(September 4, 2025) – Longview’s Cultural District has been awarded more than $168,000 in state grant funding that will allow Arts!Longview and its partner organizations to bring high quality programming and enhancements to the community.
The Texas Commission on the Arts voted Thursday, September 4, to award more than $16.5 million in state grant funding to arts organizations across 133 cities in Texas. The Arts!Longview Cultural District was awarded $168,801 in total grants across five nonprofit arts organizations – Arts!Longview, Longview Museum of Fine Arts, Longview Symphony Orchestra, ArtsView Children’s Theatre, and Theatre Longview.
“We are so thankful to the Texas Commission on the Arts for the most recent grant funding that will allow us and our partner organizations to bring incredible arts programming and enhancements to our community over the next year,” Arts!Longview Executive Director Christina Cavazos said.
Arts!Longview received a $24,375 Cultural District Project grant to support a branding update and to launch a statewide marketing campaign designed to enhance awareness, increase tourism, and spark economic growth for the Cultural District.
Cultural District Project grants offered through the TCA are available only to communities with state-designated Cultural Districts. Arts!Longview received its state designation in 2019. The grants require a 1:1 match.
“Since 2019, the Arts!Longview Cultural District has undergone a remarkable transformation with artistic enhancements, incredible programming from our partner organizations, and significant business development downtown,” Cavazos said. “Thanks to this grant from the TCA, we look forward to building on that momentum with the development of this statewide marketing campaign that will celebrate our growth and position the Arts!Longview Cultural District as a premier arts and culture destination in Texas.”
Longview Symphony Orchestra received a $39,000 Cultural District Project grant to support performing Howard Shore’s award-winning “Lord of the Rings” concert in April 2026 at the LeTourneau University Belcher Center.
Longview Museum of Fine Arts received a $37,500 Cultural District Project grant to support its 2026 exhibition, “America 250: Caddo Nation and Native Perspectives,” which will feature artwork by 10 artists representing 12 tribes.
Theatre Longview received a $21,450 Cultural District Project grant to support its summer 2026 musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma,” which will feature performances by local and regional actors, professional quality tech elements, local dancers, and a live orchestra.
ArtsView Children’s Theatre received a $9,100 Cultural District Project grant to support its November production of “The Wizard of Oz,” which will feature community cast members ages 10 and older.
Other grants received Thursday include:
• Arts!Longview: $2,000 in Arts Respond support for the October and December ArtWalks
• ArtsView Children’s Theatre: $15,000 in Arts Create operational support, $4,000 in Arts Respond support for after-school programs and summer camps to serve at-risk youth, and $600 for an artistic fee subsidy for a Texas Shakespeare Festival Road Show performance at ArtsView in November
• LMFA: $14,000 in Arts Create operational support
• Longview Symphony: $1,776 as part of a TCA initiative to support activities associated with America 250 celebrations in 2026
To learn more about the Arts!Longview Cultural District, visit artslongview.org.