We, as members of the art community and its supporters, stand in firm support of preserving the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art (BMFA) building as an art museum. The City of Brownsville, which purchased the museum building in November 2024 due to the institution’s financial crisis, initially described the acquisition as a partnership to improve the museum. However, the city is now referring to it as the "former BMFA building" and is conducting a Request for Interest (RFI) to explore alternative uses for the space. We strongly urge city officials to honor the building's original purpose and maintain it as the already established Brownsville Museum of Fine Art.

Brownsville is home to a thriving and growing artistic community, with over 1,000 students having graduated with art degrees from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV Brownsville Campus) and Texas Southmost College (TSC). Since the museum’s opening in 2006, renowned local and international artists—as well as students, alumni, and faculty from the local colleges as well as the Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) have actively participated in exhibitions held at the museum each year. Despite this rich artistic talent, history, and community, the City of Brownsville is now considering repurposing the BMFA building. Without an art museum, our local artists and future generations of artists will be denied a prestigious space to showcase their talent, find inspiration, and come together as a community.

With the purchase of the BMFA building, the city also acquired the name "Brownsville Museum of Fine Art," along with its logo and website for future use. In October 2024, the City of Brownsville's website stated, “This partnership aims to renovate the museum and bring more dynamic exhibits and immersive workshop programs, enriching the cultural experience for both tourists and locals alike.” Yet now, rather than supporting it as a museum, the Request for Interest seeks proposals for cultural centers, performance venues, educational institutions, or creative industry hubs—without any mention of maintaining it as a museum. This shift contradicts the city’s earlier statements and disregards the needs of the art community.

We call upon city officials to recognize the importance of preserving the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art—the only art museum in the city, and to seek an operator who will maintain its cultural significance.