Cultural Affairs Office

Press and Communications

November 23, 2021 -- The City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) is pleased to announce the release of a new commission opportunity to Houston-area artists and artist-teams. On behalf of the Houston Health Department and in partnership with the Houston Arts Alliance, MOCA is seeking the submission of qualifications from artists to be considered to create a suite of permanent outdoor murals at the entrance of the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center.

The City’s Civic Art Program has reserved a budget of $100,000 for the artist or artist-team selected for the commission. The deadline for submission of qualifications is Monday, January 3rd, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. CST.

“We are enthusiastic about this effort to enrich the Denver Harbor community with art as we revitalize the neighborhood’s Multi-Service Center,” said The Mayor. “This mural will welcome visitors to the building, and we hope it also becomes a landmark for the neighborhood which represents the pride and industry which shape its character.”

First settled in the 1890s, the greater Denver Harbor community is located on the North bank of Buffalo Bayou, just east of Downtown Houston. Across its lifetime, the character of Houston’s Denver Harbor neighborhood has been shaped by the influence of working-class and immigrant families who contributed to the railroad and industrial companies that were established along the Houston Ship Channel. The neighborhood ;now enjoys the presence of a predominantly Hispanic/Latino community with a rich and influential cultural history.

The Houston Health Department operates 12 multi-service centers and 4 health centers throughout Houston, including the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center, which provides a variety of services to community members, including programs for elderly residents, nutritional support services and community meeting space. The center also works in partnership with collaborating agencies to provide educational resources, direct services, referrals, access to basic needs, and other social service needs.

The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is open to eligible artists and artist teams residing and working in Greater Houston Area – a nine-county metropolitan area which includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties. Applicants must submit required qualifications and artwork samples by the application deadline to be considered for the opportunity. A panel comprised of arts professionals will review qualified submissions to select three artists or teams to compete for the opportunity to develop and present detailed concept designs for the mural project.

View the full Request for Qualifications and submit your application here: https://houstonartsalliance.submittable.com/submit/6f0ba810-a2c9-4316-8c76-f913779bd6ca/denver-harbor-multi-service-center-mural

New artwork commissions for the City are funded by the City of Houston Civic Art Program. In 1999, the City of Houston established the Civic Art Ordinance, mandating that 1.75% of qualified Capital Improvement Project dollars be set aside for artwork in public spaces. The program is managed by The Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs.

About MOCA
The City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs guides the City’s cultural investments with policies and initiatives that expand access to arts and cultural programs in the community, attract visitors and leverage private investment. For more information about the City’s Civic Art Program visit www.HouCityArt.org or follow MOCA on Facebook & Instagram: @HoustonMOCA.

About the Houston Health Department
The mission of the Houston Health Department is to work in partnership with the community to promote and protect the health and social well-being of Houstonians and the environment in which they live. It is guided by a vision which encourages self-sufficient families and individuals in safe and healthy communities.

About Houston Arts Alliance
Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) is a local arts and culture organization whose principal work is to implement the City of Houston’s vision, values, and goals for its arts grantmaking and civic art investments. HAA also executes privately funded special projects to meet the needs of the arts community, such as disaster preparation, research on the state of the arts in Houston, and temporary public art projects that energize neighborhoods. To learn more about HAA, visit www.houstonartsalliance.com and follow us on Facebook & Instagram @HoustonArtsAlliance.