![\"Badge](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Badge-of-Pride-VIPReception-1.jpg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\nThe Moody Fund for the Arts (MFA) is setting records with its grant cycle announcement this year. MFA is awarding $475,000 in grants to 70 small arts organizations. Both the total award and the total number of recipients are records for MFA.<\/p>\n
Moody Fund for the Arts was created a decade ago with a $10M gift from the Galveston-based Moody Foundation to annually provide flexible grants to small Dallas arts organizations with budgets under $1M. Since 2018, MFA has supported 498 grants to 114 unique organizations and this year\u2019s grant cycle brings the MFA award total to $3.3M over its nine years of grantmaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe set out to create a unique endowment that would support the growing, diverse and vibrant small arts community in Dallas,\u201d says Francie Moody-Dahlberg, Moody Foundation chairman. \u201cWe wanted to help these organizations realize their creative vision with projects and programs across our city. We are beyond pleased by the results, and excited at what\u2019s ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
MFA recipients must be based in Dallas and be supported by the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture (OAC).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MFA grants amplify the work of Dallas artists and boost the impact of the funding investment we provide these groups through the Office of Arts and Culture,\u201d says Martine Elyse Philippe, Office of Arts and Culture Director. \u201cIt is exciting to see so much vibrancy in our cultural ecosystem. It really sets Dallas apart.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year, the fund increased the maximum grant per organization to $15,000, up from $12,000 in the previous four grant cycles. This year\u2019s recipients include a wide array of art forms, including theater, music, dance, visual arts, film, literature and multimedia. These also include organizations and projects that give voice to historically underrepresented themes in Black communities, Hispanic communities, LGBTQ+ communities, women and more.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tPhoto by Kali Rhe Creative | Courtesy of Adrian J. Cardwell, Founder & Executive Director, Badge Of PridePhoto by Kali Rhe Creative | Courtesy of Adrian J. Cardwell, Founder & Executive Director, Badge Of Pride<\/p>\n
Visitors explore \u201cFrom Silence\u2026To Celebration!,\u201d Badge Of Pride\u2019s landmark exhibition at the Irving Archives and Museum, the largest LGBTQ+ history exhibition ever presented in Texas. <\/p>\n
This year\u2019s grant cycle features seven new grant recipients, including Badge of Pride. The organization was awarded $10,350, the highest amount for a first-time recipient.<\/p>\n
“Every artifact has the potential to start a conversation. This investment from the Moody Fund for the Arts helps us put LGBTQ+ history into public life through exhibitions, performances, and educational programs that meet people where they are. History only changes hearts and minds when people have the opportunity to encounter it. We’re grateful to the Moody Fund for the Arts for helping ensure more people have that opportunity,\u201d said Adrian J. Cardwell, Founder and Executive Director of Badge Of Pride.<\/p>\n
Herrera Dance Project is another first-time recipient.<\/p>\n
“With this funding, we can continue our ‘Echoes of Justice’ series, ensuring important stories are passed down to the next generation. It empowers our youth to carry these stories forward through dance and dialogue. It also enables us to fairly compensate our performers and fulfill our commitment to artists from all backgrounds. In a time when arts funding is scarce, the Moody Fund’s belief in our mission gives us the stability to create meaningful work that sparks dialogue, fosters unity, and uplifts voices that deserve to be heard,\u201d said Favian Herrera Jr. and Madi Frampton-Herrera, Co-Directors and Co-Founders of Herrera Dance Project.<\/p>\n
For Artstillery, this grant is a vote of confidence for its work.<\/p>\n
“The Moody Fund for the Arts’ support is an investment in artists, community, and the transformative power of multidisciplinary storytelling. This grant allows Artstillery to continue creating immersive experiences like\u00a0Dichotomy of Compassion, where performance, visual art, and technology invite audiences into meaningful conversations about empathy, identity, and our shared humanity. We are deeply grateful for this support, which strengthens our ability to create ambitious work that is accessible, thought-provoking, and rooted in community. We also want to share special thanks to the Director of Strategic Services at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Hector Garcia, who is such a dynamic lead to work with,\u201d said Ilknur Nilufer Ozgur, Artstillery\u2019s Founder and Executive and Artistic Director.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Artstillery](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artstillery-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tPhoto by Johnny Rutledge, Producer & Creative Director | Courtesy of Ilknur OzgurPhoto by Johnny Rutledge, Producer & Creative Director | Courtesy of Ilknur Ozgur<\/p>\n
