Texans for the Arts (TFA) is a highly effective, non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization that provides coordinated information about legislative activity related to arts issues and organizes advocacy efforts in order to protect and increase public funding for the arts at the state, national and local levels.
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We champion a vibrant and accessible creative landscape in Texas by cultivating an unwavering public commitment to the arts.
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We see a world where all Texans champion the arts as essential to our lives.
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Stand up and speak out.
TFA/F is here to advocate for you and with you. Our efforts ignite and empower the people we serve to stand side-by-side with us in all of our advocacy efforts. Our work motivates, educates, and trains people to use their voices and relationships to support the arts, culture, and creative industries across the state.
Cool heads, warm hearts.
We make well-informed decisions and have the best intentions for everyone involved. We combat reactivity by balancing logic and empathy and acknowledging where we can improve in the future. We put inclusivity and compassion into practice to mutually meet the needs of the people we serve and our organization.
Better together.
The arts are stronger when we lead with a diverse, inclusive, and unified voice. We establish and nurture purpose-driven partnerships to amplify our collective impact.
Harness passion.
Our shared passion for the arts catalyzes our mission and vision. We channel our powerful capacity to carry our message in creative, unique, and compelling ways to connect people of all interests and backgrounds.
Celebrate.
We celebrate the invaluable work done by our field. We celebrate to appreciate where we are and dream about where we can go next.
25 Years of Advocacy
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25 Years of Advocacy -
Texans for the Arts led the legislative strategy in the 86th Session that led to the largest budget increase for the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) in the history of the agency, including the first $10 million appropriation to fund the TCA's Cultural District project grants.
TFA has has hosted hundreds of legislative visits with elected officials from Local, State, and Federal posts - including annual meetings with the offices of Texas Senators John Cornyn, Ted Cruz, many members of the US House of Representatives, State Senators, State Representatives, Chambers of Commerce, City Councils and many more. TFA is our voice speaking up for the arts, culture and creative industries each and every day in every corner of our government.
In large part due to the efforts of Texans for the Arts the 85th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1221 with the intent of increasing local government transparency while also allowing the public to better understand the state’s patchwork of state, county and municipal Hotel Occupancy Taxes. To comply with Tax Code Section 351.009, municipalities that impose certain HOTs now must annually report their tax rates and revenue amounts, including the percentage of revenue allocated for specific uses, from the preceding fiscal year. This is vital information for the arts sector to have as we work to maximize the allowable percentage of these taxes that are dedicated to the arts in communities all over Texas.
TFA introduced Regional Conversations as a response to the COVID-19 shut downs to better connect the arts sector and focus on a unified response and recovery action plan. These conversations are a chance for arts leaders in five geographic regions of Texas to connect and discuss the critical issues facing their local communities. As we emerge from the pandemic, the issues may change; but the need for this platform remains important and Texans for the Arts is there to help.