Dallas, October 19, 2025
News Summary
The Arts Community Alliance (TACA) has chosen Nancy Carlson and Andy Smith as the honorees for the 2026 Silver Cup Award, which recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to North Texas’s cultural landscape. The award luncheon will be held at the Omni Dallas Hotel, with proceeds supporting TACA’s mission to invest in the Dallas arts community. Co-chairs Lynn McBee and Terri West will lead the event, continuing the tradition of honoring volunteerism and advocacy in the arts.
Dallas — The Arts Community Alliance (TACA) has announced Nancy Carlson and Andy Smith as the 2026 TACA Silver Cup Award honorees. The 48th annual TACA Silver Cup Luncheon will take place on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Proceeds from the TACA Silver Cup Luncheon will support TACA’s mission of investing in the Dallas arts community through grantmaking and professional development programs.
Top-line details
The announcement names two civic and arts leaders as the honorees for the Silver Cup, an award given to individuals with sustained contributions to the cultural life of North Texas. Lynn McBee and Terri West will co-chair the 2026 luncheon, continuing the tradition of honoring individuals for their volunteerism and advocacy in the arts. TACA President and Executive Director Maura Sheffler praised both honorees for their leadership and impact on the cultural life of North Texas.
About the honorees
Nancy Carlson has lived in Dallas since 2000 and is currently a trustee of the Dallas Museum of Art. Carlson serves on the Program Advisory Committee of the Nasher Sculpture Center and is a board member of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. She is a member of the Dallas Children’s Theater Board of Advisors and is a trustee emerita of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law Foundation. She has held leadership roles, including former board chair of TACA and board member of the Dallas Theater Center, Texas Ballet Theater, and SMU Meadows School for the Arts. Additionally, she has been a trustee for St. Mark’s School of Texas and Greenhill School.
Andy Smith is the Director of Giving and Volunteering for Texas Instruments and serves as the Executive Director of the TI Foundation. Smith is involved with several boards, including the All Angels Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, and the Dallas Theater Center (as president). He has served on TACA’s board and The Dallas Assembly, and has been involved with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre Advisory Stakeholder Task Force. Smith and his husband, Paul von Wupperfeld, co-chaired a $12M campaign for the Resource Center’s new health campus. He won a 2021 Obelisk Award in the Business Champion of the Arts category and is a Leadership Dallas alumnus. Smith and Paul also co-chaired the 2024 Art Ball benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art and various galas for the Dallas Symphony and Dallas Summer Musicals. Andy co-chaired the 2023 TACA Silver Cup Awards Luncheon. He is a fifth-generation Texan and earned an associate degree from Tyler Junior College and a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University, cum laude.
Event leadership and purpose
The luncheon is scheduled as a fundraising and recognition event. Proceeds from the TACA Silver Cup Luncheon will support TACA’s mission of investing in the Dallas arts community through grantmaking and professional development programs. Ticket, table, and sponsorship arrangements are customary for this annual event; information regarding ticket, table, and sponsorship opportunities will be available in early 2026.
Significance and context
The Silver Cup Award recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on North Texas’s cultural vitality and have shown commitment to elevating the arts. Past honorees and event chairs often include leaders from arts institutions, civic foundations, and corporate philanthropy; this year’s selections continue that pattern by highlighting sustained volunteerism and institutional support. The award serves both to honor individual contributions and to raise funds that support a network of arts organizations through TACA’s programs.
What to expect at the luncheon
The 48th annual TACA Silver Cup Luncheon will bring together arts leaders, institutional representatives, funders, and community volunteers. The program typically includes recognition of honorees, remarks from organizational leadership, and fundraising activities that channel financial support into grantmaking and professional development initiatives managed by TACA.
Additional facts and affiliations
- TACA President and Executive Director Maura Sheffler praised both honorees for their leadership and impact on the cultural life of North Texas.
- Lynn McBee and Terri West will co-chair the 2026 luncheon, continuing the tradition of honoring individuals for their volunteerism and advocacy in the arts.
- Andy Smith is the Director of Giving and Volunteering for Texas Instruments and serves as the Executive Director of the TI Foundation.
- Nancy Carlson has lived in Dallas since 2000 and is currently a trustee of the Dallas Museum of Art.
- Andy co-chaired the 2023 TACA Silver Cup Awards Luncheon.
FAQ
- Who are the 2026 TACA Silver Cup Award honorees?
- The Arts Community Alliance (TACA) has announced Nancy Carlson and Andy Smith as the 2026 TACA Silver Cup Award honorees.
- When and where will the luncheon take place?
- The 48th annual TACA Silver Cup Luncheon will take place on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Omni Dallas Hotel.
- Who will co-chair the 2026 luncheon?
- Lynn McBee and Terri West will co-chair the 2026 luncheon, continuing the tradition of honoring individuals for their volunteerism and advocacy in the arts.
- What does the Silver Cup Award recognize?
- The Silver Cup Award recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on North Texas’s cultural vitality and have shown commitment to elevating the arts.
- What roles does Nancy Carlson hold?
- Nancy Carlson has lived in Dallas since 2000 and is currently a trustee of the Dallas Museum of Art.
- What roles does Andy Smith hold?
- Andy Smith is the Director of Giving and Volunteering for Texas Instruments and serves as the Executive Director of the TI Foundation.
- Will proceeds from the luncheon support TACA programs?
- Proceeds from the TACA Silver Cup Luncheon will support TACA’s mission of investing in the Dallas arts community through grantmaking and professional development programs.
- When will ticket and sponsorship information be available?
- Information regarding ticket, table, and sponsorship opportunities will be available in early 2026.
- Has Andy Smith previously been involved with the Silver Cup Luncheon?
- Andy co-chaired the 2023 TACA Silver Cup Awards Luncheon.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Honorees | Nancy Carlson; Andy Smith |
| Event | 48th annual TACA Silver Cup Luncheon |
| Date | Friday, May 8, 2026 |
| Location | Omni Dallas Hotel |
| Co-chairs | Lynn McBee; Terri West |
| Primary use of proceeds | Investing in the Dallas arts community through grantmaking and professional development programs |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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TACA Honors Nancy Carlson and Andy Smith at Silver Cup Luncheon
Additional Resources
- NBC DFW: TACA Announces 2026 Silver Cup Award Honorees
- Dallas News: Author Alex Sarian Joins Dallas Arts Leaders for TACA Unscripted
- Paper City: TACA Fall Arts Crawl
- People Newspapers: TACA New Works Fund Celebrates Underrepresented Artists
- Google Search: TACA
- Wikipedia: Art in the United States
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