Nov 2020 TMO Newsletter: Covid relief grants for up to $5,000 - $100,000 for Houston-area artists & music venues are here thanks to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston City Council responding to concerns voiced at Houston's recent #MusicFriendlyCommunity workshop! Learn about the new Covid relief program, and *all* of the MFC programs working to provide relief to the music industry!

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Texas Music Update - A monthly newsletter from the Texas Music Office, Office of the Governor

NOVEMBER 2020 EDITION
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TEXAS SOUNDS & CITIES Conference Returns In Virtual Format for 2020

On Monday, November 16, at 11:00 CST, the Texas Music Office and Hear Fort Worth will co-host a FREE, virtual, one-day conference to bring together music friendly communities in Texas to discuss the future of the Texas music industry.

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Assistance Information and Resources For Music Industry Professionals Affected by COVID-19


We've updated our master list of Grants, Loans, & Resources List to include the City of Houston's Musicians and Music Venues Economic Relief Program. Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston City Council recently announced a new relief program for musicians and music venues that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Musicians will be eligible for up to $5,000 in relief funding, and music venues will be eligible for up to $50,000 or $100,000, depending on budget size.  

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Victoria, TX To Be Certified As A Music Friendly + Film Friendly Community On Tuesday, November 17

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Thanks to the hard work Joel Novosad, Director of the City of Victoria's Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Texas Music Office and the Texas Film Commission will certify Victoria as a Music Friendly and Film Friendly Community on Tuesday, November 17th during Victoria's upcoming City Council meeting. The event can be live-streamed in real time. 

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Lubbock virtual music friendly community town hall


Lubbock MFC Virtual Town Hall on Tuesday, Nov 17th

Lubbock music community stakeholders are invited to come out to help plan the future of Lubbock's music scene at the next Town Hall Virtual Meeting on Tuesday, November 17 at 6 pm.

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Anhalt Dance Hall in Spring Branch, TX


Texas Dancehall Preservation Seeking Donations In Order To Provide Covid Relief Grants To Texas Dancehalls

Texas Dance Hall Preservation, a Texas-wide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is launching a fundraising campaign from October 20 to November 30, 2020, to help dance halls pay utilities and building insurance expenses. Texas dance halls represent a unique part of Texas history dating back almost to the state's earliest years. These institutions are now facing the biggest threat in their history due to the ongoing pandemic's challenges.

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New Braunfels MFC certification ceremony at Gruene Hall

Pictured (from left) 2020 Chair of the Board Wes Studdard, City of New Braunfels Mayor Rusty Brockman, Texas State Senator Donna Campbell, City Councilmember Shane Hines, and CVB Chair Mary Jane Nalley.

 

New Braunfels Certified as a Music Friendly Community


Friday morning, October 30, 2020, city and state officials, New Braunfels' Chamber of Commerce staff and board members, local media and representatives of the Gruene Hall Historic District, met for a special presentation at Gruene Hall to certify the city as a “Music Friendly Community” as designated by the Texas Music Office.

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TWC Reinstates Work Search Requirements

The Texas Workforce Commission reinstated work search requirements on Sunday, November 1. Work search is a federal requirement to receive unemployment benefits, and for most parts of the state, work search requirements have been set to 3 work search activites per week. While the state has set the maximum number of work search requirements to 3 activites per week, workforce boards may adjust work search requirements to less than 3 activites per week, depending on their local conditions.