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Our News
Texas State Artist
Nominate the next Texas Poet Laureates, Texas State Musicians, and Texas State Artists (visual arts) by October 15! TCA organizes this biennial designation process, which is the highest honor the State gives to artists.
Information and the online nomination form are here.
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New Grants Approved
On September 3, TCA Commissioners approved funding of 1,143 grants in the first funding round for fiscal year 2027. The grants total over $17 million and will go to nonprofits and units of government in 131 Texas cities. The full list of fiscal year 2027 grants is here.
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New Cultural Districts Approved
On September 3, TCA Commissioners also approved the designation of four new cultural districts: the Edinburg Arts District, Galveston African American Cultural Heritage District, Lufkin Cultural District, and Mitte Cultural District in Brownsville. Congratulations!
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September Commission Meeting
Per State law (Government Code, Chapter 551), the agenda is posted for public review with the Texas Register.
Search for “Texas Commission on the Arts” to view the current agendas posted online. The meeting materials are located here.
Art Jobs
The Arts and Culture Manager leads the City’s Arts and Culture Program, advancing the Public Arts Master Plan and strengthening community engagement through impactful cultural initiatives. It oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and outreach efforts that elevate public art and heritage within the community. Working under the general direction of the Destination Services Director, the role provides strategic leadership, collaboration, and supervision of program staff to support key City objectives. The position requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays to ensure successful program delivery.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The following list highlights the main responsibilities of this position. While it covers the core tasks, it may not include every duty that could be assigned. Employees may be asked to take on other responsibilities as needed to support the team and department.
Implements the Public Art Master Plan and ensures alignment with City policies, procedures, and strategic goals.
Provides leadership and management of public art and heritage initiatives, including program development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
Coordinates with community members and stakeholders to develop, implement, and gather feedback on public art projects throughout their lifecycle.
Leads community outreach and engagement efforts to promote participation and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders, arts organizations, and community groups.
Oversees public art planning, acquisition, installation, and long-term maintenance to ensure high-quality, sustainable public art assets.
Manages project development from concept through completion, including defining scopes, estimating costs, establishing timelines, coordinating schedules, and ensuring timely, compliant delivery.
Ensures compliance with all program, contract, and grant requirements and facilitates improvements related to identified operational and technical needs.
Coordinates, implements, and evaluates program operations, initiatives, and services; facilitates communication with relevant department and City staff regarding program needs.
Administers grants and funding programs for arts, cultural, and public events; identifies and secures additional sponsorships and funding opportunities.
Prepares and monitors program and division budgets, recommends contract payments, and oversees contract development, negotiation, and compliance.
Serves as the City’s public art liaison for capital improvement projects, coordinating with architects, engineers, artists, internal departments, and other partners.
Provides public education and communication through presentations, workshops, publications, and digital platforms to increase awareness of arts and heritage initiatives.
Represents the division, department, and City at meetings, conferences, and collaborative events at the local, regional, and national levels.
Produces reports, delivers presentations, and supports policy and procedure development to strengthen program operations.
Supervises, trains, and evaluates staff; oversees hiring, development, performance management, and other supervisory responsibilities in accordance with City policies.
Performs related duties and fulfills responsibilities as required.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS & PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in arts administration, public administration, visual arts, performing arts, language arts, or other related field.
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in public art.
Two (2) years of supervisory experience.
Must have a valid Class "C" Texas Driver's License.
COMPETENCIES AND ENVIRONMENT
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of governmental processes, policies, regulations, and applicable standards.
Knowledge of accounting principles and budgetary practices.
Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and standard office technology.
Skill in problem-solving, critical thinking, and recommending effective solutions.
Skill in clear and effective verbal and written communication.
Skill in supervising, training, and evaluating staff in alignment with City policies.
Ability to analyze operational needs and implement improvements to enhance departmental effectiveness.
Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate programs and initiatives.
Ability to operate computers and related office equipment.
