The Texas Commission on the Arts recently approved a new cultural district in Garland.
Dubbed the Bankhead Cultural Arts District, the newly distinguished district includes downtown Garland, the Granville Arts Center, the Landmark Museum, and the Plaza Theatre.
“We are just thrilled,” said Amy Rosenthal, Garland’s cultural arts director, according to CBS News Texas. “It’s a really big deal. It’s a really prestigious designation.”
The new status brings more than just prestige. It also has financial benefits. It makes various arts organizations in the district eligible for funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts. It can also be a tool to help stimulate new business ventures and attract more tourism to the city.
“There’s special things for visitors to experience, it means that you can eat local with great dining experiences, you can see a show, you can visit our history museum, that it’s really a destination,” Rosenthal said, per CBS News.
The district was named after the Bankhead Highway, which was one of the earliest cross-country highways in the country, connecting California to Washington, D.C., by way of Garland. Its construction in the 1920s spurred plenty of growth and development, according to KRLD News Radio.
It is worth noting that Garland was not the only North Texas city to gain such recognition from the Texas Commission on the Arts. Granbury also joined the ranks as a designated cultural district, with an emphasis placed on its array of wineries, art galleries, and museums.
According to KRLD News Radio, Gary Gibbs, the executive director of the Texas Commission on the Arts, said, “We are pleased to highlight the wonderful work these cultural districts are doing to attract visitors and enhance the quality of life in our great state.”
For more details on Garland’s cultural offerings and history or upcoming events, visit Garland’s arts web page.
“It’s just that seal of endorsement that we have really special programs and people … here in our cultural district in Garland,” Rosenthal said, per CBS News.
