Texas Medal of Arts Announces 2023 Recipients, Including Local Musician
After releasing the first details for next year’s Texas Medal of the Arts Awards (TMAA), the Texas Cultural Trust (TXCT) has revealed the full list of 2023 winners — and San Antonio residents will recognize one local name.
Taking place at venues across Austin, the biannual two-day event recognizes the creative contributions of Texans in multiple disciplines, from music to architecture, film, design and beyond. Next year’s honorees also span multiple geographic regions, with recipients representing Houston, El Paso and everywhere in between.
“We are beyond thrilled to resume the TMAA Celebration, after having to postpone and cancel in 2021 due to the pandemic, with an extraordinary lineup of talented Texans who have each inspired and captivated their communities, our state and beyond,” says Texas Cultural Trust CEO Heidi Marquez Smith. “Our organization strives to shine a light on the vital role the arts play in our state and in our daily lives. Texas has such a rich cultural heritage that deserves to be recognized, invested in and celebrated.
So, without further ado, the winners of the 2023 Texas Medal of Arts are:
- Arts/Health: Performing Arts Medicine Center, Houston
- Lifetime Achievement/Musical Theater: Carole Cook, Abilene
- Music: Christopher Cross, San Antonio
- Singer-songwriter: Miranda Lambert, Lindale
- Architecture: Miró Rivera Architects, Austin
- Visual arts: Deborah Roberts Austin
- Design: Lela Rose, Dallas
- literary arts: Benjamin Alire Saenz, El Paso
- Film producerTaylor Sheridan, Weatherford
- Dance: Septime Webre, Brownsville
- Actor: Luke Wilson, Dallas
Christopher Cross has sold over 10 million albums in his career, which spans more than four decades. His 1980 self-titled debut album won five Grammy Awards, including – for the first time in Grammy history – the top ‘Big Four’ awards: Record of the Year (for the single ‘Sailing’), Album of the Year, Song of the Year (also “Sailing”) and Best New Artist. Cross also claims an Academy Award for Best Song (“Arthur’s Theme,” co-written with Burt t Bacharach for the film arthur); a Golden Globe, an Emmy nomination and five Top 10 singles.
TXCT’s two-day flagship event kicks off on February 21, 2023 with Arts Alive! Reception at Commodore Perry Estate, culminating with an awards presentation and gala dinner at the Long Center for Performing Arts on February 22, 2023. This year’s events are co-chaired by Linda LaMantia, civic leader and artist dedicated to supporting and promoting arts and education; Judy Robison, philanthropic advocate for prioritizing equity in access to the arts for all children; and world-renowned fashion designer and 2019 TMAA winner Brandon Maxwell.
Besides Maxwell, previous honorees have included Matthew McConaughey, Jamie Foxx, ZZ Top, Willie Nelson, Dan Rather, Neiman Marcus, HEB, Robert Rodriguez, Walter Cronkite, Lawrence Wright, Sandra Cisneros, Lyle Lovett, Texas monthly, and much more. In total, the TMAA has celebrated 118 Texas leaders and luminaries since its inception in 2001.
