When Taylor Jackson stepped into the role of CEO at the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA), she wasn’t just making history. She was answering a calling.
As the first woman and person of color to lead the organization during its 19-year history, Jackson brings a deep passion for the arts and a firm commitment to ensuring equitable access to cultural programming.
Houston was not initially on her radar as a career destination. Yet, as fate would have it, a connection through a nonprofit certificate program introduced her to then-CEO John Abodeely, who encouraged her to apply for the Director of Grants position at HAA. Despite never having worked on the funding side of the arts before, Jackson embraced the challenge, bringing her firsthand experience as a grant applicant.
“I’ve never worked in funding before. I’ve been on the side of applying for grants,” she said. “But John told me, ‘That’s exactly why you’d be great for this job. You understand our largest stakeholder base—the artists.’”
Since joining HAA in 2022, Jackson has worked tirelessly to demystify the grantmaking process and ensure greater accessibility for artists across the city. Under her leadership as Director of Grants, applications have reached historic levels, doubling in some programs. Launching initiatives like the Grants Working Groups has helped foster transparency and community involvement in funding decisions.
Jackson’s journey in the arts sector began long before she set foot in Houston. With a Master’s in Public Humanities from Brown University and a Bachelor’s in History from Rhodes College, her academic path set the stage for a career deeply rooted in cultural engagement.
She held leadership roles at several arts organizations, including serving as Executive Director at Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth in Rhode Island. There, she bridged governance, financial planning and strategic alignment to create meaningful arts programming for young people.
“I was primarily working in youth spaces, arts education, program development and curatorial work,” Jackson said. “But now that I’ve been on this side of the coin and have seen the impact of arts and cultural funding, I know I’m here to stay.”
Houston’s arts scene through fresh eyes
Jackson has a unique perspective on Houston’s arts and cultural sector as a transplant from Arkansas.
“Houston’s impact stretches far beyond the city limits,” she said. “Growing up in the South, I was always tapped into the music and culture of Houston. But moving here, I saw how expansive and diverse the creative landscape truly is.”
One of the things that excites Jackson most is the city’s evolving definition of art.
“Houston is really starting to think about the arts in a more expansive way—beyond traditional visual and performance arts,” she said. “From DJing to nail art to hair design, all these creative practices contribute to our cultural landscape.”
Houston singer Lolade is one artist who has directly benefited from HAA’s support. She received funding through the “Let Creativity Happen” grant, which was crucial in bringing her vision to life.
“I had heard about it for years. I have friends who have applied for different rounds and won before. So I decided early last year to apply,” Lolade said.
She hosted a local event that blended music and mental health advocacy and was a perfect fit for the grant’s mission to support community-centered initiatives.
The grant covered essential expenses, including venue costs, musician compensation and marketing efforts. In addition to funding her performance, it allowed Lolade to provide attendees with valuable resources, such as reflective journals and free counseling sessions from local therapists.
“Putting an event together comes with so many costs. The grant really helped to offset some of those,” she said. “I wanted people to leave with something tangible, not just the event experience.”
Lolade said that creativity is often undervalued as a profession.
“The arts require immense preparation, devotion, and collaboration. People don’t always see it as a real job, but it is. We need resources to do the work and serve the community,” she said.
As CEO of HAA, Jackson wants to ensure that all aspects of Houston’s arts scene are recognized and supported.
“It’s important that we encapsulate the full breadth of what Houston’s artists bring to the table,” she said. “We want to ensure everyone has a seat at the table.”
While Houston boasts a rich cultural ecosystem, challenges remain—especially regarding funding. Jackson sees access to resources as one of the biggest hurdles artists face.
“The need is always greater than the amount of money available. We can’t make assumptions about where the needs lie,” she said. “That’s why community engagement is so important.
“We need to listen, understand the challenges from their perspective, and be honest about where we can provide support and where we need to collaborate with others.”
