Dallas Opera Receives $250,000 Grant From the Texas Instruments Foundation

The Dallas Opera has announced that the company has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Texas Instruments Foundation, which recently approved grants totaling $1.5 million to a dozen diverse North Texas arts and cultural organizations. According to the foundation, the purpose of these awards is to "enrich the quality of life in TI's headquarters community."
In making this unprecedented gift to the company, Texas Instruments Foundation cited TDO's outstanding leadership and the new direction taken by the company under the guidance of General Director and CEO Keith Cerny. In awarding the grant, the foundation also cited a proven commitment to artistic excellence and the positive impact of a successful, carefully crafted financial plan designed to restore community confidence in the Dallas Opera, as well as putting the company on the path to genuine fiscal responsibility and balance-and keeping it there.

"Texas Instruments has been a stalwart supporter of The Dallas Opera for more than 50 of its illustrious 55 years," explains Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny.
"For the second consecutive season, the Texas Instruments Foundation is providing an unprecedented level of financial support. As we strive to create new productions, showcase revivals, and secure commissions reflecting the highest artistic and technical standards for this art form, Texas Instruments Foundation must be credited for its starring role as a partner in the success of this company. It's a role for which all of us at The Dallas Opera are deeply and sincerely grateful."

In addition to supporting the highest standards of excellence in each of our critically acclaimed mainstage productions, these newly awarded funds will advance the educational and community outreach initiatives of the Dallas Opera throughout the 2012-2013 Season. This includes-but is not limited to-live performances and opera recitals in schools, libraries, museums, and cultural centers destined to reach more than 20,000 young people in the Dallas/Fort Worth area alone.
This season, the Dallas Opera-supported by the generosity of the Texas Instruments Foundation-reached nearly 25,000 students and their families in performances of a new production of Georges Bizet's Doctor Miracle, special family concerts and other well-received outreach initiatives. Now the company has added a new children's production of John Davies' Jack and the Beanstalk (featuring the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan) introduced at campTDO just last month.

Sam Self, Chairman of the Texas Instruments Foundation explained the rationale behind the foundation's decision: "The Dallas Opera is one of the cornerstones of the Dallas arts community, and we're proud to be a partner in their continuing success."

Besides the Dallas Opera, this year's arts grant recipients include the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Chamberlain Performing Arts, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Children's Theater, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Nasher Sculpture Center, Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Shakespeare Dallas, and the Turtle Creek Chorale.

"It's both an exciting and challenging time for the arts in Dallas," said Ann Pomykal, executive director of the TI Foundation. "We believe that an entire community benefits when its arts thrive. So by helping the arts in North Texas reach and sustain a high level of operational and artistic excellence, we can positively impact our community's economy and quality of life."

The TI Foundation has accomplished its mission well, providing direct operational support to a variety of nonprofit arts organizations in the Greater Dallas Area. The 2012-2013 "Pursuits of Passion" Season will mark the second consecutive year that the foundation's generosity and long-term relationship with the Dallas Opera has resulted in it being named the sole season sponsor.

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