Texas approved just four new cultural districts. Two are in the Rio Grande Valley

The Rio Grande Valley landed half of Texas’ newest cultural district designations, putting designated areas in Brownsville and Edinburg in a position to compete for state funding aimed at attracting visitors, investment, and economic activity through the arts.

The Texas Commission on the Arts approved four new cultural districts Sept. 3: the Edinburg Arts District, Brownsville’s Mitte Cultural District, the Galveston African American Cultural Heritage District and the Lufkin Cultural District.

The additions bring the number of state-designated cultural districts in Texas to 61.

For Brownsville and Edinburg, the designation is more than recognition of their arts and cultural communities. The state program identifies geographic areas where concentrations of cultural resources can be used to generate business, attract tourists, stimulate cultural development and contribute to the local economy.

It also makes qualifying arts organizations and government entities based within designated districts eligible to compete for the Texas Commission on the Arts’ Cultural District Project grants.

For fiscal year 2027, the commission approved more than $7.9 million through that program for 131 applicants across 36 cultural districts in 24 Texas cities. The grants support projects that use the arts to diversify local economies, generate revenue and attract visitors and investment.

The new designation does not mean Brownsville or Edinburg received a portion of that $7.9 million. Rather, organizations and government entities within their newly designated districts can now become eligible to compete for funding through the program.

Edinburg builds around downtown arts district

The Edinburg Arts District is anchored by the city’s Arts, Culture & Events Center, which includes classrooms, a dance studio, gallery spaces and a ballroom used for classes, performances and community events.

The district also brings together other cultural institutions, businesses and events in and around the city’s downtown area.

Those include the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Festival of International Books and Arts, the Edinburg UFO Festival, FridaFest, South Texas International Film Festival and Los Muertos Bailan Day of the Dead festival.

“Receiving the state designation for our Cultural District is a testament to what happens when an entire city rallies around creativity, heritage, and civic pride,” Edinburg Library & Cultural Arts Director Letty Leija said in a news release.

Leija pointed to the Edinburg Arts Foundation, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Museum of South Texas History as foundational partners, along with downtown businesses including Citrus Live and Sidebar.

“Hand in hand, we are building a walkable, vibrant corridor that honors our roots while inspiring our future,” she said.

Brownsville’s Mitte district encompasses more than 20 organizations

Brownsville’s newly approved Mitte Cultural District brings together more than 20 collaborating arts and cultural organizations.

The Texas Commission on the Arts identified major assets including the Mitte Cultural Center, Children’s Museum of Brownsville, Camille Playhouse, Brownsville Historical Association and George Ramirez Performing Arts Center, along with galleries and other creative spaces.

Public art also plays a prominent role in the district. Murals in the Mitte consists of 20 murals connected through an interactive bilingual GPS-guided audio experience.

The commission described the district as encompassing visual and performing arts, dance, music, film, literature, culinary arts, public art and heritage traditions reflecting Brownsville’s border culture.

“We are pleased to highlight the wonderful work the district is already doing to attract visitors to their community, and to enhance the quality of life in our great state,” Texas Commission on the Arts Executive Director Gary Gibbs said in a news release.

Gibbs said applications for cultural district designation undergo a “highly rigorous review process.”

Formal designations coming in October

Although commissioners approved the four districts Sept. 3, Brownsville and Edinburg will receive their formal state designations in October.

Texas Commission on the Arts staff are expected to present proclamations marking the designations during the weekend of Oct. 24.

For Edinburg, city officials said the designation creates additional opportunities to expand programming and support local artists while using arts and culture as part of the city’s economic development strategy.

“This designation is a proud moment for our city and a testament to the incredible creativity and rich history that define Edinburg,” Edinburg Cultural Arts Assistant Director Magdiel Castle said. “It validates the hard work we’ve put into making the arts a centerpiece of our community’s identity and economic growth, while opening new doors to expand our programming and support local artists.”

The two Valley districts join a statewide program that is increasingly tied to economic development through the arts.

Along with the $7.9 million awarded through the Cultural District Project program, the Texas Commission on the Arts approved a total of 1,143 grants worth more than $17 million in its first fiscal year 2027 funding round. The money will go to nonprofits and government entities in 131 Texas cities through several arts grant programs.