Dichotomy of Compassion, Artstillery’s current multimedia activation, explores empathy, identity, and human connection through immersive performance, visual art, and technology.<\/p>\n
MFA grants allow arts organizations like Arga Nova Dance\/Beckles Dancing Company to remain accessible to the entire community.<\/p>\n
“In much appreciation and relief, I am thrilled to receive the Moody Fund for the Arts grant! We can continue our work with this support. I can concentrate on refining the dancers for performances, teaching some of our FREE classes, and continuing our outreach into the communities\u00a0we serve.\u00a0 Many thanks to the MFA for granting us!” \u00a0said Loris Anthony Beckles, Artistic Director of Beckles Dancing Company.<\/p>\n
\u201cReceiving support from the Moody Foundation for the Arts is an incredible honor because it represents more than financial assistance\u2014it is a vote of confidence in Beckles Dancing Company’s mission and our impact on the Dallas community. Flexible funding gives us the ability to strengthen our organization, invest in our artists, expand access to dance, and continue building a sustainable future where the arts inspire, educate, and connect people of all ages,\u201d said Dedra Brent, Managing Director of Beckles Dancing Company.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Dedra](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Dedra-Brent-and-Loris-Anthony-Beckles-rotated.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tPhotos courtesy of Dedra BrentPhotos courtesy of Dedra Brent<\/p>\n
Dedra Brent and Loris Anthony Beckles<\/p>\n
The AT&T Performing Arts Center administers the MFA and its application, review and funding process. The granting process has two review levels, including the MFA Advisory Review Panel and the 2026 MFA Executive Review Committee. The grants were awarded based on five categories: general program and operating support (41 grants); new works, commissions, and unique presentations (12 grants); community performances\/artist-in-residency programs (nine grants); capacity building (six grants); and cultural equity\/new initiatives (two grants).<\/p>\n
\u201cSupporting the MFA grant program is a point of pride for the Center,\u201d says Warren Tranquada, President & CEO of the Center. \u201cOur consistent stewardship of this fund and its endowment reflects our dedication to providing essential resources and services to the Dallas arts community for continued growth and engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n
THE 2026 MOODY FUND FOR THE ARTS RECIPIENTS<\/p>\n
2 Inspire Peace<\/p>\n
A.rt Experience<\/p>\n
Agora Artists<\/p>\n
AHA Art House Dallas<\/p>\n
Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico<\/p>\n
Arga Nova Dance\/Beckles Dancing Company<\/p>\n
Artists Sans Fronti\u00e9res<\/p>\n
Arts Mission Oak Cliff<\/p>\n
Artstillery<\/p>\n
Avant Chamber Ballet<\/p>\n
Badge Of Pride<\/p>\n
Ballet North Texas<\/p>\n
Bombshell Dance Project<\/p>\n
Color Me Empowered<\/p>\n
Dallas Arts District Foundation<\/p>\n
Dallas Chamber Symphony<\/p>\n
Dallas Film Society<\/p>\n
Dallas Metroplex Musicians Association<\/p>\n
Dance Council of North Texas<\/p>\n
DFW Play<\/p>\n
Echo Theatre<\/p>\n
Emerge Coalition<\/p>\n
Fine Arts Chamber Players\/Basically Beethoven<\/p>\n
Flamenco Fever<\/p>\n
Greater Dallas Choral Society<\/p>\n
Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra<\/p>\n
Herrera Dance Project<\/p>\n
Indian Cultural Heritage Foundation<\/p>\n
Kitchen Dog Theater Company<\/p>\n
kNOw BOX Dance<\/p>\n
Lone Star Circus Arts Center<\/p>\n
Lone Star Wind Orchestra<\/p>\n
Make Art with Purpose<\/p>\n
New Texas Symphony Orchestra<\/p>\n
No Limits Arts Theatre<\/p>\n
Oak Cliff Film Festival<\/p>\n
Oak Lawn Band OK2BX Foundation<\/p>\n
Ollimpaxqui Ballet Company<\/p>\n
Orchestra of New Spain<\/p>\n
Orpheus Chamber Singers<\/p>\n
OutLoud Dallas<\/p>\n
Over the Bridge Arts<\/p>\n
Pasos for Oak Cliff<\/p>\n
Pegasus Contemporary Ballet<\/p>\n
Pegasus Media Project<\/p>\n
Prism Movement Theater<\/p>\n
The Artist Outreach<\/p>\n
Representa Foundation<\/p>\n
Second Thought Theatre<\/p>\n
Soul Rep Theatre Company<\/p>\n
South Dallas Concert Choir<\/p>\n
SPARK! Dallas<\/p>\n
Swan Strings<\/p>\n
Teatro Dallas<\/p>\n
Teatro Flor Candela<\/p>\n
Texas Latino Pride<\/p>\n
Texas Supremacy of Music & Arts Conservatory<\/p>\n
Texas Winds Musical Outreach<\/p>\n
The Flame Foundation<\/p>\n
The HighArt Foundation<\/p>\n
The Smart Project<\/p>\n
The Women’s Chorus of Dallas<\/p>\n
The Writer’s Garret<\/p>\n
Top Ten Records<\/p>\n
Undermain Theatre<\/p>\n
Uptown Players<\/p>\n
Urban Arts Collective<\/p>\n
USA Film Festival<\/p>\n
Verdigris Ensemble<\/p>\n