Did you know that there are seven Cultural Districts in Houston and two of them — almost — are in Houston Southeast.

Photo: Third Ward Cultural District

“State designated Cultural Districts support artists, arts organizations, and small businesses,” explains Michele Leal, the city’s new Director of the Office of Arts. In this role she provides strategic guidance on the city’s art investments and advocates for the arts in Houston. Previously she served as the Mayor’s appointed Chair of the Houston Arts Alliance, the nonprofit agency whose main purpose is to divvy up the allocated portion of hotel occupancy tax for grants to local artists and arts organizations.

“Michele has the passion, experience, and collaborative spirit to serve as the City’s new Director of the Office of Arts,” Mayor Whitmire said when he appointed her. “In this role, she will work with our partners, including Houston First and the Cultural Districts, to improve access to creative and cultural experiences across the city.”

“The seven of them in the City of Houston exist to strengthen the arts ecosystem that exists in our city,” Leal says. “They work to educate Houstonians and visitors about the various cultural assets across the city. Cultural Districts regularly collaborate and engage with their management districts (like Houston Southeast) and TIRZs to help amplify arts and culture in the district.” Beyond creating community cohesion and cultural vibrancy, the districts have an economic impact on the city. The seven districts generated $8.6 million in local sales tax and $6 million in state taxes in 2022. Also, that year, the most recent data, nonprofit arts organizations in the districts totaled $503.8 million in annual expenditures while sustaining 4,100 full-time jobs. The Third Ward Cultural District was established in 2020 while the Houston Museum District has been around since 1997, although not all of the district is inside of Houston Southeast’s boundaries.

“In Third Ward, they work together to use signage and way finding to highlight the rich cultural contributions and landmarks of Third Ward, which are celebrated throughout the city and outside of Houston,” Leal says. “This summer, Third Ward will serve as the convening entity for the citywide Juneteenth celebration, a 19-daylong celebration in the month of June, kicking off June 1st at the El Dorado Ballroom, followed by a citywide Juneteenth festival in Emancipation Park on June 6^th and will culminate with a Juneteenth event on the 19^th along the Almeda Corridor. These activations will take place in the midst of an influx of World Cup visitors and present a great opportunity to share Houston’s heritage and history.”

The Museum District houses 21 institutions and is one of the most highly concentrated museum areas in the country. Although the world-renowned Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and some others are not inside Houston Southeast, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Asia Society Texas, Children’s Museum Houston, The Health Museum, Holocaust Museum Houston, Houston Museum of African American Culture, Houston Zoo, and Miller Outdoor Theatre are included.

“Museum District is a big proponent of using data to share the significant impact that cultural districts have in their communities. For example, in 2023 Museum District institutions had more visitors than all of the major sports teams’ events and the rodeo combined,” Leal says, “that’s around seven million visitors, including two million from outside of Houston. The Museum District is not only a cultural asset but an economic one, as a $617 million industry in direct and indirect economic impact that supports 8,400 employees annually.”

Clearly it is the largest and most popular of the districts but do check out the Third Ward district, they have a host of events coming up and you’ll want to view the wonderful murals they sponsor through the Third Ward.

by Marene Gustin