The Texas Arts Plan

Arts Respond Project

Eligibility: Eligibility: Arts Organizations of Color with a VERIFIED budget, Arts Organizations with a VERIFIED budget, College Arts Institutions, Established Arts Organizations, Established Arts Organizations of Color, Rural Arts Providers, TCA Cultural District

Intent: See individual priority areas

This competitive grant program provides project assistance grants on a short-term basis and may include administrative costs directly related to the project.

Projects must address ONE of the following priority areas:

  • EDUCATION
    Intent: Projects that use art to promote innovations in K-12 public education.

    Designed for projects that impact Pre-K-12 public school students during the school day. Projects must be aligned with the TEKS and conducted in conjunction with school officials. Projects may occur in a school setting or off-site (field trip). Before and after-school projects are not eligible.


  • HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
    Intent: Projects that use art to improve human health or functioning.

    Designed for projects that focus on health-related topics, serve specific populations, or occur in a health care or human service setting (hospital, clinic, senior activity center, women’s shelter, homeless shelter, etc.).


  • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
    Intent: Projects that use art to diversify local economies, generate revenue, and attract visitors and investment.

    Designed for projects that focus on job growth or cultural tourism (festivals, gallery walks, art fairs, etc).


  • PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
    Intent: Projects that use art to prevent delinquency and recidivism in youth and adults.

    Designed for projects that focus on at-risk youth or incarcerated populations (after school program, juvenile detention center, adult prison, alternative learning center).


  • NATURAL RESOURCES & AGRICULTURE
    Intent: Projects that use art to understand and/or improve the ecological and agricultural environment.

    Designed for projects that occur in rural counties (festivals, fairs, exhibitions, performances) or focus on natural resources (oil, water, green art, ecological issues).


Grant Type: Semi-annual
Application Limit:
Organizations may submit one application per deadline. Over the course of TCA’s fiscal year, organizations may address two different priority areas through Arts Respond Projects. Organizations should not submit more than one application addressing the same priority area per fiscal year.
Minimum Request: $1,000
Maximum Request: 50% of project budget
Match Requirement: dollar for dollar (1:1)
Application Deadline: July 15 for projects beginning Sept. 1 through March 31; January 15 for projects beginning April 1 through Aug. 31
Attachments Deadline: July 15 for projects beginning Sept. 1 through March 31; January 15 for projects beginning April 1 through Aug. 31
Criteria: see Application Review Criteria
Click here for ineligible requests
Click here for attachments checklist

Return to Table of Contents

  © Texas Commission on the Arts