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EDINBURG, Texas - The CEO of the Museum of South Texas says cities that are more tolerant and have a good cultural arts scene tend to be more economically vibrant.

Francisco Guajardo spoke about the subject at a recent Edinburg2040 town hall meeting. The meeting was held at the Edinburg Boys & Girls Club.

Guajardo said Edinburg, with its university, museum, and school district, is different.

\u201cIf you look at the arts across South Texas, Edinburg has been a leader in the generation of the arts, in the generation of the creatives,\u201d Guajardo said. \u201cCreativity breeds tolerance, attracts people to the place. And other places don\u2019t quite have that.\u201d

Guajardo, a former professor at UT-Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, cited a well known book by Richard Florida, \u201cThe Rise of the Creative Class.\u201d Citing the author, Guajardo said: \u201cThe most creative communities in this country are the communities that invest in the arts. And those communities tend to be the most tolerant communities. And it just so happens that those communities tend to be the most economically vibrant communities.\u201d

Guajardo added: \u201cSo, squash creativity and you you squash economic development. You squash tolerance people won\u2019t want to come here. This community is not that. This community invites difference. And that is a virtue, I think.\u201d

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