Public art, public issues
Houston draws coveted finalist spot in prestigious national arts grant competition
The "Wild Wonderland mosaic mural" on display at Midtown Park.
In a nod to our thriving cultural diaspora, Houston has been named among 17 U.S. cities named as a finalist in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge. The prestigious competition will award grants of up to $1 million to 10 cities. Winners will be announced this fall.
According to a press release announcing Houston's finalist ranking, the Bayou City stood out for its proposal HueMan: Shelter, a groundbreaking public art effort designed to disrupt perceptions of homelessness.
The project aims to bring together artists and unsheltered individuals to create visual stories from their lived experiences. It includes the activation of nine sites for public artworks along a main street corridor in Midtown Houston.
The art initiative is a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the Midtown Houston Cultural Arts and Entertainment District in partnership with The City of Houston, the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston, the Career and Recovery Resources, Inc., and METRO Houston. Houston's recognition as a finalist in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge showcases the city's commitment to the arts, innovation, and Midtown Houston’s continued work curating public art that addresses social issues.
"We're thrilled to be selected as a finalist for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge," said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in the same release. "HueMan: Shelter is an innovative project that will not only transform our city's landscape but also foster empathy and understanding for our unsheltered community members. We're excited about the opportunity to showcase Houston's vibrant creative scene and make a positive impact in the lives of our vulnerable populations."
The cities selected as winners of the Public Art Challenge will receive monies to execute their projects over the next two years. The grants cover project-related expenditures, including development, execution, and marketing, but will not fund 100 percent of the total project costs.
Houston was one of 150 cities in 40 states that applied for the challenge.
Bloomberg Philanthropies' Public Art Challenge has a proven record of success. The 2018 round of the Challenge, awarded to five cities, catalyzed more than $100 million in economic benefit for local economies and shed light on critical civic issues. It resulted in projects addressing climate change, neighborhood blight, healing after gun violence, and commemorating the centennial of Greenwood's 1921 Black Wall Street Massacre.
“Public art provides a creative way to bring communities together, strengthen local economies, and make cities more inspiring and dynamic,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and 108th mayor of New York City. “This year’s proposals show that public art, and the partnerships they forge between artists and local governments, is stronger than ever.”
