CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas Women for the Arts (TWA), a statewide program of the Texas Cultural Trust, has opened applications for its 2026 grant cycle, inviting arts education organizations across the state to apply for funding opportunities.
The philanthropic network, powered by over 200 community leaders and arts advocates, is dedicated to awakening and nurturing the artist in every Texas child. As TWA celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, the organization has awarded more than 400 grants totaling over $4.7 million, reaching approximately 3.7 million children statewide since its founding in 2005.
Jenny Parry, the Director of Programs for Texas Cultural Trust, says their main goal each year is to reach communities in the Coastal Bend to support art education.
"This is a very significant part of our work, and I know that it's a really meaningful way that we support communities across Texas. So, the Texas Women for the Arts is actually an incredible giving circle that's made up of philanthropists and influential Texan women from across the state," said Jenny Parry.
The 2024 grantee list includes 28 organizations spanning from major metropolitan areas to smaller communities across Texas. This year, grants are available to Texas museums, festivals, after-school programs, summer camps, and more to support children's programming across the state.
"We've learned that students who are highly engaged in the arts have better academic performance, better attendance rates in schools, and better outcomes on standardized tests. We also learned that arts engagement helps to develop social-emotional skills. The arts help students regulate emotions and develop empathy, creative problem-solving, and critical thinking," said Parry.
Last year, the Art Museum of South Texas was awarded funding for an after-school art, literacy, and sustainability program that serves children from historically underserved communities in Corpus Christi. The Rockport Center for the Arts was awarded a grant for a free K-12 Youth Art Education Programming from June 2025 through May 2026.
The 2025-2026 grant cycle application period runs from October 1 through December 1, 2025. Grants are awarded each spring following a comprehensive review process conducted by TWA members.
To see the 2025-2026 Grant Criteria, click here: 2025-2026-TWA-Grant-Application-Criteria.pdf
To fill out a 2025-2026 grant application, click here: 2026 Texas Women for the Arts Grant Application Survey
To be eligible for a Texas Women's for the Arts grant, organizations must meet several criteria:
- Hold 501(c)(3) designation (with exceptions for religious organizations and city/county/state historical agencies)
- Maintain active registration and good standing with the Texas Secretary of State
- Secure sponsorship from a current TWA member (applicants are responsible for identifying and soliciting sponsors)
- Demonstrate alignment with TWA's mission to awaken and nurture the artist in every Texas child
- Organizations that received funding for two consecutive years must wait one year before reapplying.
