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

let's roll

Soccer star and Grammy-winning singer will lead Houston Art Car Parade

Courtesy of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art

Art Car weekend returns April 9-12.

If you see a lot of unusual-looking automobiles on the streets and freeways next month, it’ll be for one simple reason: the Art Car Parade is back.

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art announced the return of the Houston Art Car Parade Weekend presented by Team Gillman, taking place Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12. This will culminate in the Houston Art Car Parade – its 39th – on Saturday, April 11, featuring more than 250 one-of-a-kind, rolling works of art.

The four-day celebration transforms the city into a canvas of color, creativity, and community, with the parade serving as the weekend’s crowning spectacle, drawing more than 315,000 spectators annually and making it the largest free cultural event in Houston. Serving as the 2026 Featured Artist is Phillip Pyle II, a visual artist, graphic designer, and photographer whose work engages with issues of race and popular culture through the lens of graphic design.

This year’s grand marshals, former Houston Dynamo player Brian Ching and singer/The Suffers frontwoman Kam Franklin, represent two powerful pillars of Houston’s cultural identity: sports and music. Ching and Franklin join a distinguished list of past marshals, including Bun B, Carl Lewis, Marilyn Oshman, J.J. Watt, Dan Aykroyd and George Clinton.

“This year’s Orange Show Art Car Parade honors Kam Franklin and Brian Ching as Grand Marshals,” said Orange Show executive director Jack Massing. “Selected for their positive contributions as Houstonians, both are dedicated community leaders committed to fostering creativity through music and sports, helping build a happier, healthier city.”

Attendance remains free and open to the public, reinforcing the Orange Show’s mission to make art accessible to all. For those looking to immerse themselves in the parade’s energy while supporting its mission, the VIPit offers a festival-style atmosphere with limited tables and reserved grandstand seating starting at $250. Admission includes complimentary food and beverages from Houston favorites, private restrooms, and premium parade views. Proceeds directly fund year-round Art Car programming at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, including Art Cars in Schools, a curriculum aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards that brings hands-on creative learning into classrooms across the region.

For more information, visit the Orange Show website.

art car parade brian ching kam franklin houston