Edinburg leaders celebrate cultural arts center opening

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EDINBURG — “We did it!” exclaimed longtime Library and Cultural Arts Director Letty Leija before a crowd of dozens of Edinburg residents, city leaders and other local dignitaries Wednesday morning.

Leija’s jubilant exultation was in celebration of a day that had been a long time coming — the official opening of the Edinburg Arts, Culture & Event Center, or ACE center, where officials had gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“The ACE center is more than just a building, it’s a testament to the power of the arts, and perseverance, and community,” Leija said while standing at a lectern set beside giant three-dimensional letters that spelled out “Edinburg ACE.”

“It’s a space where artists will flourish, where our rich cultural history will be celebrated, and where we will embrace the diversity that makes Edinburg extraordinary,” Leija continued.

The opening of the $14 million, 36,000-square-foot ACE center marked another major milestone in a yearslong effort by several city administrations to invest in Edinburg’s culture and quality of life amenities.

It now becomes one of the hallmark venues of Edinburg’s downtown complex, dubbed Promenade Park, which includes Edinburg City Hall, completed in 2008, an outdoor amphitheater, a yet-to-be-built parking garage, and the much-beloved Edinburg Municipal Auditorium.

The seeds for the ACE center were first planted back in 2007, when Joe Ochoa led the city as mayor.

Subsequent mayors, including Richard Garcia and Richard Molina, carried the idea forward and continued to foster it for the next decade, current Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. said.

“Everybody had a role in this. This facility here is a testament to what can happen, you know, when we come together with vision, dedication and collaboration,” Garza said.

With each new administration, city leaders continued to prioritize investment in funding the ACE and other quality of life projects, the mayor said. Those leaders also forged critical partnerships with the Edinburg school district and the economic development corporation, or EDC.

Indeed, the land where the ACE sits once belonged to ECISD and was home to Sam Houston Elementary.

The school district gave the land to the city, and later, the EDC help contribute funds to pay for the ACE center’s construction.

In 2021, both the city and the EDC approved the issuance of certificates of obligation to pay for a number of public projects.

The city council, led then by Mayor Molina, approved $23 million in bonds, while the EDC approved a total of nearly $10 million.

All of those decisions were vital to bringing the ACE center to fruition, Garza, the current mayor said.

“This is a landmark investment in the future of our city,” Garza said.

Inside the ACE building, visitors during Wednesday’s grand opening were met with an welcoming foyer just beyond the front doors, through which streamed bright sunshine tinged in shades of pink, purple and blue.

To one side sat a grand piano, while large double doors led to an expansive hall with space for dozens of tables. At the far wall, a darkened stage sat ready for theater performers.

And beyond, along back hallways, the ACE center is dotted with spaces for creation.

“This state-of-the-art facility features spaces for dance, theater and music, studios for painting, a digital and graphic arts computer lab, and gallery spaces to showcase the talent of local, national and international artists,” Garza said.

Edinburg Arts, Culture & Event Center, or ACE center

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As visitors streamed inside to gaze at the facility, Leija could be seen mingling happily with Edinburg residents, city staffers and scores of volunteers — all the people she had given humble thanks to during her remarks a few minutes prior.

But for the mayor and other public officials who spoke Wednesday, it was Leija who had been the pivotal figure in making the ACE center a reality.

“For me, this journey has been transformative,” Leija had said during her remarks.

But that “journey” is far from over, as the longtime librarian also spoke of looking ahead.

“Now, as we look to the future, the next chapter begins. Starting in January, this space will come alive with art, music, dance and theater classes, ushering in a new area of arts and creativity for our community,” Leija said.

“These programs will inspire the next generation of artists, performers and visionaries, enriching lives, creating jobs and strengthening the cultural heartbeat of Edinburg,” she said.

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