a major gift for minority art

Houston minority arts groups gifted unprecedented $10 million boost

Organizations such as Project Row Houses have been identified as crucial in Houston.

Courtesy photo

Historically in America, Black, LatinX, Asian, and Indigenous arts organizations have been underfunded and underrepresented. To that end, two organizations have partnered to make an unprecedented gift to minority cultural groups in Houston.

Houston Endowment and the Ford Foundation announced a donation of approximately $10 million towards funding “America’s Cultural Treasures” in Houston. The funds are intended to provide general operating and capacity-building support to local long-standing arts organizations and enable them to not only weather the current pandemic, but to be stronger, and more resilient going forward, according to a press release.

Houston Endowment will lead a program to identify local grant recipients, in collaboration with other local donors. The regional campaign was seeded by an initial $35 million in support from the Ford Foundation across seven regions. Local foundations drove fundraising and design for individually tailored grantmaking initiatives. The scope and recipients of each program will be announced in early 2021.

These efforts are part of a new $156 million national initiative by the Ford Foundation that aims to support what Ford described as arts and culture groups “that have been historically marginalized, underfunded and underrepresented in the narrative of American culture.” Some 20 organizations, including Project Row Houses in Houston were recognized as significant anchors for cultural diversity from across the country, according to a press release.

“Houston’s cultural organizations of color celebrate our region’s extraordinary diversity and foster our connections to each other. This initiative, which will provide meaningful support to important organizations during a time of great challenge, carries with it the potential to transform the funding landscape and significantly advance racial equity,” said Ann Stern, president and CEO of the Houston Endowment, in a statement.

“We are grateful to the Ford Foundation for creating this opportunity and proud to represent the Houston area in this work.”

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the next 60 years

Houston's Jones Hall completes 5-year, $67.5 million renovation

Courtesy of Houston First

Mayor John Whitmire issued a proclamation celebration Jones Hall's 60th anniversary.

Fans of Houston’s performing arts groups have a reason to celebrate. Jones Hall, home to the Houston Symphony and Performing Arts Houston has completed a five-year, $67.5 million renovation project.

Virtually every component of the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts has been enhanced as part of the renovations. Improvements to the performance hall include:

New seating and additional aisle
Acoustical improvements including new sidewalls, orchestra shell, and forestage reflector
Refinished stage floor and new grand curtain

In addition, the lobby has been reconfigured, the restrooms have been expanded, and the Green Room has been expanded and relocated. Other changes include a new roof, new elevators, and upgraded HVAC. All of these will benefit both attendees at the dozens of performances the venue hosts every year.

Jones Hall 60th anniversary dedication City officials and others attended the ceremony. Courtesy of Houston First

“Jones Hall has been at the center of Houston’s performing arts community for six decades, and this investment ensures it will remain there well into the future,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. “I’m pleased to see Houstonians come together to help preserve this important arts space.”

The Foundation for Jones Hall and Houston First Corporation teamed up to raise the money necessary to perform the renovations, which have been completed in time for the venue’s 60th anniversary. As CultureMap’s Joel Luks noted in May, the original renovation plan was for a less ambitious, $25 million project. As a result of the more thorough project, “the result is a reimagined Jones Hall with enhanced patron spaces, improved sound quality, updated backstage operations, additional lounges and restrooms, and expanded accommodations for guests with disabilities,” Luks wrote.

“Great cities invest in the institutions and public spaces that bring people together,” said Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First. “Jones Hall has done that for Houston for 60 years. With this transformation complete, we are excited about what the next 60 years will bring.”

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