In Houston, the arts live everywhere. They’re on our stages and gallery walls, in the sculpture down the block, in the mural you stop to photograph and end up standing in front of for a while. In the festival in the park that opens a kind of culture you didn’t know you were walking toward. Our seven cultural districts are uniquely Houston—places with deep roots where neighbors gather, young people find their voice, and communities grow. And they are one part of what makes the arts here so special. In Houston, creativity stretches across the whole city—all 600 square miles of it, block by block.
A handful of things we love about the arts.
More than half of Texans make art. 53% of Texas adults create or perform some kind of art—above the national average.
Our museums out-draw the sports teams and the Rodeo combined. Nearly 7 million people visit Houston's Museum District every year—and that’s just one neighborhood.
Culture makes us proud of where we live. 86.2% of Harris County arts attendees agree arts venues inspire community pride.
The arts move you and connect you. People who take part in arts and culture are 82% more likely to feel socially connected than those who don't.
People who attend one cultural event a month see a 60% drop in cortisol, the stress hormone.
People who attend one cultural event a month see a 48% lower risk of depression.
Great arts cities are made by the people who claim them. That’s you.
At this year’s Tribfest, we’re collecting your stories about the arts on handwritten postcards. The show that moved you. The exhibit you can’t stop thinking about. The class that changed a kid’s life. We are gathering them and hand-delivering them to legislators at the Texas Capitol, so the people who shape arts funding hear it straight from you.
Find us at the HouArts booth on Thursday and Friday in the Omni’s Voltron or on Saturday at the Commons. Choose your postcard, share your story and drop it in our booth’s mailbox. We got it from there!
Share your story. Tell us why the arts matter to you—the show, the class, the moment. We gather these stories year-round to make the case for the arts with lawmakers, journalists, and our community, so the more voices, the stronger the case. add your voice
Download and share the stats. Grab any of our arts stat graphics and post them—help put the arts in front of more Texans. Arts stats
Become an Arts Champion. Help put the arts on the agenda in Texas. Sign Up
Tell your representatives the arts matter. As a Texan and constituent, you can help push legislative action that supports public investment in our arts & culture sector. Find your representatives here and send your story to them directly so they know the arts are always on the ballot, and should always be a top priority.
Keep up with HouArts, arts news and ways to advocate across Greater Houston.
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