Welcome to HouArts in Action – an effort to champion arts & culture in the Greater Houston Area. This initiative, supported by Houston Endowment, Houston’s Cultural Districts and the HouArts in Action Task Force, is an opportunity for the sector to come together to craft a platform and strategy to champion the arts.
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HouArts in Action is a collaborative, region-wide initiative designed to strengthen Greater Houston’s arts and culture sector through strategic advocacy, expanded partnerships, and unified messaging. Building on work by Houston’s seven state-designated Cultural Districts and a sector-wide Task Force, this effort aims to put arts on the agenda. We are mobilizing ambassadors from across the ecosystem to communicate arts and culture as an essential driver of the region’s economic growth, community vitality, and civic identity.
Public funding for the arts in the Greater Houston area is an essential component of ensuring that the region remains a global leader in arts and culture. HouArts’ top priority is around demystifying, protecting, and expanding funding for the sector.
Key Strategies:
Vibrant street-life and cultural spaces are the lifeblood of neighborhoods, reflecting unique character and sustaining economic activity. HouArts will work to ensure that existing spaces are supported, and collaborate on efforts to make streetlife more vibrant through integrating local artists, musicians and creatives into the region’s urban fabric.
Key Strategies:
Art is not possible without artists and creatives, many of whom report challenges maintaining and scaling their creative practices. HouArts will work to identify and advocate for solutions that that help artists and creatives stay in Houston.
Key Strategies:
Those who are tapped into the arts and cultural ecosystem of the city see Houston as brimming with cultural assets. But many residents and visitors lack of awareness of this richness. HouArts will work to change this perception, facilitating a partnership between the sector and the entities responsible for promoting and advertising Houston to visitors and businesses.
Key Strategies:
HouArts in Action recognizes that meaningful change requires sustained commitment. Our five-year implementation plan begins with safeguarding existing resources and relationships, then strategically expanding partnerships and advocacy capacity, and ultimately building toward permanent infrastructure that secures the region’s place as a cultural powerhouse.
By 2030, we envision a Houston where:
Research demonstrates the significant impact of arts and culture investments. When we invest in creativity, we’re investing in Greater Houston’s future
in economic activity generated by arts organizations in 2022, with every dollar of HOT funds invested generating $2.16 in local tax revenue
reduction in serious crime in neighborhoods with strong cultural resources
in arts programs report improved self-esteem, and arts engagement makes students 46% more likely to meet college readiness benchmarks
of depression and 47% reduced risk of dementia in cultural participants
of Harris County arts attendees agree that arts venues inspire pride in their communities
The advocacy strategy tailors messages to four critical stakeholder groups:
Great Cities invest in the Arts
Everything is bigger in Texas, including our arts business
Arts and culture are what makes Houston feel like home
The arts light up Houston
We’d love to hear what policy areas, impact statistics, or exciting partnerships you think we should be considering. In addition to the forums listed above, please take this anonymous survey to share your feedback.
Share your email address with us here to be on our distribution list:
In response to a community call for the creation of an icon that represented the Champion the Arts strategy. In August 2024, we held an open call for local artists to create this icon. The design by Houston artist Sebastian Gomez de la Torre was selected. His mosaic icon symbolizes the diverse arts and culture sector in Houston. We invite you to show your support for the arts in Houston by wearing the HOU ARTS pin. You can pick one up at one of our upcoming events.