MARFA — City Council members recently voted to approve recommendations from the hotel occupancy tax (HOT) grant committee for sports, arts and culture and historic preservation initiatives taking place in town.

HOT grants are awarded twice annually, in the fall and in the spring. The HOT committee is made up of Mayor Manny Baeza, Mayor Pro Tem Raul Lara and Tourism Director Jennifer Conners. 

For sporting events, St. Mary’s requested $3,000 for a golf tournament and $3,000 for advertising reimbursement, for which they were awarded $1,500 for the event and $1,000 for advertising. The Presidio County Golf Committee requested $3,000 for a golf tournament and $3,000 for advertising reimbursement. They were awarded $3,000 for the event, $3,500 for advertising and the use of the U.S.O.

For arts and culture, The Marfa Chamber of Commerce requested $25,000 for the Marfa Lights Festival and was awarded $15,000 for the event. Viva Big Bend music festival, which is taking place from July 23-27 this year, requested $8,000 for the event and $3,500 in advertising. They were awarded $6,000 for the event and $3,500 for advertising. 

Ballroom Marfa requested $10,000, and an additional $3,500 for advertising, for a new group exhibition Los Encuentros featuring the work of five Latinx artists opening in July. Ballroom was awarded $3,000 for the event and $3,500 for advertising. Maintenant requested $5,000 and $2,500 for advertising for presenting the work of Karian Amaya and was awarded $3,000 plus $2,500 for ads. The Chinati Foundation requested $8,500, plus $3,500 in advertising, for Art in Context, a recent architecture symposium, and was awarded $1,625 plus the full ad ask. 

Marfa Live Arts requested and was awarded $2,250 for the Lower Left Dance Collective’s Dance Ranch Marfa, a free event for locals featuring open rehearsals, workshops and meet and greets taking place this year from August 8-12. 

The Judd Foundation requested $3,500, and was awarded $1,625, to help support an opening celebration for the Judd Architecture Building set to take place this fall on Saturday, September 20, 2025.

For historic preservation projects, Friends of Hunter Gym requested $10,000 and was awarded $5,000 for restoration efforts and the Marfa, and Presidio County Museum received its full request of $10,000 for museum operation and development.