Ability to perform the physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.
Ability to work effectively in an office environment and adapt to changing operational needs.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This position requires lifting up to 25 pounds occasionally. Frequent activities include sitting, handling, fine dexterity, vision, hearing, and talking. Occasional activities include standing, walking, pushing/pulling, and balancing. Rare activities include lifting, carrying, reaching, bending, twisting, climbing, and using foot controls.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is primarily performed in an office setting. Occasional exposure to variable weather conditions, emergency situations, and general construction hazards may occur when attending meetings or responding to incidents.
Salary. $76,502.40 - $95,638.40 Annually
Full-time Exempt
Work Hours - Varies
Deadline: 08/12/26
Location: San Marcos, TX
Website: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sanmarcostx/jobs/5415463/arts-and-culture-manager
Job Features1
| Job Category | Jobs |
| Closing Date | 05/19/25 |
| Location | Location |
| Website | Website |
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Art Opportunities
Individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations that share this geography can now apply for grants of up to $15,000 to create and present new artistic work through the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) Artistic Innovations grant program.
New this year, individual artists are not required to provide matching funds, making the full grant amount available without the need to secure additional support. Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists are made possible through M-AAA’s strategic reinvestment of a gift from Yield Giving.
Nonprofit arts organizations may also apply for grants of up to $15,000. Nonprofit arts organization grants continue with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Since 2012, Artistic Innovations has awarded more than $2 million to support the creation of new art and bring new artistic experiences to audiences throughout the region.
Applications are open now through Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
Funded projects must take place during the eligible grant period, January 1, 2027, through June 30, 2027, and meet program requirements, including applicable requirements for in-region artist engagement and public events.
Deadline: 09/24/26
Location: M-AAA Region
Website: https://www.maaa.org/news/artists-and-organizations-can-apply-for-up-to-15000-through-artistic-innovations-grants/
Job Features1
| Job Category | Opportunities |
| Closing Date | 05/19/25 |
| Location | Location |
| Website | Website |
The 42nd Annual International Exhibition is a juried visual art competition organized by the Department of Art and Art History at The University of Texas at Tyler and displayed at the university’s Meadows Gallery. Internationally known artists, curators, and scholars have served as jurors selecting works for exhibition created by some of the best contemporary artists working today. The department purchases three to six works from the exhibition each year; purchased works are added to our permanent collection. The permanent collection serves as an educational teaching resource; much of the permanent collection is exhibited throughout the UT Tyler main campus.
JUROR : Diana Roberts
Diana Roberts is an arts writer, curator, and arts administrator in San Antonio, Texas. She holds a BA in Music from the University of Texas at Austin and an MA in Art History and Criticism from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Over the past 30 years she has worked with numerous artists, musicians, nonprofit arts organizations, galleries, museums, and corporate collections around the state. As Membership and Administrative Coordinator for the Texas Sculpture Group since 2017, Roberts edited the 2025 publication, Contemporary Texas Sculpture: Artists of the Texas Sculpture Group.
In addition to independent curatorial projects, Roberts has been Director of The Center for Spirituality and the Arts, Curator of the Airport Art Spaces at SA International Airport, Coordinator for the UTSA Satellite Space, and Gallery Director for Galeria Ortiz Contemporary and the Art Gallery at Musical Bridges Around the World. She has juried exhibitions for the Texas Sculpture Group, the Southwest School of Art, the Friends of Dard Hunter, the San Antonio Art League Museum, and the Bountiful Bowl Pottery Fair in Rockport, Texas. As an arts writer, Roberts has contributed essays for numerous catalogues and other publications, including Ceramics Monthly, Sculpture Magazine, Art News, the Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas, ArtLies, San Antonio Magazine, Voices of Art, and the SA Current.
AWARDS
Several purchase awards will be made; purchased works will be added to the University of Texas at Tyler Department of Art and Art History’s permanent collection.
