What happened?
The Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs announced the first wave of grant funding Sept. 5, which included offering $100,000 in grants to 10 individuals and nonprofit organizations whose work furthers cultural tourism and resilience throughout Houston.
Grantees include the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston, Dacamera, Dance Afrikana, Group Acorde, Lance Flowers, Norma Jo Thomas, One Sample Cultural Foundation, SoulSista Art Foundation, The Pilot Dance Project and University of Houston Foundation.
Some examples of art exhibits that citizens will see a result of the grant, include a:
- Concert series with Dacamera featuring up-and-coming jazz artists from around the country
- Multidisciplinary project by Dance Afrikana that includes a curated exhibition, a digital dance archive and a book on the tradition of Black dance in Texas
- Contemporary dance performance by Group Acorde that focuses on Houston's mental health before, during and after a natural disaster occurs
- Conference highlighting Houston's contribution to the new music business with performances from selected poets and Afrobeats artists by SoulSista Art Foundation
In similar news
After announcing the 2024 City Initiative project Sept. 5, MOCA announced Sept. 6 that Houston will also award $97,000 in grants to 39 individuals and nonprofit organizations for specific programs that amplify artistic creativity and innovation in Houston.
The funds were awarded through Let Creativity Happen, a competitive grant program similar to the City Initiative, that is administered by the Houston Arts Alliance and funded through a portion of the city's Hotel Occupancy Tax.
Projects for Let Creativity Happen must focus on the innovative ideas that redefine artistic boundaries, reshape the conversation about art and/or establish unique opportunities to experience art.
To see the full list of grantees for this initiative, guests can visit the Houston Arts Alliance.
