Texas Medal of Arts

Texas Medal of Arts
Awarded for	Excellence in the creative arts and arts patronage in Texas
Sponsored by	Texas Cultural Trust
Country	United States
First award	2001
Website	txculturaltrust.org/what-we-do/texas-medal-of-arts-awards/

The Texas Medal of Arts Awards (TMAA) is a biennial awards ceremony established in 2001 to honor natives or residents of Texas who have achieved excellence in the creative arts, as well as patrons who have provided significant support for the arts in the state. ^[1] The awards are administered by the Texas Cultural Trust and are typically presented in Austin during a multi-day celebration that includes a gala dinner and an awards show. ^[2]

History and criteria

The awards were founded to spotlight the power of the arts to enrich the state's economy and cultural heritage. Honorees are selected for their contributions in various disciplines, including film, music, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance, and architecture. ^[3]

To be eligible, recipients must have been born in Texas or have completed a major body of work while living in the state. ^[4]

Notable recipients

Since its inception, the Texas Medal of Arts has been awarded to numerous high-profile artists and entertainers. Notable past honorees include:

• Film/Television: Tommy Lee Jones (2001), Sissy Spacek (2003), Eva Longoria (2013), Jamie Foxx (2015), Matthew McConaughey (2019), Jennifer Holliday (2019), Richard Linklater (2025), Dennis Quaid (2025) ^[5]
• Music: Willie Nelson (2001), Van Cliburn (2001), Lyle Lovett (2005), ZZ Top (2009), Kenny Rogers (2017), Boz Scaggs (2019), Gary Clark Jr. (2025)
• Literary Arts: Sandra Cisneros (2003), Lawrence Wright (2015), Stephen Harrigan (2019), Elizabeth Crook (2025)
• Journalism: Walter Cronkite (2007), Dan Rather (2015), Scott Pelley (2017)
• Visual Arts/Architecture: Robert Rauschenberg (2009), Lake Flato (2009), Trenton Doyle Hancock (2019)

References

1. "Texas Medal of the Arts Awards". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
2. "Texas Medal of Arts". The Austin Chronicle . 25 February 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
3. "Dennis Quaid, Richard Linklater, Terry Allen, Gary Clark Jr. and More to Be Honored at the Texas Medal of Arts Awards". Tribeza. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
4. "Honoring Texas Artists: The Texas Medal of Arts Awards come to Austin". Arts and Culture Texas. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
5. "Texas Medal of Arts Awards 2025: Honoring Creative Legends". Modern Luxury. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2025.

External links

• Official website