Two Non-Profits with Local Ties Awarded Grants for the Arts

Two groups with local connections were recently awarded grants from Texas Women for the Arts (TWA), a program of the Texas Cultural Trust.

TWA announced the awards on May 12. The Fayetteville- based non-profitArts for Rural Texas (ARTS) was among the recipients. ARTS offers visual and performing arts programming for people of all ages in Fayette County and beyond.

Also among the recipients was the East Lubbock Art House (ELHA), a non-profit founded by La Grange-native Danielle Demetria East. ELHA is a creative space dedicated to art as a means of social change.

“The arts offer countless benefits for children, from supporting neurodevelopment and emotional growth to boosting academic achievement, as highlighted in our 2025 State of the Arts Report,” says Heidi Marquez Smith, CEO of the Texas Cultural Trust. “Through these grants, we aim to create meaningful creative learning experiences for Texas children and remove barriers to quality arts education— so that every child has the opportunity to experience the undeniable power of the arts.”

“Fostering creativity in children across our state is essential,” said Isha Rogers Santamaria, 2025 Texas Women for the Arts Chair. “For 20 years, TWA has championed access to arts education, reflecting our members’ deep to preserving and celebrating Texas’s rich cultural heritage. We’re proud to support these incredible programs that inspire young minds, and we look forward to continuing our impact across the state.”

East made the news in Lubbock for winning the prestigious grant. KCBD Channel 11 News in Lubbock featured her on a recent broadcast. Watch it here: https://www. kcbd.com/2025/05/05/eastlubbock- art-house-receivesmajor- boost-continue-uplifting- community/. Learn more about East’s nonprofit at eastlubbockarthouse. org.

Keep up with all the programming from Arts for Rural Texas by visiting their website at www.artsforruraltexas.org.