Art has long been a vehicle for social change, serving as a medium through which marginalized communities express their identities, aspirations, and demands for justice.
In Houston, the Black community has found innovative ways to blend art and political organizing, especially in mobilizing Black voters. From murals and spoken word performances to music and digital art, creatives use their platforms to inspire civic engagement and amplify political messages.
Andrea Assaf, the artistic and executive director of Art2Action, Inc. Assaf, whose organization works at the intersection of art, social justice, and community engagement, highlights how cultural expression plays a pivotal role in fostering political participation.
“Art has always been central to political organizing. Whether it’s the Civil Rights Movement protest songs or the graffiti art that emerged in the wake of police brutality protests, art is a powerful tool for communicating both resistance and hope,” she said. “In Houston, this is no different. The city’s diverse and vibrant Black artistic community is critical in rallying voters ahead of elections.”
The organization is known for collaborating with Houston in Action (HiA) to launch the #HTownVotes initiative in August 2020. The partnership selected and commissioned 12 artists, art organizations, and cultural workers to work with organizers in Harris County to mobilize young Black and Brown people of color to register and vote, which resulted in the largest BIPOC voter turnout in Houston’s history.
Selected artists collaborated with HiA, organizers, and Art2Action, participating in bi-monthly cohort meetings and Houston Action Academy trainings. Topics covered included voter registration and engagement for 501c3 organizations, cultural organizing, racial justice, arts and digital organizing, and evaluation planning and process.
“We have to engage art. That’s how many people are moved. That’s how many people feel and think and navigate the world,” said Frances Valdez, the executive director of Houston in Action during an Art2Action voter mobilization virtual session. “We’ve been uplifting artists to reclaim their identity as organizers.”
One of the most powerful tools in political organizing is storytelling. In Houston, spoken word artists, poets, and performers use their talents to craft narratives that resonate with young Black voters. Through events and performances, these artists engage audiences in conversations about the importance of voting and the broader fight for justice.
“Because we want to bring in artists from the communities, we focus on many BIPOC artists who often have their own lived experience…the only way to work through this is being clear from the beginning we stated that this is non-partisan,” Valdez said. “There is more opportunity in non-partisan work than partisan work. Partisan work is very character driven…it’s often a way for people to become disillusioned with politics and government.”
Assaf believes that “storytelling is one of the oldest forms of organizing. When artists share their personal stories of struggle, perseverance, and triumph, they connect with people on a deeper level. It’s not just about the statistics or the policies. It’s about the human impact of political decisions.”
One of the featured Art2Action artists is Kemi OG, a structural engineer, choreographer, and dance artist who created a visual arts project called “Interference” that explores the rift between Africans and African Americans and the obstacles conquered when standing together.
Creating art can also serve as a community-building exercise, strengthening individual bonds and fostering a collective sense of purpose. For instance, voter registration drives are often held at community art events, blending culture and civic duty in an organic way.
“People are more likely to engage when they feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves,” Assaf explains. “Art has the unique ability to make people feel seen and heard, which is crucial in political organizing.”
Black voter suppression remains a critical issue in many parts of the country, including Texas. However, Houston’s artists are using their platforms to combat this suppression, highlighting how discriminatory practices target Black voters. Visual artists, in particular, are creating works that draw attention to the importance of fighting against these tactics.
“Art can expose injustice in ways that are both direct and subtle. A powerful painting or a poignant poem can move people to action in ways that a speech or a flyer might not,” said Assaf.
.
