City Arts & Culture Plan moves forward with grants to 126 non-profit groups

“Houston’s arts and cultural organizations are an essential part of who we are as a city,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.  “Houston’s civic identity and quality of life are enhanced by our great diversity of arts and cultural offerings and the nonprofit groups that serve our community, attract visitors and contribute to the local economy. The breadth of Houston’s vibrant arts and cultural sector is well represented in the list of grant awards.”

The grants will support a comprehensive range of activities including film, choir, literary works, visual art, jazz, dance, theater, musicals, outdoor sculpture, classical music, opera, murals, poetry, craft, folk & traditional arts, photography and more.

City grants awarded through the Houston Arts Alliance are funded through a portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax that is dedicated to the arts as part of the city’s cultural priorities guided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA).

“As called for in the Arts & Cultural Plan, we completely redesigned City grants offered through Houston Arts Alliance and early results from the changes are very positive,” said Debbie McNulty, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “Our vision and values of inclusion and equity are at the heart of the new process, along with our priorities of public service and public access.”

Highlights of the new grant process include:

• An emphasis on supporting artists by allowing applicants that pay artists for their creative work to compete for larger grant awards
• A more efficient application form and increased community outreach by Houston Arts Alliance
• A 16 percent increase in new applications, reaching a total of more than 130
• An expanded evaluation panel based on diversity of identity, knowledge, artistic expertise and community involvement

The organizations receiving the new grants have a combined attendance of nearly 4.7 million and an $84 million impact on the local economy. They support almost 6,000 jobs, engage over 9,500 participating volunteers and reach all 11 City Council districts.

Panelists were Pia Agrawal, Aileen Alon, Callina Anderson, Torrence Atkinson, Michelle Barnes, Tiffany Bourgeois, Elizabeth Lisa Cruces, Fleurette Fernando, Gonzo Figueroa, Chanelle Nicole Frazier, Alison de Lima Greene, Darry Hearon, Jon Hopson, Divya Janardhan, Delilah Montoya, Joseph Roberts, Marissa Saenz, Kristian Salinas and Jason Woods. The City thanks each of these panelists for their role in the grant process.

Congratulations to all the award recipients!  Thank you for your dedication and contributions to the expansive arts and cultural landscape of Houston.

Grantees:

“Houston’s arts and cultural organizations are an essential part of who we are as a city,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.  “Houston’s civic identity and quality of life are enhanced by our great diversity of arts and cultural offerings and the nonprofit groups that serve our community, attract visitors and contribute to the local economy. The breadth of Houston’s vibrant arts and cultural sector is well represented in the list of grant awards.”

The grants will support a comprehensive range of activities including film, choir, literary works, visual art, jazz, dance, theater, musicals, outdoor sculpture, classical music, opera, murals, poetry, craft, folk & traditional arts, photography and more.

City grants awarded through the Houston Arts Alliance are funded through a portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax that is dedicated to the arts as part of the city’s cultural priorities guided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA).

“As called for in the Arts & Cultural Plan, we completely redesigned City grants offered through Houston Arts Alliance and early results from the changes are very positive,” said Debbie McNulty, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “Our vision and values of inclusion and equity are at the heart of the new process, along with our priorities of public service and public access.”

Highlights of the new grant process include:

• An emphasis on supporting artists by allowing applicants that pay artists for their creative work to compete for larger grant awards
• A more efficient application form and increased community outreach by Houston Arts Alliance
• A 16 percent increase in new applications, reaching a total of more than 130
• An expanded evaluation panel based on diversity of identity, knowledge, artistic expertise and community involvement

The organizations receiving the new grants have a combined attendance of nearly 4.7 million and an $84 million impact on the local economy. They support almost 6,000 jobs, engage over 9,500 participating volunteers and reach all 11 City Council districts.

Panelists were Pia Agrawal, Aileen Alon, Callina Anderson, Torrence Atkinson, Michelle Barnes, Tiffany Bourgeois, Elizabeth Lisa Cruces, Fleurette Fernando, Gonzo Figueroa, Chanelle Nicole Frazier, Alison de Lima Greene, Darry Hearon, Jon Hopson, Divya Janardhan, Delilah Montoya, Joseph Roberts, Marissa Saenz, Kristian Salinas and Jason Woods. The City thanks each of these panelists for their role in the grant process.

Congratulations to all the award recipients!  Thank you for your dedication and contributions to the expansive arts and cultural landscape of Houston.

Grantees: