Western Arts Institute Passed $22 Million in Donations

A new Western arts institute at the National Ranching Heritage Center has raised more than $22 million and entered public fundraising.

The Red Steagall Institute for Traditional Western Arts has a $28 million construction goal. Groundbreaking is planned for summer 2027 on the Texas Tech campus.

The project is intended to pass traditional skills from experienced artists and craftspeople to students. Planned instruction includes leatherwork, metalworking, painting, sculpture, songwriting and poetry.

More than 150 donors contributed during the initial fundraising phase. The community is now being invited to support construction.

The institute would expand the center’s educational work beyond viewing historic buildings and artifacts, adding opportunities to learn directly from practicing artists and artisans.

The announcement describes a planned facility, with construction and the new classes still ahead.

The next milestone is securing construction funding before the planned groundbreaking.

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