New Braunfels officials are working to invest in arts and culture after adopting a plan that establishes a long-term strategy to strengthen the city’s arts and cultural sector.
New Braunfels City Council adopted its 2026 Arts and Culture Master Plan during a regular meeting April 27. The plan outlines ways to support local artists and cultural organizations, and encourage the development of creative spaces, according to a news release.
What you need to know
The plan was identified as an objective in the city’s strategic plan. City Council selected consulting firm Designing Local in April 2025 to work with a nine-member steering committee with different perspectives from the arts and heritage community, according to the release.
The plan focuses on recommendations within four priority areas:
- Programming and cultural experiences
- Places and spaces
- Visibility and tourism
- Operations and capacity building
Various stakeholders were engaged throughout the planning process, including gallery owners, city staff, leaders of nonprofit cultural and heritage organizations and museum curators. Stakeholders identified four barriers, including lack of facilities and spaces, lack of funding and support, lack of marketing and lack of collaboration, according to agenda documents.
Suggestions included repurposing the city’s current convention center into a cultural arts center and building a new 1,500-2,000-seat venue. Other conversations focused on leveraging San Antonio’s Culinary Institute of America campus to include an “elevated” food and wine festival, agenda documents state. A film festival was also suggested.
Stakeholders also identified an opportunity to provide more visibility to the community’s Mexican heritage and the African American and Black communities.
Quote of note
Economic and Community Development Director Jeff Jewell said the plan ensures arts and culture remain a vital part of the community’s identity through future investments, partnerships and initiatives that celebrate the spirit of New Braunfels.
“These strategies aim to expand cultural programming, support artists and arts organizations, enhance cultural destinations throughout the city and strengthen the operational capacity needed to sustain a vibrant arts and heritage ecosystem,” Jewell said in the release.
