Rob Giardinelli
Event For Young Texas Artists Celebrates $2.5 Million Endowment
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Tyler Schmitt of Mill Photography Studio
THE SETTING: ZACH Theatre was the setting of a biennial event to honor the next generation of Texas artists about to make their mark on the world. Several hundred top art patrons, community leaders, sociables, and philanthropists from around Texas attended the Texas Cultural Trust’s Young Masters event which featured a night of fun, moving performances, and the celebration of a recent endowment that will provide access to the arts future generations of Texans.
THE VIBE: The evening for the cocktail-chic crowd began before they even entered the venue’s Topfer Theatre. As patrons walked up to the theatre, they were treated to a performance by Ray Benson and the Lake Travis Fiddlers who wowed the crowd with their artistry. Once inside, guests had the opportunity to pose for red carpet images in the Topfer Theater lobby. After the images were taken, the crowd mingled by getting reacquainted with old friends before taking their seats in the Topfer Theatre for the main program.
Emcee Trevor Scott of KEYE kept the evening flowing at a fun, brisk pace. During the main program, the audience was treated to a series of performances by Texas Young Masters Alumni throughout the night. Additionally, fifteen aspiring young artists in 8th through 11th grade from throughout the state were awarded scholarships through the Young Masters Program, a joint venture between the Texas Cultural Trust and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Each will receive a $10,000 scholarship over two years. Capping off the evening was honoring one of the state’s most beloved philanthropist duos…Dr. Ernest and Sarah Butler, who provided a $2.5 million endowment to the scholarship fund that ensures students will continue to receive these valuable scholarships for years to come.
THE NON-PROFIT: The event raised funds for the Texas Cultural Trust. The organization, run by Heidi Marquez Smith and her team, is the state’s leading voice for arts advocacy, education, and economic impact to spotlight artistic excellence in Texas. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Texas Cultural Trust’s programs and initiatives.
