The Fort Worth Independent School District was chosen to be one out of 24 school districts in the United States to receive a larger federal grant than it ever has before.

Thanks to that, TCU’s art department was given $95,000.

The university, along with partners in Fort Worth’s art community, will use the grant money to work toward holding professional summer camps for the next three years, giving educators an opportunity to be professionally trained in music, dance, drama and visual arts.

Giving the art department 90-plus grand is smart, especially since it won’t just benefit the university, but also the Fort Worth community. TCU has been given the chance to make a big-time contribution in arts education, and to no surprise, it is taking full advantage of that.

Teachers and staff instructors from all over the Metroplex will have professional training and guidance that will only benefit their students. It will open up doors of endless opportunities for art students looking to make art their career. The Dallas/Fort Worth area is the perfect place to go to if your passion is for the arts, whether it be in theatre, music, dance or visual arts. So it makes sense that federal grants be given to schools that are preparing tomorrow’s artists.

In addition to sharing priceless knowledge, professors, teachers and students will be able to network and make contact with prominent art organizations in the area. Casa Manana, the Fort Worth Opera, the Arts Council of Forth Worth and Tarrant County are just a few of the many organizations to partner up with the university to jump start programs like professional summer camps.

TCU will be a resourceful tool for teachers and students throughout the art community, Amanda Allison, professor of art and art history, said.

TCU has always been about improving higher education, and it has shown that consistently throughout the years with new and renovated majors and courses. It is no wonder the university was chosen to help collaborate and enrich the art community.

Opinion editor Patricia Espinosa for the editorial board.