UT Tyler: Making an Impact

Making an Impact with Arts and Entertainment

UT Tyler is central to the cultural and entertainment lives of East Texans. In bringing Broadway musicals, international touring artists, distinguished lecturers, accomplished resident arts faculty, and NCAA sports to Tyler, the University makes the region a more attractive place to live.

For many, the R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center is UT Tyler’s most visible contribution to East Texans. The University’s Cowan Center serves as the region’s public arts center in addition to being home to the department of fine and performing arts. It includes the magnificent 2,000-seat Vaughn Auditorium, a more intimate Braithwaite Recital Hall, and the Meadows Art Gallery.

“ A prior study performed by The Perryman Group indicates that the arts in Texas contribute $190.16 billion in annual total expenditures and 1,918,484 permanent jobs. For the East Texas region, the arts contribute an estimated $3.8 billion in annual expenditures and 46,625 jobs. Facilities such as those provided at UT Tyler are crucial to the arts and their effect on the economy and quality of life. ”
M. Ray Perryman, Ph.D.

This facility provides the East Texas Symphony an excellent venue for its season of performances. The Cowan Center is also home to Tyler’s most beloved tradition – the Rose Festival Queen Coronation, which celebrates the city’s legacy as rose capital.

Attracting touring Broadway musicals and internationally-known performers to East Texas is made possible by the University’s Cowan Center. From Lyle Lovett to the St. Petersburg Ballet; from “Cats” to Nobel Prize winner Henry Kissinger, the University offers a diverse set of cultural opportunities that bring the world’s most entertaining and thought-provoking to Tyler.

A new NCAA Division III sports program provides the sports enthusiast access to 13 collegiate teams competing in 72 home athletic contests annually. The University’s basketball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, baseball, and softball venues are recognized as among the best in NCAA Division III. 240 student-athletes, who excel in both the classroom and on the athletic field, compete in the American Southwest Conference which includes 16 universities from West Texas to Mississippi.

Significant economic gains result from sports and entertainment events brought to East Texas and Tyler. Cowan Center performances are attended by 26,000 annually who purchase tickets, dine in local restaurants, and stay in Tyler hotels. Another 2,500 out-of-town visitors attend UT Tyler home athletic events contributing to the region’s tourism industry.

Arts and entertainment made possible by UT Tyler have a direct economic and quality of life impact on East Texas. Such cultural amenities attract both temporary visitors and permanent residents who find life in Tyler culturally rich and entertaining.

Leading Campuses in Growth
The Impact of a 4-Year Degree
Making an Impact in K-12 Classrooms
Making an Impact on the Region's Economy
The Impact of University Research
Making an Impact on Health and Wellness
Making an Impact with Arts and Entertainment
Future Impact of UT Tyler
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Perryman Report - Full Version (835k .PDF)
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