Español Tiếng Việt 中文 Tagalog Deutsch Français हिन्दी اردو 한국어 العربية

Arts & Tourism

Abilene is a leader in the attraction of tourism and the development of the arts. Tourism is a key economic development program, and the arts and other quality-of-life enhancements are becoming increasingly important in the retention and attraction of people to the community. As such, the Abilene Chamber will encourage the development and improvement of facilities that enhance the city’s efforts to expand these efforts as an effective economic development strategy.

Powering

Arts & Tourism

  • Support high-quality arts education and learning in all schools through the employment of certified arts education teachers and partnerships with community arts organizations. Maintain current fine arts education requirements.

  • Protect use of Municipality Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) to fund the arts.

  • Encourage municipalities that levy the HOT to maximize the full, allowable 15% arts allocation.

  • Support securing COVID-19 Relief Funds from the $1.8 billion distributed to communities and counties with fewer than 500,000 residents and the $3.2 billion distributed directly to cities and counties with populations greater than 500,000 residents.

  • Promote the important role the legislature’s investment of public resources in the arts plays in the vitality, economic health, and civic pride of communities all across Texas.

  • Support and promote the Texas Commission on the Art’s Cultural & Fine Arts District Program for the strong role it plays in harnessing the power of cultural resources to stimulate economic development and community revitalization.

  • Support legislation that increases the transparency of MHOT and County HOT reporting to the Texas Office of the Comptroller.

  • Support the Texas Commission on the Arts “Exceptional Item” to increase funding for the Arts Organization Grant by $3 million.

  • Support the Texas Commission on the Arts “Exceptional Item” to increase funding for the Cultural District grant program by $5 million.

  • Preserve full funding for state tourism promotion (Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism). State tourism promotion is a self-funded program with a dedicated funding source – 1/12 of the state hotel occupancy tax (HOT).

  • Maintain school start date law (4th Monday in August) and proactively seek to eliminate exemptions and waivers.

  • Ensure dedicated HOT funds are used for their intended purposes.

  • Preserve the Event Trust Funds. Abilene will be applying for these funds to attract national events to the Taylor County Expo Center and Youth Sports facility.

  • Preserve state funding for beneficial travel and tourism programs at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), Texas Historical Commission (THC), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA).

  • Support comprehensive transportation infrastructure planning and support (Move Texas Forward coalition).

  • Support policies that enhance workforce development.

  • Support collection of local hotel occupancy tax on AirBnB’s and other online lodging brokers.

What we're reading

Abilene nonprofit arts, culture sector generates $35.5M in economic, social impact

A newly-released study conducted by Americans for the Arts showed the economic activity for 2022.
Ground Breaking Ceremony Abilene Texas Business

Unveiling "The ROC": A New Era for Abilene's Youth Sports Scene

The community of Abilene celebrated a momentous milestone on November 8, as the long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony for the Recreation Outdoor Complex (The ROC) drew a spirited crowd of more than a h
Abilene Zoo

ACVB HONORED AS DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

It is with immense pride and gratitude that I share some extraordinary news about the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau. This year, we were awarded Destination Marketing Organization of the Year by
  • Abilene Zoo
  • Abilene State Park
  • Nutcracker