RENAISSANCE
WOMEN
WOMEN
of
POWER
74 AUSTINWAY.COM
In session: As executive
director of the Texas
Cultural Trust, Jennifer
Ransom Rice recently
wrapped up the 2017
biennial Texas Medal of
Arts Awards, which
honor the best in the state
across all disciplines and
philanthropy. With that
big production in her
rearview, she is focusing
the rest of the current
legislative session on
funding for the Texas
Commission on the Arts
and its Cultural Districts
Program.
Personal mission: Rice's
family believed in the
importance of arts
education, so she took
lessons in piano and
JENNIFER R ANSOM RICE
The Advocate
These five women of power are taking Austin's arts and culture scene to the next level.
by MADDY HILL AND HANNAH MORROW photography by DAGN Y PI ASECKI
ballet from a young age.
"My parents always
made sure we were
involved in and exposed
to the arts," says Rice.
"To broaden our minds
and look at the world in
a different way was very
important."
Business sense: The arts,
a $5.5 billion industry in
Texas, deserves more
funding from the
government, Rice says.
"Business, development,
and progress—which we
need for our city to
grow—has to be done
responsibly and collab-
oratively with our arts
and entertainment
industry," she says.
website: txculturaltrust.org
twitter: @txculturaltrust
HAIR
BY
RAVEN
CAMACHO;
MAKEUP
BY
ALICIA
BELLER;
SHOT
ON
LOCATION
(EXCEPT
FOR
SMART)
AT
THE
CONTEMPORARY
AUSTIN'S
JONES
CENTER
