The Woodlands Township board of directors voted June 22 to move forward with Phase 2 of the cultural arts feasibility study to evaluate the viability of two project options: a proposed arts center and natural science museum.

Last year, the board approved Phase 1 of a feasibility study agreement for $40,000 with Gensler and Webb Management using funds from the township’s events admission tax and money from the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, which is funding 25 percent of the study. Phase 1 was completed in the spring and identified concepts that could be developed over time, including an arts center or natural science museum.

Sites for potential facilities have not been identified, but Phase 2 of the study, which costs $58,000, will help determine where a facility could be located in The Woodlands.

“We’re not building anything yet,” said Jonathan Shelledy, a representative with Gensler, the global design firm conducting the study. “What we’re looking at for Phase 2 is studying the facility and site considerations for these buildings. Most importantly, the financial considerations: How does this support itself, and what are economic benefits to the community?”

The study will also help determine if community groups are open to helping fund a proposed project. 

Township Director John McMullan said he hopes the next phase of the study will be able to test the economic viability of the potential assets.

“I think we’ve done a good bit of work to try and surface these two ideas,” he said. “I believe the [township’s economic development] committee feels like these are two potential options and at some level have some appeal, but we don’t know what it costs to build them, to run them, and we don’t have a good sense to what the community use would be. I think that’s the kind of information I hope we’ll discover in this process.”

Amy Lecocq, The Woodlands Art Council president, said a cultural arts center would help spur economic activity in the area, which would add to sales and hotel tax revenue streams.

“In The Woodlands, George and Cynthia Mitchell made public art, performing art and great aesthetics in architecture and landscaping a hallmark of this community,” Lecocq said. “Arts made The Woodlands special from the start. Arts not only enhance the quality of life for our residents, they help keep our economy robust by attracting residents and businesses in our community.”

A presentation of the final feasibility study is tentatively planned for Aug. 23.