State of the arts

Texas is a bust in new ranking of best states for arts and artists

Maybe Texas should start directing more of its funding towards the arts.

The arts bring vibrance and color to communities everywhere, but a new report paints a somewhat bleak picture for artists and arts funding in Texas.

Texas ranks 28th in a new report on best states for the arts in 2024 by SmileHub, a nonprofit tech company founded by the same CEO as personal finance website WalletHub.

The report compared all 50 states based on their arts education, accessibility, and the creative arts economy. Factors that helped determine each state's rank include the number of fine arts museums and galleries per capita, the average salaries for fine artists, the share of the population with a degree in visual arts, and much more.

Texas only scored 35.12 out of 100 total possible points. For comparison, New York was crowned the No. 1 best state for the arts with a score of 73 points.

Across the three key metrics in the study, Texas ranked No. 18 for its accessibility, No. 35 for the "artists economy and personal finances" rank, and No. 41 in arts education.

According to SmileHub's data, only 0.03 percent of the state's population holds a degree in visual arts, and the average salary for a Texas-based artist is $52,490.27. That average salary is one of the lowest nationwide, ranking No. 47 overall.

Nevada boasts the highest average salary for fine artists, at about $82,245 on average. That's a big leap over Texas.

Texas also has the 49th lowest federal arts funding per capita, at just $1.33. Wyoming, on the other hand, receives the highest federal arts funding per capita at $15.95. Wyoming landed in a four-way tie for No. 1 in this category with North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont.

There's many benefits that can come from Texas investing more into its own creative arts sector. SmileHub says it's been proven to better one's mental health, and provides a greater likelihood of children and young adults getting recognition for their academic achievements. Engaging with art can also bridge gaps in communication between different cultures or political groups, the report said.

"Creating an environment where the arts thrive requires access to artistic opportunities, charitable giving to support artists, policies and businesses to sustain the art economy, and an emphasis on the arts in education," the report said.

The top 10 best states for the arts are:

No.1 – New York
No. 2 – Washington
No. 3 – Oregon
No. 4 – California
No. 5 – Montana
No. 6 – Vermont
No. 7 – Colorado
No. 8 – Massachusetts
No. 9 – New Mexico
No. 10 – Illinois

The full report and its methodology can be found on smilehub.org.

arts-culture texas reports

Wine Guy Wednesday

Chris Shepherd breaks bread with chefs and musicians at new conversation series

Photo by Tiffany Hofeldt

Chris Shepherd will host three Breaking Bread conversations.

I wanted to tell you about something new that I have coming up that we have been working on. I am starting a new conversation series called “Breaking Bread” which is going to be part of the Live at the Founder’s Club series at the Hobby Center.

Why “Breaking Bread?” I have always said that breaking bread at the table is one of the last true forms of building community. When I had restaurants, I would serve whole loaves of bread uncut and have people break them together to join a communal dining experience where they could have conversations — a breaking of awkward silence if you didn’t know people.

Breaking bread opens the door for talking and learning over a meal and to build a community that might not have existed before. It is the ice breaker for a lot of people to learn about each other and break down walls and barriers that we have unintentionally put up because of fear of the unknown. It’s not just a saying but a way of thinking that has shifted my life to want to learn about people.

Through this new Breaking Bread conversation series, I will share the stories of people I look up to and ask them to tell stories they haven’t told before about what led them here to this moment on stage with me.

Moving this series to Founders Club at the Hobby Center is even more special for me since I’ve had such a great time working with the team to update the food and drink menus so guests can have a really wonderful experience from the time they arrive. We have worked to redo the food menu to make it fun and approachable with items like Full Tilt hot dogs, braised beef birria taquitos, coffee roasted beets, and Altima Caviar with sour cream & onion Pringles just to name a few.

The wine list is filled with delicious things that I just want to drink all the time. Pierre Gimonnet 1er cru Blanc de Blanc Brut, yep. Marine Layer Vermentino, The Hilt Estate Chardonnay, Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, also yes! Want more? North Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir, Produttori Del Barbaresco Barbaresco, and Cruse Wine Co. Monkey Jacket Red Blend are all available, just to name a few.

Then the cocktails are based on the classics. This is what we should have when we go out to our theaters downtown — delicious things to eat and drink while watching amazing shows!

I have the opportunity to have personal conversations with my friends, who also happen to be incredible artists and even better people.

Here is a quick look at the lineup from the Hobby Center:

“Breaking Bread” 2026 Conversation Series

Bun B: Wednesday, April 8, 7:30pm
Grammy-nominated American rapper and Houston legend Bun B sits down with Chris for an unfiltered conversation on music, culture, and a career that keeps reinventing itself. From pioneering rapper to Rice University professor and trusted civic voice, Bun B will reflect on the moments that shaped him. The two will also get into his jump into the restaurant world and how Trill Burgers became a citywide obsession, plus his move into podcasting and storytelling — and what it means to build a legacy that stretches far beyond the mic.

Joe Kwon: Saturday, May 16, 7:30pm
Known to many as the cellist of The Avett Brothers, Joe Kwon joins Chris for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about curiosity, craft, and creativity. Born in South Korea and raised in High Point, North Carolina, the self-described foodie shares his roots on stages around the world as they explore his path from lifelong musician — with a detour through computer science — to artist, wine enthusiast, and collaborator, reflecting on how discipline and instinct shape everything he pursues, from music to food. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how passions evolve, how ideas connect across worlds, and why a melody or a shared meal can mean more than the moment itself.

A Michelin Roundtable with Felipe Riccio, Emmanuel Chavez, and Mayank Istwal: Saturday, June 13, 7:30pm
Three of Houston’s Michelin-starred chefs — Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemó), Felipe Riccio (March), and Mayank Istwal (Musaafer) — join Chris for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about what a star really means for their kitchens and their teams. They’ll debate whether rankings push the industry forward or hold it back, reflect on the turning points that shaped their paths, and share the lessons behind becoming some of the city’s most celebrated chefs. It’s a rare behind-the-scenes look at success, pressure, creativity, and what it takes to build something that lasts.

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Send Chris an email at chris@chrisshepherd.is.

Chris Shepherd won a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2014. The Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit he co-founded with his wife Lindsey Brown, has distributed more than $15 million to hospitality workers in crisis through its Emergency Relief Fund. Catch his TV show, Eat Like a Local, every Saturday at 10 am on KPRC Channel 2 or on YouTube.

Photo by Tiffany Hofeldt

Chris Shepherd will host three Breaking Bread conversations.

chris shepherd performing-arts