There are times when little-known non-profits need a pat on the back and an uplift financially to achieve their goals. TACA‘s Arts Accelerator program has provided both for area art groups.
The “10-month cohort-based program is designed to increase organizational capacity, teach new business and leadership skills, build collaborative connections, and create strategic plans for sustainable growth, preparing them for transformative change and building a foundation for long-term growth.”
According to TACA President/Executive Director Maura Sheffler, “We created the Arts Accelerator in response to needs voiced by the community. TACA is uniquely positioned to observe and learn about needs across arts groups of all sizes, genres, and geographics in North Texas. In recent years, we saw the advent of organizations poised for growth that would benefit from a more comprehensive support system to cultivate and execute their respective visions. The Arts Accelerator answers that need and based on the tremendous success of our first cohort, we are thrilled to continue the program in 2024-2025.”
To qualify, the organizations had to create a “strategic plan for the next three to five years as a foundation for organizational goals and guideposts for growth and development.”
Receiving $5,000 each, the first group of cohort participants included the following:
- Arts Mission Oak Cliff
- Bombshell Dance Project
- Pegasus Contemporary Ballet
- Pegasus Media Project
- Soul Rep Theatre Co.
- Verdigris Ensemble
As Pegasus Contemporary Ballet Artistic Director/Founder Diana Crowder said, “The Arts Accelerator did not just teach us what to think, it taught us how to think. We received a wealth of information on how to approach managing our organization and our future that could be applied to our unique goals and artistic endeavors. The Accelerator also created a fantastic and invaluable community of emerging arts leaders with shared experience and values. This creation of community has fostered lasting relationships, unity, and collaboration in the Dallas Arts ecosystem.”
Now, thanks to a partnership of TACA and Suzanne Smith and Social Impact Architects, the second crop of cohorts has been announced, including:
- The Cedars Union
- kNOwBOX dance
- Lone Star Winds
- Over the Bridge Arts
- Representa Foundation
- The Writer’s Garret
In announcing the second group, Suzanne said, “TACA has cracked the code of capacity-building for emerging arts groups, moving beyond one-and-done workshops to create a learning community focused on achieving real, sustainable growth in organizations.”
* Photo credit: Gary Donihoo
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