Cultural Affairs Office

Press and Communications

City of Houston Awards Grants to Projects Amplifying Artistic Creativity and Innovation

October 3, 2024 -- The City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) is awarding $71,500 in grants to 29 individuals and nonprofit organizations for specific programs that amplify artistic creativity and innovation taking place in the City of Houston. An extraordinary number of awards were bestowed, underscoring the exceptional impact and significance of the recipients’ contributions.

“Houston’s diverse arts and cultural offerings provide tremendous service to our community, attract visitors and support a strong creative sector.”
Necole S. Irvin, City of Houston MOCA director.

Credit: Mariela G. Domínguez (XZZX), XZZX_Limits_2022

The funds were awarded through Let Creativity Happen, a competitive grant program administered by Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) and funded by a portion of the city's Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). The program opens three times annually and encourages artists, creative individuals, and organizations to take creative risks that may not qualify for more traditional funding opportunities. Awards support innovative ideas that redefine artistic boundaries, reshape the conversation about art and art experiences, and/or establish unique opportunities to experience art.

Credit: The Bay Area Youth Singers

Grantees for the second round of Let Creativity Happen 2024 are:

Anthony Barilla
Carmen Reeves
Classical Arts Society of Houston (CAS)            
Houston Brass Quintet
Lolade
The Moments Project
Rivkah French Choreography  
PPL PXRTY ENTERTAINMENT   
Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Art              
Karla Cisneros
REIA
Brave Little Company  
Thomas Helton
The Great UnKnwn
Frame Dance  
Virtuosi of Houston      
The Bay Area Youth Singers
Dria Thornton
Priority Value Investments/PVI4U.ORG
Thunderclap Productions
DG Fine Arts     
Jeanette Joy Harris
Jeanette Degollado
Carla Romero
Mariela G. Domínguez (XZZX)
Canda
Richard Carey Ford
Joel Aguilera
Seven Walker

Learn more about current and past City grantees on the Houston Arts Alliance website. Stay up to date on grantees and news about city-funded grants by signing up for the HAA newsletter.

Credit: Frame Dance, Costume design by Ashley Horn

About the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
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. Learn more at houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs and follow us on Facebook and on Instagram.

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’s work is conducted through contracts with the City of Houston, overseen by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. 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.
In short, HAA helps artists and nonprofits be bold, productive, and strong.

To learn more, visit HAA’s website, and follow us on Facebook and on Instagram.