Texas State Artist

Artists

Artist - two-dimensional media
Artist - three-dimensional media

Adopted on June 3, 1997.

A complete list of the Texas State Artists for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional media

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
By Crabb
H.C.R. No. 144 75R8397 BNL-D WHEREAS, A work of art can immortalize for all time the spirit of the age and the cultural heritage by which it was inspired; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing outstanding artists by bestowing on them titles of honor is a long-standing practice and serves as an encouragement to other talented artists; and

WHEREAS, Traditionally, a committee of the Texas Legislature has elected the Texas State Artist, appropriately honoring those Texans who have exhibited exceptional ability in portraying the beauty of this state, some facet of its history, or the proud spirit of its people; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby request the speaker of the house of representatives and the lieutenant governor to create a special committee to designate Texas State Artists in two categories of art to serve concurrently a term of one year; one state artist shall be selected each year on the basis of achievements in two-dimensional media and one state artist shall be selected each year on the basis of achievements in three-dimensional media; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee shall designate a Texas State Artist in each category for the year beginning November 1, 1997, and ending October 31, 1998, and a Texas State Artist in each category for the year beginning November 1, 1998, and ending October 31, 1999; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the special committee be named the Texas State Artist Committee and be composed of three members of the senate to be appointed by the lieutenant governor and three members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house; the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house shall each designate a cochair from among their appointees, and the committee shall subsequently meet at the call of the cochairs; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That in the selection process each committee member may nominate no more than two artists for each year, one in each category, and from the list of nominees, the committee members shall elect a state artist; in the election, a member may not vote for his nominees; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the persons designated as state artists be  superior and recognized artists who are citizens of the State of Texas.

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
By Duncan SB1043

AN ACTrelating to creating a committee to appoint a poet laureate, a state musician, and state artists.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Title 106, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding Article 6139k to read as follows:

Art. 6139k. POET LAUREATE, STATE MUSICIAN, AND STATE ARTISTS

Sec. 1. DESIGNATING A POET LAUREATE, A STATE MUSICIAN, AND STATE ARTISTS.

(a) The Texas poet laureate, state musician, and state artist committee shall designate a poet laureate of Texas, a Texas state musician, a Texas state artist for two-dimensional media, and a Texas state artist for three-dimensional media.

(b) The Texas poet laureate, state musician, and state artist committee shall choose the poet laureate, the state musician, and the state artists from a list of individuals submitted by the Texas Commission on the Arts.

(c) The individuals designated as the poet laureate, the state musician, and the state artists do not receive any pay or emolument.

(d) The individuals designated as poet laureate, as state musician, and as state artists keep the designation for one year from the date of the designation ceremony.

Sec. 2. TEXAS POET LAUREATE, STATE MUSICIAN, AND STATE ARTIST COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED.

(a) The Texas poet laureate, state musician, and state artist committee consists of the following seven members:

(1) one member appointed by the governor;
(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and
(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives must be the chair of the house committee that has primary jurisdiction over arts and cultural matters who serves on the committee as an additional duty of the chairmanship.

(c) Members of the committee who are not members of the legislature serve for a two-year term that expires October 1 of each odd-numbered year.

(d) The members of the committee shall select a presiding officer from the members of the committee.

Sec. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS.

(a) The Texas Commission on the Arts shall solicit nominations from the arts and cultural community for the poet laureate, the state musician, and the state artists. The commission shall use the commission's Texas Cultural & Arts Network, the media, public meetings, newsletters, the Writer's League of Texas, and other appropriate methods to distribute information about the nomination process.

(b) The Texas Commission on the Arts may receive submissions from poets, musicians, and artists who have been nominated.

(c) The Texas Commission on the Arts may assemble a group of artists, musicians, writers, scholars, and other appropriate experts in the fields of visual arts, music, and literature to:

(1) review the submissions from the nominated poets, musicians, and artists; and
(2) provide advice and recommendations to the commission on who should be considered for designation as poet laureate, as state musician, and as a state artist.

(d) The Texas Commission on the Arts shall submit to the Texas poet laureate, state musician, and state artist committee a list of not more than 10 individuals who are worthy of being designated as the poet laureate, a list of not more than 10 individuals who are worthy of being designated as the state musician, a list of not more than 10 individuals who are worthy of being designated as the state artist for two-dimensional media, and a list of not more than 10 individuals who are worthy of being designated as the state artist for three-dimensional media.

Sec. 4. DESIGNATION CEREMONY. The governor and members of the Texas poet laureate, state musician, and state artist committee shall honor the individuals designated as poet laureate, as state musician, and as a state artist in a ceremony at the State Capitol.

SECTION 2.
(a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.

(b) As soon as possible after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the initial members of the Texas poet laureate, state musician, and state artist committee.