, where she deepened her acting, singing, and dancing skills through masterclasses and mock auditions led by Broadway professionals.

In musical theater, Valeria Velasco from San Antonio attended the Institute for American Musical Theatre Summer Intensive in New York, receiving comprehensive training in singing, acting, and dancing for the Broadway stage. Keene’s Nevaeha Wilson expanded her talents through two outstanding programs: the iTheatrics Summer Academy in New York and the North Texas Performing Arts Collegiate Pursuits Summer Program, both of which prepared her for high-level musical theater auditions.

In music, Aureus Morel from Cedar Hill attended the Summer Composition/Music Technology Intensive at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. This hybrid program included masterclasses, private composition lessons, and coursework in theory, instrumentation, analysis, and musical improvisation. Spring’s Caroline Jacobson pursued vocal excellence at the Schmidt Vocal Arts Institute and the CS Music Convention & Vocal Competition, participating in masterclasses with renowned vocal coaches and competing with top young singers nationwide. Austin pianist Lerchen Zhong attended the Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute in New York, working closely with acclaimed faculty and touring with the National Youth Orchestra of the USA. Matthew Scott, of Lewisville, trained with Carol Leone, a leading expert in alternate-sized piano keyboards, further refining his technique and musical expression.

In literary arts, Houston’s Eva Rami explored creative writing at the Yale Young Writers Workshop, focusing on fiction and poetry. The program empowered her to develop her voice and connect with a community of passionate young writers and mentors.

Visual artist Saj Baldwin from Houston participated in the NYU Summer Art Intensive, taking core classes in digital art, painting, and sculpture. With a primary focus on painting, Saj also embraced the opportunity to expand his skills in new mediums.

The Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Cultural Trust are incredibly proud to be a part of these students' development as young artists. We wish them well as they have completed their final year of being Texas Young Masters. If you know a talented young Texas artist who would be a good candidate for the next class of Young Masters, remind them that applications are currently open! Complete information on the Young Masters program can be found here.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. The Internet touches almost all aspects of everyone’s daily life, whether we realize it or not. This program is designed to encourage people to learn about cybersecurity threats, reflect on their own IT practices, and learn how to stay safe online. TCA hopes you will join us in raising awareness about the importance of cybersecurity at home and work this October. Looking for additional information? The Stay Safe Online website is filled with tips, fact sheets, and free shareable resources.

Every fall, TCA staff spend many, many hours reviewing report forms that grantees submit as they close out their grants. These reports share arts organizations’ trials and tribulations, challenges and solutions. Many of these stories will resonate with others across our field, so we're sharing some of them through grantee spotlights.

This month our focus turns to the Arts Council of Wichita Falls, which received an Arts Respond Project grant in the Public Safety and Criminal Justice priority for their Art in Transition program (AIT). This program, in partnership with the Wichita County Jail and Wichita County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, brings arts learning to incarcerated adults and at-risk youth. Participants in the program work with highly qualified teaching artists to develop skills across a variety of arts disciplines each month.

Lessons are designed to be flexible and responsive to the students’ interests and needs, and take into consideration that for some, participation may last months or years, while others attend only a handful of sessions as they await court dates, transfers, or release. Through AIT sessions, participants experience growth in self-reflection, critical thinking, and collaboration. These are valuable tools the students can carry into daily life, whether facing the challenges of incarceration, transitioning back into the community, or navigating adolescence. In this way, AIT offers not just creative skills but also strategies for problem-solving and self-worth that may help reduce recidivism and support mental health.

Today, AIT has a waiting list for classroom spots. Even adults who are not part of the program have shown interest by submitting entries to the monthly art contest run by staff at the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office. With dedicated instructors and enthusiastic students, AIT continues to demonstrate how access to the arts can transform lives, even in the most challenging circumstances. TCA is proud to be able to support the Arts Council of Wichita Falls and the many other organizations across the state who make the arts accessible to our fellow Texans.

Photo: Brittany Roberts

Yes, on top of everything else going on this month, it's National Arts and Humanities Month! Make sure to celebrate properly, perhaps with one of our many grantees!

Texas Commission on the Arts

1801 Congress Avenue

Austin, TX 78701

512-463-5535

800-252-9415

arts.texas.gov