On the Road with TCA: Midland and Odessa

By Chuck Winkler, TCA  Program Administrator

Museum of the Southwest Logo

The cities of Midland and Odessa are more than oil wells and football on Friday nights; during a recent visit, I was impressed by the rich and exciting cultural scene there.  Funds from TCA grants help support everything from outdoor art in downtown Midland to classic plays presented in Odessa’s Globe of the Great Southwest, a replica of the original Globe Theatre, the home of William Shakespeare’s acting company in England.

Midland is home to the Museum of the Southwest, a collection of contemporary painting and sculptures and fine examples from the Taos School set in the historic 1936 Turner Mansion.  The grounds are also home to a Children’s Museum and Planetarium.  Since 1946, the Midland Community Theater has been a creative outlet for Midland’s citizens.  The theater uses TCA grants to present full-scale productions, cabaret, and an extensive list of educational programs.

Ellen Noel Art Museum

Twenty-one  miles to the South is Odessa, TX.  Odessa’s Ellen Noel Art Museum features changing exhibitions with a cross-cultural focus, and an excellent permanent collection. The Museum serves as a catalyst for art education in the region by collaborating with schools, colleges and universities and providing classes, artist’s workshops and family activities. Odessa is also home to the Globe of the Great Southwest, the Permian Playhouse.