CLIBURN COMPETITORS ANNOUNCED: The Van Cliburn Foundation released the names this morning of the 30 pianists who will battle it out this spring for one of the most prestigious classical music titles in the world. Fourteen countries will be represented, with nearly a quarter of the competitors (7) coming from China – the first time China has lead the field. Also making the final 30 is Japan’s Nobuyuki Tsujii, the first blind pianist to make it this far in the event’s 47-year history. KERA’s Bill Zeeble profiled Tsujii in a radio piece that aired on Wednesday. To read the full announcement and see the list of competitors, visit the Van Cliburn Foundation Web site. The competition will be held May 22 to June 7 in Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.

BIG BUCKS IN COWTOWN: The Fort Worth Arts Council handed out close to $1.5 million in grants to 41 arts organizations Wednesday night at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. And while the main purpose of the event was to distribute some much-needed cash, it also served as a reminder to the donors in attendance to keep those pipelines pumping.

Fort Worth Arts Council Chairman Craig Strehl mentioned on more than one occasion the new donor wall in the Arts Center, encouraging everyone to give it a look on the way out.

“Please do what you can to get your name on that wall,” Strehl told the crowd of about 200 or so. “If your name isn’t on there, you know how to get it there.”

THIS WEEK IN THE ARTS: Also making an appearance at the FWAC grant presentation (though hardly making a peep) was Matilda the Baby. She’s the daughter of Dana Schultes, who was there to pick up a check for Stage West. Dana takes the mic for the current edition of the This Week in the Arts podcast, in which she interviews FWAC President Jody Ulich.

RIP, HORTON FOOTE: Horton Foote, the screenwriter and playwright credited with such classic scripts as To Kill a Mockingbird, Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, died Wednesday at the age of 92. Foote was born in Wharton, Texas, and lived briefly in Dallas. We’re planning a video tribute that will be up on Art&Seek later in the day, so check back in a bit.

UPDATE: Wonderful Horton Foote videos and an appreciation from Jerome Weeks are up now in Art&Seek’s feature area.