Transparency. That is the sweet spot of all organizations nowadays, especially nonprofits. Whether it’s ‘fessing up the actual net figure or announcing the distribution of dollars to nonprofits, transparency is the key to over-the-top respect.
Perhaps that why it was surprising that, tonight, TACA shifted gears at its annual Grant Awards Celebration at the Wyly. In years past, the organization used the occasion to announce the exact amounts going to the nonprofits and formally present the thrilled representatives with a check, to the applause of an audience full of fellow nonprofits and TACA board members.
This year, though, there were no individual amounts revealed; nor was there a formal presentation. Instead it was announced that TACA had once again provided $1.3M in grants for area performing art programs. The reason for withholding announcement of the amounts, according to a source, was that they did not want “to hurt feelings.”
Ah, shoot! Feelings, schmeelings.
According to organizers, the determination of funding is made by TACA volunteers spending “many hours during the last 12 months attending performances, as well as evaluating grant applications. The distribution decisions are based on three primary criteria: artistic excellence, administrative and fiscal responsibility and community engagement.”
After being asked about the change of plans, organizers provided the following breakdown of ranges for the 49 organizations:
$5,000-$10,000
- African-American Repertory Theater
- Arts District Chorale
- AT&T Performing Arts Center
- Blue Candlelight Music Series
- Chamber Music International
- Chamberlain Ballet
- Cry Havoc Theater Company
- Dallas Bach Society
- Dallas Chamber Music Society
- Dark Circles Contemporary Dance
- Echo Theatre
- Nasher Sculpture Center
- Plano Civic Chorus
- Soul Rep Theatre Company
- Teatro Hispano de Dallas
- Voices of Change
$10,001-$20,000
- Avant Chamber Ballet
- Big Thought
- Bruce Wood Dance Project
- Cara Mia Theatre
- Dallas Chamber Symphony
- Lone Star Wind Orchestra
- Orchestra of New Spain
- Orpheus Chamber Singers
- Plano Symphony Orchestra
- Sammons Center for the Arts
- Texas Winds Musical Outreach
- Theatre Three
- Turtle Creek Chorale
- WaterTower Theatre
$20,001-$50,000
- Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas
- Dallas Winds
- Fine Arts Chamber Players
- Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra
- Junior Players Guild
- Kitchen Dog Theater Company
- Lyric Stage
- Second Thought Theatre
- Shakespeare Dallas
- The Black Academy of Arts and Letters
- Undermain Theatre
- Uptown Players
$50,001-$95,000
- Dallas Black Dance Theatre
- Dallas Children’s Theater
- Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Dallas Theater Center
- Texas Ballet Theater
- The Dallas Opera
- TITAS
An additional $200,00 will be distributed via The TACA Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund and the TACA Bowdon and Embrey Family Foundation’s Artist Residency Fund.
Instead of the usual check presentation, the evening included “a tribute to Becky Young, TACA’s leader retiring after 18 years, as well as students from the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts performing a scene from Magnolia, written by special guest artist Regina Taylor.”
Oak Cliff native Regina then told of how the arts had led her into a career of acting and moderated a panel with Dallas Symphony Orchestra Principal Horn David Cooper, Dallas Black Dance Theatre Encore! Artistic Director Nycole Ray and Bruce Wood Dance Project Artistic Director Kimi Nikaidoh.
The evening also marked the kick-off of TACA’ 50th anniversary year with Wanda Gierhart spearheading the plans. With the former Neiman’s exec/Chef Dean Fearing‘s bride-to-be Wanda at the helm, it’s gonna be a jaw-dropping year.