After almost fifteen years of creating unique cultural offerings in Freestone County and by the generosity of the Graham Williford Foundation for American Art, Trinity Star Arts Council, Inc. has a new home.

In early 2024, when the Williford Foundation made the decision to close their office & gallery and move from Fairfield to Tyler, TSAC was the recipient of a gift-deed to the property and became the fortunate new owner.

The Jean and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust was founded in 2006 at the death of Graham Williford. Born and raised in Fairfield, Graham cultivated a passion for education and the arts. By the time of his death, a collection of American art that he had spent several decades compiling, had grown to include more than 1,000 paintings and decorative art pieces. The Dallas Museum of Art and Tyler Museum of Art house some of the finest of the collection which are available to museums on loan. It was Graham’s desire that these pieces be displayed for the enjoyment of the general public.

In 2009, with the help of the Foundation’s director, John Williford, and administrator, Stephanie Thompson, several community leaders formed the non-profit organization, Trinity Star Arts Council, Inc., with the goal of bringing more arts to Freestone County and playing a leadership role in arts advocacy and cultural development. TSAC presented many exhibition openings with the Foundation which helped to build a core of patrons and sponsors.

TSAC strives to continue the important work of supporting Graham’s passion and of upholding the fundamental mission of TSAC by integrating the arts into the fabric of the community, serving as an advocate, steward and representative of the arts, awarding college scholarships and benefitting area citizens by providing opportunities to participate in arts related activities and to be entertained by them.

The Directors are making plans to host a variety of events at the new TSAC Gallery during the coming season starting this fall. Included will be art exhibitions, children’s activities, classes, book signings, model train exhibit, speakers and live music. Other programs include Charlotte’s Webb, a musical produced and performed by NYC’s TheaterWorks, a one-man show about Wortham’s blues legend, Blind Lemon Jefferson, as well as a musical performance at Lakeside Methodist and the patron picnic featuring a western swing band, The Western Flyers.

Monthly meetings are open to the public and held September through May on the first Tuesday of each month at 12 noon at the TSAC Gallery (115 S. Mount).

Visit online at www.trinitystarartscouncil.org for upcoming events, patron/sponsor membership, photo gallery, history and past events.

2024-25 TSAC Directors and Officers include: President – Beverly Awalt, VP – Kimberly Ratcliff, Secretary – Ashlee Daniel, Treasurer – Katherine Jackson, Director – Shelly Burkhart, Director – Jane Phillips, Director – Janie Richards, and the 2024-25 TSAC Advisory Board: Molly Biggar, George Boyd, Loften Dunlap, Terry Dunlap, Jean Galley, Al Gibson, Delois Griffin, Mandie Judd, Trish Kingsley, Karen Leidy, Jane Morrison, Dianne Murden, William Shelton, Cynthia Strait, Glen Scherer, Laurie Walther, and Meg Brown.

 

(at top):  CELEBRATING THEIR NEW home and joining with the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce is the Trinity Star Arts Council, at their ribbon cutting ceremony held Tuesday, June 9, 2024. In attendance are TSAC representatives Jane Morrison, Jane Phillips, Ashlee Daniel, Jean Galley, Al Gibson, Shelly Burkhart, Janie Richards, Dianne Murden, and Beverly Awalt; guests Scott Gilfillan (Press Secretary) and Kyler Murphy with Congressman Jake Ellzey’s office; and Chamber representatives Brenda Pate – Chamber Director, Ashley DeVillier – Chamber Administrator and Gail Farish – Creation’s Flowers & Gifts. (Photo by Nicole Schaefer)