Chris McCool showcases a few of the many pieces on display in the lobby of Stagecoach Inn.
CHRIS EDWARDS | TCB
WOODVILLE – Chris McCool is an enthusiastic, cheerful sort of fellow, and though he cannot draw or paint, he has a deep appreciation for visual art.
The well-travelled owner of Woodville’s Stagecoach Inn enjoys sharing ideas and zeal about ways to bring folks into Tyler County. One project McCool is especially excited about is Artful Commons, which is something he said he initially envisioned more than 20 years ago.
McCool has already gathered some support from around the county for the concept, and has filed for his non-profit, tax-exempt status through the IRS.
At its core, Artful Commons is about redefining how we value art and the people who create it. Artful Commons supports economic sustainability by creating opportunities for artists to thrive within their local communities, turning art into a catalyst for both cultural enrichment and economic growth,” McCool said.
McCool said that in the late ‘90s, he saw some great works of art at a hotel in Italy, which lit a spark. Later, while in Mexico, he saw how communities would showcase artistic endeavors.
“Art is a driver for economic and cultural sustainability,” McCool said. “The culture holds the community together, and when artists leave, the communities suffer.”
McCool said that as foundational as art is to society, it should also be something that is accessible to everyone to appreciate. By giving artists public spaces as venues from which their works can be showcased, and even purchased, Artful Commons, according to McCool, will help serve as a vehicle to emphasize the talent within the Tyler County community.
“When people come into town, they’ll be able to see the culture through the art,” he said.
“One of the main things about [Artful Commons] is to bring the connection between the artist and the consumer,” he said.
Arts-based tourism is especially viable in small communities throughout the state. According to figures from the Texas Commission on the Arts, $1.5 billion was generated in economic activity in 2022 through non-profit arts and culture industries, and 25,174 jobs were supported through this activity. Overall, the entire arts and culture sector (non-profit as well as for-profit ventures) represented a $59.3 billion industry for 2022.
In addition to that, a survey included in the same snapshot stated that 89.4% of audiences agreed with the statement that arts activity and venues inspired a sense of pride in their communities.
McCool has already begun selling pieces in the lobby of the Stagecoach for several Tyler County-based artists. He has also scheduled an artists’ call for Thursday, Dec. 5, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Stagecoach, for which he encourages anyone who is interested to come out and meet and greet.
Through getting artists together, McCool said he hopes that those working in various mediums can tackle one theme at a time, which represents Tyler County.
McCool said he is also working on a website that will feature all of the artists who take part in Artful Commons.