ENTRY AND FEES
This exhibition will be juried from digital media. Artists may submit up to three works for consideration for the non-refundable fee of $35. Entries must be submitted via CaFE (Call for Entry)
ELIGIBILITY
This competition is open to any artist who is over the age of 18, working in two-dimensional media. Paintings, drawings, prints, fiber art, and photographs created in the last three years are welcome.
KEY DATES
November 13, 2026: Entry Deadline
December 14, 2026: Notification of acceptance via email
January 8, 2027: Deadline for Receipt of Work
January 19, 2027: Exhibition opens
March 4, 2027: Reception and Juror Presentation at Meadows Gallery
March 5, 2027: Exhibition closes
March 15-19, 2027: Return of Works
Apply on CaFE: https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/17923/CAFE
Deadline: 11/13/26
Location: University of Texas at Tyler
Website: https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/17923/CAFE
Job Features1
| Job Category | Opportunities |
| Closing Date | 05/19/25 |
| Location | Location |
| Website | Website |
ICOSA Annual/ Call for Entry
ICOSA Collective (Austin, TX) announces a national call for entries for ICOSA Annual, a juried group exhibition to be held in conjunction with the Austin Studio tour. Open to all US residents working in any 2D/ 3D media and video. The entry fee is $30.
Entry link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2YsutVWv9notzkn1C9HtIRGg6mGMPiC0gnzEUBZCpdWCs9Q/viewform
Thanks to an anonymous donor, ICOSA can waive the entry fee for ten artists experiencing financial hardship. Requests are handled on a case-by-case basis. If you need a waiver, please email us at icosaannual@gmail.com before you start the application. The ICOSA Annual Committee will review your request and respond once a decision has been made.
About ICOSA
ICOSA Collective is an artist-run nonprofit art space committed to championing bold ideas, emerging voices, and experimental artistic practices. Since 2015, ICOSA has served as a platform for contemporary artists through exhibitions, sound installations, film screenings, performances, and collaborative programming that encourages dialogue and creative exchange. With more than 80 exhibitions, partnerships with artist-run spaces across the United States, and collaborations with local and regional artists, ICOSA has become an integral part of Austin's independent arts ecosystem. Visitors to the Austin Studio Tour are invited to explore current exhibitions, connect with artists, and experience a community-driven space where experimentation, collaboration, and contemporary art thrive. The gallery is located in the Canopy Arts Complex on the Eastside of Austin. ICOSA Annual is an exciting opportunity for non-member artists to showcase their work in the gallery during the Austin Studio Tour.
About the Juror
Dennis Nance is an artist and curator from Houston, Texas. He was appointed as Curator for the Galveston Arts Center in 2016 where he organizes exhibitions featuring work by contemporary artists from Texas and the Gulf Coast region. From 2007 to 2016, Nance was Exhibitions & Programming Director for Lawndale Art Center in Houston, Texas, where he worked extensively with local and regional artists through exhibitions and the Lawndale Artist Studio Program. Nance is a past member of the Artist Advisory Board for DiverseWorks and BOX 13 ArtSpace artist board member. He is a practicing artist and has been awarded grants for his work from the Houston Arts Alliance and an Idea Fund Award, administered through Aurora Picture Show, DiverseWorks Artspace and Project Row Houses and funded by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. His work has been included in exhibitions at the Art Lab at the Institute for Contemporary Art, Boston; the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; Webb Gallery; The Brandon; BOX13 ArtSpace; and the Menil Collection bookstore. He received his BA from Austin College in Sherman, TX with a concentration in Fine Arts and French.
