U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Awards: Exceptional Commitment to the Arts

In 2022, Mayor Sylvester Turner received the National Award for Local Arts Leadership for cities with a population of 100,000 or more. This award is given to civic leaders that help to support and advance the Arts in their respective communities. In Houston, Mayor Turner:

• Contributed $25,000 to the Greater Houston Area Arts Relief Fund to assist over 400 artists and arts workers needing financial assistance with basic needs;
• Issued micro-grants to support creative opportunities to develop virtual/streaming art activations;
• Advanced over $4 million in civic art opportunities to acquire over 100 artworks from Houston/Texas artists;
• Released “Equity Review of Houston’s Civic Art Collection” in 2020, which determined that the collection overrepresents white and male artists and led to advocacy for immediate change and efforts to address equity in collecting practices; and
• Funded the creation of a Virtual Indigenous Cultural Center - a virtual space celebrating Indigenous groups in Houston.

Supporting Link:

•   Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors Honor Elected Officials for Exceptional Commitment to Arts

USCM Awards Links:

•   Exceptional Commitment to the Arts
•   DollarWise Innovation Grant
•   Childhood Obesity Prevention Recognition Award

USCM Links:

•   About USCM
•   USCM Leadership
•   Call to Senate to Address Gun Violence
•   Compact to Advance Racial Equity

Organizational Advocacy Links:

•   U.S. Conference of Mayors
•   Climate Mayors
•   Resilient Cities Network
•   African American Mayors Association
•   National Nonpartisan Conversation on Voter Rights

Supporting Links:

•   Advocacy Intro Page
•   Executive Advocacy
•   Legislative Advocacy
•   Organizational Advocacy