The Texas Medal of Arts Awards were held at the Long Center Tuesday night. The bi-annual event is a chance for the Texas Cultural Trust to honor legendary artists and people who use their position to help advance the arts.
The awards were handed out to former First Lady Laura Bush, Clint Black, Robert Rauschenberg, Lake/Flato Architects, James Dick, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Robert Rodriguez, Edith O’Donnell, T.R. Fehrenbach, Austin City Limits, Betty Buckley and Keith Carter.
Sit down with the Former First Lady
Before the awards ceremony the former first lady sat down for an exclusive interview with KVUE News. Bush was genuinely excited as she talked about being back in Texas.
"It's great to be back home," said Bush. "It's actually a very welcoming feeling. We're very happy to be back in our home state. We feel very welcomed. There are lots of signs that say 'Welcome Home to George and Laura.' That makes us feel really great. It's fun to be back. It's fun to be back where all of our friends are."
Reporter: Maybe not in the spotlight as much?
Bush: That's nice. It is kind of a private life to live in a neighborhood again to do all the things we did before so it's been very nice.
Laura Bush says her family is living in Dallas, but they spend as much time as possible in Austin.
"I miss Austin. I miss everything about it. I miss the way it looks and how pretty the lake is. I miss all my favorite restaurants and, of course, all of my friends that live here, but I get to see them. A lot of them came to see me when I lived in Washington and they’ll keep coming to see me in Dallas. And I’ll be in and out of Austin a lot."
Mrs. Bush says she’s visited several times since leaving the White House -- sometimes to visit friends, other times to shop.
"I’ve been looking for furniture and other new things for our new house," said Mrs. Bush.
Her work to help children earned her a Texas Medal of Arts Award. The Texas Cultural Trust says Mrs. Bush deserves credit for making the arts a part of everyday life for kids through the Laura Bush Endowment for Education and Outreach at the Austin Museum of Art. They also wanted to honor her efforts to make books more accessible through her Book Festival program.
"I'm thrilled to be able to get to accept this medal on behalf of all the people here and across our state that have worked so hard to raise money for public libraries. The Texas Book Festival has given over $2.5 million to Texas public libraries," she said.
Mrs. Bush says she worries that the economy will force people to cut back their contributions to the arts.
"That’s very worrisome. It’s worrisome for art education which I think is a very important part of a person's education. It's something we ought to be able to offer our children in school. People don't realize it, but the arts play a very important part of our economy," said Mrs. Bush. "And a lot of Texas art institutions are supported by individual citizens, by philanthropists who give to the arts, who give to their local museum.
I think it's important for people who support the arts to remember to continue to support the arts, to prioritize what they give and to not forget all of our art institutions because they are really important."
Mrs. Bush was able to introduce many of these programs on a national scale while in the White House.
There are lots of things Mrs. Bush says she misses about White House.
"I miss all the people that work there that we were so close to that are so terrific and that make life so pleasant for the family that lives there," she said. "I miss living with all the beautiful antiques and art and all the flowers and things that are there."
When asked if she’s taken up cooking like President Bush said she might, she said, "So far I haven’t done that. If I had we’d be a lot skinnier."
Mrs. Bush says the family has enjoyed spending time together in their home, surrounded by their things. They are taking time to enjoy each other’s company.
As for her mother-in-law, she says Barbara Bush is doing well. "She received a clean bill of health from doctors and has been enjoying some time with the family in Dallas," said Mrs. Bush.
Returning to a more "normal" life in Texas has been refreshing for the first family, but it’s clear they want to continue supporting causes true to their hearts.
"Life has slowed down a bit, but yesterday we were at the ball park in Arlington. (President Bush) George threw out the first pitch. We’re very busy still. It’s great to get to be here tonight in Austin for this really fun event and to honor all these other artists who are very, very important to our state," she said.