Exhibition Schedule
Submission deadline: Thurs, Oct. 1 (11:59pm)
Artists Notification: Thurs, Oct. 16th
Shipped Worked: Friday, Nov. 6th (Arrive before 5pm)
Hand-Delivered Work: Saturday, Nov 7th (12-4pm)
Opening Reception: Nov. 13th, 7-10pm
Show Runs: Nov. 13th - 22nd
Show Closes: Nov. 22nd Meet and greet with Curator 5pm
Work shipped back by: Dec. 1st
The exhibition opens Friday, November 13th and closes Sunday November 22nd. An opening reception will be held Friday November 13th from 7pm – 10pm. All artists and their guests are welcome. The exhibition will run in tandem with Austin Studio Tour, a free, annual, self-guided art event spanning two weekends. Icosa received over 4,000 visitors during the 2025 Austin Studio Tour.
ENTRY PROCEDURE
Entries must be submitted online no later than 11:59PM on Thursday, October 1st. Late applications will not be considered. Please submit all materials via link.
- Artist Statement/CV (no more than 3 pages)
- 5-10 images of works completed within the past two years
- Save images with your first initial, last name (Example:JDoe01.jpg)
- Do not include a price sheet or prices for submitted pieces
- Optional Video Entry, no longer than 5 minutes of video. Must be a YouTube,
Vimeo link, etc. (Please make sure that the videos are not password protected.) - $30 entry fee
Due to an anonymous donor, ICOSA can waive the entry fee for ten artists experiencing financial hardship. Requests are handled on a case-by-case basis. If you need a waiver, please email us at icosaannual@gmail.com before you start the application. The ICOSA Annual Committee will review your request and respond once a decision has been made.
ACCEPTANCE
If your work is accepted, shipped work must arrive no later than 5pm, November 6th. Hand delivered work can be dropped off on Saturday November 7th from 12-4pm. Accepted work must be ready to hang or display in a professional manner.
Artists are responsible for shipping costs both ways and must include a return shipping label with their work. Pack securely. No use of Styrofoam packing pellets (bubble wrap acceptable). No glass on framing of wall-based work, plexiglass only. Work that arrives at gallery damaged will be returned un-displayed. ICOSA is not responsible for work damaged in transit. Unsold work will be packed by ICOSA in the shipping containers they arrived in and shipped out to the artists by December 1st of 2026.
Pick-up of hand delivered work will be coordinated with the artists. Pick-up no later than December 1st of 2026. ICOSA will not store work past the pick-up time.
SALES
Do not include a price sheet in application. Work does not have to be for sale. Sale prices are determined by the artist (after artwork has been accepted). After Square fees, 60% of sale price goes to the artist, 40% to ICOSA. All work must be the property of the artist in order to be available for sale.
INSURANCE
Though great care will be taken in handling your work, ICOSA does not provide insurance for any piece during the ICOSA Annual exhibition. ICOSA recommends the work be insured during shipping, as the artist bears the full responsibility for loss and damage to art while in transit. ICOSA retains the right to decide which work is included in the exhibition.
IMAGE USE
By participating in the ICOSA Annual, artists grant ICOSA rights to use the selected image(s) on printed materials and the gallery website for promotional purposes only.
NOTIFICATION
Artists will be notified of acceptance or nonacceptance no later than Thursday, October 15th.
FAQ’s:
Is there a theme? There is no specific theme, but oftentimes the curator will develop a theme and exhibition title once they have chosen from the submitted works.
Are there limitations on media/ size? We are open to all 2D and 3D media including video and performance. Please be aware that as the artist you are responsible for shipping the work so please take that into consideration if you are not local. Although there is not a specific size limit, the work does need to fit through our door which is 8’h x 4’w and weighs no more than 50 lbs.
Can I submit if I live outside of the Austin area? Yes! Just be aware that you are responsible for getting your work to the gallery by either delivering or shipping. Due to shipping time, only artists who reside in the continental United States are eligible
CONTACT
Any questions, email icosaannual@gmail.com.
Deadline: 10/1/26
Location: Austin, TX
Website: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2YsutVWv9notzkn1C9HtIRGg6mGMPiC0gnzEUBZCpdWCs9Q/viewform
Job Features1
| Job Category | Opportunities |
| Closing Date | 05/19/25 |
| Location | Location |
| Website | Website |
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