Arts and Culture

Galveston's African American Cultural Heritage District: 20th - 35th St., Broadway through the Beach

The City of Galveston began this project as part of the City's Arts and Culture Master Plan.  The Master Plan was created through an Our Town NEA grant, a joint project with the City of Galveston, the Galveston Arts Center, and the Park Board.  The Master Planning process identified the top 3 needs of the artistic community as centralized information, education and access to funding, arts events in public spaces, and incorporation of artistic elements in urban planning.  

The $24M renovation of Courville Stadium, along with the 25th and 27th street corridor enhancements of $10M+, over $2M in park improvements at Menard Park, and with $1M in planned improvements for the parks happening at the same time City Council doubled the investment in the Cultural Arts Commision's grant program for public art, the City of Galveston recognized an opportunity for creative planning and investment in the area and decided to seek a state Cultural Arts District designation.  

The City of Galveston began speaking to stakeholders, culture bearers, and citizens in 2024 and sought the guidance of Old Central Cultural Center on the development project and VISION Galveston for third party community outreach.  

The City of Galveston applied to the Texas Commission on the Arts for the Cultural Arts District designation in 2024 and has submitted an intent to apply again in 2025.

For questions contact:

Antoinette Lynch, Arts & Culture Coordinator, City of Galveston

phone: 409.797.3701

email: alynch@galvestontx.gov