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A Call to Collaborate
In 2016, NALAC launched the Houston Research Initiative to survey and assess the state of the ecosystem of Latino arts and cultural communities in Houston.
Advancing collaborative efforts
The research initiative was set to survey and assess the state of the ecosystem of Latino arts and cultural communities in Houston to inform possible next steps by stakeholders in the areas of professional artistic development, collaborative arts advocacy, and policies of arts funding.
Intending to provide information that is useful in advancing collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening the capacity, economic growth, and impact of the Latino arts field in Houston, the scope of the study included Houston Hotel Occupancy Tax funds, and four prominent Houston foundations, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Advancing collaborative efforts
KEY FINDINGS:
The funding amounts and percentages in this summary are presented in the context of Houston’s Hispanic population.
- In 2010, Hispanics comprised 43.8% of the population of Houston, and the figure increased to 44.3% in 2017.
- The arts and culture field is allocated 19.3% of Houston Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds.
- The City contracts with several non-profits to distribute a percentage of the arts HOT funds as follows:
- Houston Arts Alliance (39.5%)
- Theatre District (24%)
- Museum District (18%)
- Miller Theatre Advisory Board (16%)
- City Initiatives (2.5%)
- HOT funds are also allocated to the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events.
Study Reveals Major Funding Gaps for Houston Latino Arts Organizations
On Friday, September 14, 2019 NALAC released key findings highlighting dramatic funding disparities for Latino arts and cultural organizations in Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city.
The report’s launch offers an opportunity for public and private stakeholders to collaborate and find solutions to equity issues.
