Cultural arts in The Woodlands could get a boost if plans for a performing arts center move forward in 2016.

As part of the 2016 budget, the township board allocated $250,000 for a cultural arts feasibility study. The township’s ad hoc economic development committee was expected to review a request for proposal for the project late this year.

“It’s very complicated, but if we work together and be patient and have a process and stay with it, we can achieve something,” committee chairman Ed Robb said. “Can we achieve everything everyone wishes for? I don’t know. I doubt it. But can we make progress? I think we can.”

Members of several cultural arts organizations in The Woodlands and Montgomery County voiced their support for the performing arts center during a Woodlands Township board of directors meeting Oct. 28.

David Gottlieb, who has been involved with numerous arts organizations in The Woodlands, said Cynthia Woods Mitchell encouraged him prior to her death to make sure a performing arts center was developed in the community.

“One thing I’ve learned here is that there is an abundance of talent in this area,” Gottlieb said. “There’s talent in all of the arts. What’s not abundant is the opportunity to have a place where [people] can learn, practice, rehearse and create. We don’t have that, and it’s time.”

“Availability to the arts is one of the major keys to economic development. Montgomery County already has the prime attractions in place, but we are still missing the prime jewel—a performing arts center.”

Gottlieb said Lone Star College might also be willing to explore the possibility of partnering with the township to develop the facility.

“There is no economic development without human development,”Gottlieb said.

Representatives from other cultural arts groups also spoke about the need for a regional facility that serves all facets of the arts—music, writing, theater, healing arts, performing arts and visual arts.

“I think all of our community arts groups look to grow and be like their counterparts in the flourishing Houston community,” said Dave Parsons, director of the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council. “We have some magnificent stadiums and athletic venues in our town, but we need to come together and add a splendid [arts] venue.”

Representatives from the Conroe Symphony, which performs five concerts annually at Conroe High School, said the symphony has a need to perform in a facility with better acoustics, adequate parking and a reception area.

“We feel that the dynamic growth we are experiencing here in Montgomery County demands it,” said Gale Laminack, president of the symphony’s board of directors. “Availability to the arts is one of the major keys to economic development. Montgomery County already has the prime attractions in place, but we are still missing the prime jewel—a performing arts center.”

Members of The Woodlands Symphony, which performs at area churches, are also in favor of a performing arts center.

“We feel The Woodlands has grown into a sizeable region that [calls] for having its own facility for The Woodlands Symphony,” artistic director Darryl Bayer said. “We want to give it the full gamet.”

This is not the first time a performing arts center has been proposed for the community. In 2012, Woodlands founder George Mitchell and the Goodman Corporation proposed a $35 million performing arts venue for The Woodlands Waterway, adjacent to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. However, the plans for the project eventually fell through because of lack of funding.

Director Gordy Bunch said a large regional project of such magnitude needs help from other stakeholders early in the process to succeed.

“I think everyone agrees that for a community of our size and our extreme blessings that we have the opportunity here to create something great,” Bunch said. “I think we all commonly agree cultural arts are very important to a vibrant, growing community.”