Special to the NEWS
The City of San Benito Cultural Arts Department recently hosted “Telling Our South Texas Stories,” a regional gathering that brought together about 50 artists, cultural organizations, nonprofit leaders, historians, museum professionals, economic development leaders, and arts advocates from across South Texas.
Held on Saturday, August 15, at the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum, the symposium was organized through a collaboration among the San Benito Cultural Arts Department, MINDPOP’s Rural Texas Arts & Culture Network, Texans for the Arts Foundation, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
The gathering was the first of its kind in the region and was created to bring together people doing important cultural work in communities across South Texas.
The day focused on storytelling, collaboration, grant opportunities, and advocacy, while providing space for participants to learn from one another and build new relationships.
Participants traveled to San Benito from communities across South Texas and beyond, including Rio Grande City, Rockport, and surrounding communities.
The gathering included representatives from museums and cultural organizations, artists, historians, nonprofit leaders, economic development professionals, and representatives from state government.
“In South Texas, we have so many stories to tell, and they are deeply connected to who we are and where we come from,” said Aleida Garcia, Cultural Arts Director for the City of San Benito. “I wanted to create a space where the people telling those stories could come together, get to know one another, share what they’re doing, and consider how we can become stronger by working together.”
The idea for the symposium grew out of conversations about the importance of helping artists and cultural organizations tell their stories and communicate their impact.
The day’s sessions focused on developing elevator pitches, telling compelling impact stories, aligning organizational missions with grant opportunities, and learning to speak with civic leaders, donors, and sponsors about the value of their work.
Participants also explored the broader South Texas arts landscape, identifying common challenges, existing strengths, and opportunities for collaboration.
The conversations encouraged artists and organizations to look beyond their individual communities and consider how they can share resources, support one another, and advocate collectively for the arts.
The symposium opened with Conjunto Cold Flame, led by San Benito’s own Zeth Lara, who shared the history and significance of conjunto music as part of South Texas’s cultural identity.
The event featured a keynote presentation from Dr. Francisco Guajardo, CEO of the Museum of South Texas History.
Additional sessions were led by Meg Greene of MINDPOP, Cristina Saltos of the Texas Commission on the Arts, and Chris Kiley, Executive Director of Texans for the Arts Foundation.
The gathering also demonstrated the important connection between arts and broader community development.
Bringing artists and cultural organizations together with economic development professionals and other community leaders created an opportunity to recognize the role that arts and culture play in community identity, quality of life, tourism, education, and economic development.
“I was especially excited to see so many new and familiar faces in one room,” Garcia said. “We had artists, museums, historians, nonprofits, economic development leaders, and people connected to state government all at the same table. That is the kind of connection we need in South Texas.”
The event concluded with a gathering at the Freddy Fender Museum, giving participants the chance to continue conversations and build relationships.
“This was about more than a single event,” Garcia said. “We wanted to create a space where people could find one another, share what they’re doing, and begin imagining what’s possible when we work together. I left feeling incredibly enthusiastic and optimistic about South Texas’s cultural future. There is so much talent, creativity, history, and passion in our region, and I believe that when we come together, we can have an even greater impact.”
The San Benito Cultural Arts Department plans to continue building relationships with regional and statewide arts organizations and to create opportunities for artists and cultural organizations to connect, share resources, and strengthen South Texas’s cultural landscape.
About San Benito Cultural Arts
The San Benito Cultural Arts Department oversees cultural tourism, the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum, and the City’s cultural arts programs.
The department’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, exhibit, and promote the cultural heritage of San Benito and the broader South Texas region.
Through exhibitions, educational programs, cultural events, partnerships, and community engagement, the department strengthens San Benito’s role as a destination for arts, culture, and heritage.