Big Ideas,
Real Impact.

Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country,

Tres Grace Foundation provide $260,000 in funding to Hill Country Arts Foundation riverside campus redesign.

Investment supports Lake Flato Architects engagement to reimagine its campus following July 4 floods.

The Hill Country Arts Foundation announced it received a combined investment of $260,000 from the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and Tres Grace Foundation to engage Lake Flato Architects for a comprehensive redesign of its riverside campus.

The July 4 floods caused significant damage to the campus, impacting performance venues, visual arts spaces and critical infrastructure. The investment marks a major step forward in the organization’s long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.

“We are incredibly grateful—this is the kind of generosity that changes everything,” said Sarah Tacey, executive director of the Hill Country Arts Foundation. “The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and the Tres Grace Foundation didn’t just support a project—they unlocked it. Because of them, we are able to engage a firm of Lake Flato’s caliber—and an entire team of experts—to begin imagining a future that is stronger, more resilient, and more connected to the community we serve.”

The total investment includes a $130,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and $130,000 from Tres Grace Foundation. The funding also supports a multidisciplinary team that will include landscape architects, flood mitigation specialists, engineers and theater design professionals.

“This investment reflects a long-term commitment to the cultural and economic recovery of the Hill Country,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. “The Hill Country Arts Foundation is a cornerstone of this community. Supporting its recovery means restoring not just a physical space, but a place where people gather, create and heal. We are proud to partner in helping reimagine a campus that will serve the region for generations.”

“Restoring a vital community asset while building for the future is exactly what this investment will do,” Hugh Dobson, executive director of Tres Grace Foundation, said. “We believe in the power of the arts to bring people together, especially in moments of recovery. This investment ensures the Hill Country Arts Foundation can come back stronger, more resilient and more accessible to the community it serves.”

Lake Flato Architects, known for environmentally responsive and community-centered design, will lead the campus reimagining process with a focus on long-term resilience and community impact.

“The Hill Country Arts Foundation’s determination to rebuild stronger and better, by reimagining its campus as an even greater home for the arts, aligns closely with Lake Flato’s mission to design meaningful places that bring communities together,” Gus Starkey, associate at Lake Flato Architects, said. “My connection is deeply personal. Having grown up in this community, I was fortunate to experience performances at the Point Theater—unforgettable evenings beneath the stars of a Hill Country night sky. Those memories continue to inspire my commitment to help shape a new chapter for this special place.”

The Hill Country Arts Foundation has continued to offer programming where possible, reinforcing its role as a hub for connection, expression and renewal during recovery.

With support from its funding partners and the broader community, the organization will move forward with a renewed vision to restore and strengthen its campus as a destination for arts, education and community engagement.

ABOUT HILL COUNTRY ARTS FOUNDATION: The Hill Country Arts Foundation (HCAF), located in Ingram, has been a cornerstone of arts and culture in the Texas Hill Country since 1955. Dedicated to enriching the community through visual and performing arts, HCAF provides year-round programming that includes exhibitions, theatrical productions, concerts, and arts education for all ages.

Set along the banks of the Guadalupe River, HCAF’s campus serves as a creative hub where artists, students, and audiences come together to experience and celebrate the arts. Through classes, workshops, and its popular summer youth programs, HCAF fosters creativity, builds confidence, and provides meaningful access to the arts for residents and visitors alike.

Committed to both tradition and innovation, HCAF continues to expand its impact by supporting artists, engaging the community, and cultivating the next generation of creative talent in the region. For more information, please visit hcaf.com.

ABOUT TRES GRACE FOUNDATION : Since its inception, The Tres Grace Family Foundation has been instrumental in providing grants and donations to vital programs for the most vulnerable, including after-school and summer programs for children, establishing safe shelters for the unhoused population, and supporting Texas food banks. For more information, visit www.tresgraceff.org

About Lake Flato:

Lake Flato crafts environments that enrich communities and nurture life. As architects, interior designers, sustainability leaders, and urban designers, Lake Flato creates designs that are rooted in place and responsive to local conditions and traditions. Equal parts pragmatic and poetic, Lake Flato’s work complements the diversity of our landscapes and the richness of our daily lives. Recognized as pioneers in sustainable design, the firm has received the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture and garnered 16 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment Awards, more than any other firm. Twenty years after receiving the AIA’s Firm of the Year Award, founders David Lake and Ted Flato were honored with the 2024 Gold Medal, the AIA's highest honor. For more information, visit: www.lakeflato.com.

ABOUT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life across the Hill Country region by connecting charitable donors with community needs. Based in Kerrville and serving 10 counties, the foundation manages a diverse portfolio of funds and grants that support local nonprofits, scholarships and community initiatives. Since its founding in 1982, the foundation has worked to strengthen communities, inspire generosity and create lasting positive impact for current and future generations. For more information, visit www.communityfoundation.net.