LHUCA's History
LHUCA began as a dream of our founder Louise Hopkins Underwood, who’s spirit and love for the arts moved like the West Texas winds across a culturally barren landscape, building a regional fine arts center that engages people of all ages and of all walks of life. Her life-long dedication to the arts was recognized throughout the years, but none greater than her induction into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 2008, alongside Sandra Day O’Connor.
Founded in 1997, this center was established by Mrs. Underwood and a core group of forward-thinking individuals. They possessed a clear understanding of the relationships between accessible cultural experiences and opportunities and the quality of life in a region. To meet the challenge of providing this permanent home for the arts, LHUCA called upon Hardy, Holzman and Pfeiffer Associates of New York. Their experience in designing similar arts facilities such as the San Angelo Museum of Art, the Amarillo Globe News Center for the Performing Arts, and the Plano Courtyard Theatre. In 2000 the City of Lubbock deeded over the vacated Fire Department Administration Building in alignment with the City’s goal to create an arts and entertainment district. This gift allowed LHUCA to open its doors with a goal to encourage the arts in West Texas in every way possible. In the past decade LHUCA has transformed the community’s appreciation for art and culture as demonstrated by audience growth and individual support.
LHUCA anchors the north corridor of downtown Lubbock in the heart of the newly formed Lubbock Cultural District. Campus renovation supporting year-round cultural activities now serves as a major contributor to the City of Lubbock’s revitalization efforts. The campus has brought life to down town and fuels economic resource that is good for Lubbock.
Today the campus spans a four-block area that includes 9 buildings, encompassing 64,000 square feet of space dedicated to the arts. Using existing warehouses and former municipal buildings, LHUCA has repurposed structures to house galleries, a state-of-the-art theatre and clay studio, a rehearsal hall, event spaces, and classroom/studio spaces. LHUCA serves more than thirty non-profit organizations by providing financial, marketing, and administrative support under the direction of our professional staff. More than 300,000 people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds have attended meetings, workshops, performances, rehearsals, exhibits and community-wide arts events. We continue to formed strong partnerships and collaborate on educational programming for all ages.
LHUCA is committed to growing the cultural fabric of our community, fostering creative industries and supporting a creative workforce that is strong and thriving. LHUCA provides office and/or studio space to our resident groups: the South Plains Foundation, Llano Estacado Clay Guide, West Texas Watercolor Society, El Ballet Folklorico Nuestra Herencia, and the Lubbock Figure Drawing Group. This past year the Charles Adams Studio Project (CASP) became our newest resident. CASP obtained their non-profit status to serve as a cornerstone in the Lubbock Arts District by developing and sustaining a viable working artists' community. CASP started with 4 work/live artists’ studios with plans to introduce more studios in the future. Charles Adams moved his professional gallery from South Lubbock into downtown, across the street from LHUCA. He is next door to the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra building. As the demand for cultural activity grows it is fostering new cultural industries to move to the northern corridor of the Cultural District and is helping stimulate economic growth in downtown Lubbock.