MISSION STATEMENT
To create and enhance an awareness and understanding of artistic, cultural, and aesthetic differences utilizing the framework of African-American Arts and Letters. To promote, foster, cultivate, perpetuate and preserve the Arts and Letters of African-Americans in the Fine, Literary and Performing Arts.

• TBAAL is a multi-discipline arts organization whose mission is to create and enhance an awareness and understanding of artistic, cultural and aesthetic differences utilizing the framework of African, African-American and Caribbean Arts and Letters. Additionally, its purpose is to promote, foster, cultivate, perpetuate and preserve the Arts and Letters of Africans, African-Americans and Caribbean in the Fine, Literary and Performing Arts.
• TBAAL's is in the midst of its 33rd Season which began September 2009 and runs through August 2010.
• July 17, 1977, Curtis King founded this art institution on his dining room table with a personal investment of $250.
• TBAAL was grown out of the New York City based, Black Academy of Arts and Letters in 1969.
• Now based in Dallas, Texas, TBAAL is housed in a 250,000 sq. ft. facility (In the heart of downtown in the Dallas Convention Center).
• TBAAL is the only arts institution and African American organization housed in a major urban convention center in the nation.
• Our facility has 2 theatres (Naomi Bruton Main Stage - seats 1800 and Clarence Muse Cafe Theatre - seats 250), costume shop, 5 large banquet/meeting rooms, gallery, gift shop, administrative offices, etc. 
• We have a full-time staff of 16 employees, a 9 member board of directors and operate with over 100 volunteers.
• TBAAL is supported by the Dallas City Council and Mayor Tom Leppert
• TBAAL has always received civic and personal support from the mayors of the city of Dallas. Our current mayor, Tom Leppert, has agreed to speak on our behalf showing his support for TBAAL as viable and diverse arts institution based in the city of Dallas.
• In the early 1980s, TBAAL received its first $5,000 grant from the City of Dallas. Since then that support has grown to $320,000 to support its programs and operations. TBAAL has received arts and education funding from the Dallas Independent School District for 5 consecutive years.  Its first year funding of $52,000 has increased to $120,000. The $120,000 was awarded in June 2008.
• Annually, TBAAL services an audience of over 650,000 patrons, has membership base of 13,000 members, sends brochures to 50,000 persons on our nationwide general mailing list, receives over 1 million hits on the institution's website, www.tbaal.org and advertises/communicates daily to 17,000 patrons on our email database.
• TBAAL reaches over an average of 8.6 million patrons throughout our season via in-house direct marketing campaigns.
• Also annually, TBAAL presents and produces over 100 programs in theatre, music, dance, literary arts, film and visual arts. 
• TBAAL has been the launching pad for such notable artists as Grammy winner Erykah Badu and Emmy winner Regina Taylor
• In November 2009, TBAAL presented HIP HOP BROADWAY-THE MUSICAL, a piece written and directed by Curtis King, at Dallas' new AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Winspear Opera House. The production starred Grammy Winner Erykah Badu, Tony Award Winners Jennifer Holliday and Melba Moore, Metropolitan Opera Star Harolyn Blackwell and Tony Award Nominee Felicia P. Fields.
• To date, TBAAL's HIP HOP BROADWAY-THE MUSICAL performance boasts the highest attendance of any program offered during the AT&T Performing Arts Center inaugural season.
• Other notable celebrities to perform/appear in TBAAL's 33rd Season are International Visual Artist Annie Lee, Rance Allen, Daryl Coley, Grammy Winner Walter Hawkins, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Texas State Senator Royce West, Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, American Idol Ruben Studdard, Carl Payne, Malcolm Jamal Warner and JoMarie Payton.