06-05-2025
County creates arts committee, pilot program in each precinct
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court approved during its meeting on Monday, May 5 the formation of an arts committe and pilot arts program for each precinct.
The County is also taking steps to move forward with creating an arts master plan.
County Commissioner David Stout's office made the announcement.
'Arts are critical for a healthy community. We have amazing creative talent in El Paso. The County is here to engage with them and support their efforts,' Stout said in a news release. 'Especially in a community that doesn't have a lot of capital investment from outside, public art is an efficient, cost-effective way to invest in ourselves.'
Stout's office said there are several benefits to having a public art program — improving local sentiment and supporting tourism and travel to the area.
A 2017 study by America for the Arts said that El Paso sees an annual $103.4 million economic impact from the arts and the arts supports the equivalent of 4,000 jobs. The impact produces millions of dollars in combined revenue for restaurants, bars, hotels and motels, transportation and government, Stout's office said.
The El Paso County Arts Advisory Committee is being established as a pilot committee to provide advice to the County Commissioners Court and the County's chief Administrator to advance and enrich the arts and cultural activities and policies within El Paso County.
This includes developing and implementing an arts master plan, Stout's office said.
El Paso County was put aside at least $100,000 for the arts master plan and $55,000 for each precinct and $55,000 countywide for arts programming, Stout's office said.
Monday, the County contracted with the El Paso Community Foundation to manage the arts programming.
Further, the County is procuring an agreement for an arts master plan, which the arts committee will have a role in developing, Stout's office said.
'This action today is the result of discussions that began during Covid, when the arts became essential for people who were staying home and staying safe, but artists themselves were not able to work publicly,' Stout said. 'I am proud of our administration for developing policy to address both the economic and community development aspect of public art, and grateful to the Court for ongoing support and for the vote today.'
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