Houston, TX — The Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) proudly announces the appointment of Grace Zuñiga as its first-ever Chief Programming Officer (CPO), a newly established executive position designed to strengthen the organization’s strategic vision and expand its impact across Houston’s cultural landscape. This appointment underscores HAA’s ongoing commitment to cultivating leadership that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of Houston’s arts ecosystem.

As Chief Programming Officer, Zuñiga will oversee the daily development and delivery of HAA’s public programs, working closely with staff, artists, partners, and civic leaders to ensure initiatives run smoothly and reflect the organization’s mission. Creating this role expands HAA’s leadership capacity by providing dedicated oversight of program strategy, cross-division coordination, and community impact. In this position, Grace will guide teams, shape program concepts, manage resources, review data, and build partnerships—ensuring HAA’s programs remain accessible, relevant, and community-centered as the organization continues to grow.

Zuñiga transitions into this new role following her successful tenure as Director of Civic Art, where she led the implementation of Houston’s percent-for-art ordinance and managed a wide-ranging portfolio of public art projects that celebrate the city’s communities and civic identity. Her leadership has strengthened transparency, elevated artist-centered practices, and expanded opportunities for local creatives to contribute to Houston’s public realm.

“Grace’s leadership and vision have already made a profound impact on how public art serves our city,” said Taylor Jackson, CEO. “In her new role as Chief Programming Officer, she will help shape the future of our programming with a focus on collaboration, authenticity, and trust—ensuring that the arts continue to thrive as a cornerstone of Houston’s civic life.”

A Corpus Christi native, Zuñiga earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and her Master of Fine Arts from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. For over a decade, she has served in leadership and teaching roles at Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Sawyer Yards, and Houston City College, demonstrating her deep commitment to community engagement and to the growth of the creative sector.

Zuñiga’s appointment signals a new era of strategic collaboration and cultural innovation for Houston Arts Alliance as the organization continues its mission to advance the arts as a vital part of civic life and community well-being.

About Houston Arts Alliance

Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) is a local arts and culture organization whose principal work is to implement the City of Houston’s vision, values, and goals for its arts grantmaking and civic art investments. HAA also executes privately funded special projects to meet the needs of the arts community, such as disaster preparation, research on the state of the arts in Houston, and temporary public art projects that energize neighborhoods.

To learn more about HAA, visit www.houstonartsalliance.com and follow us on Facebook & Instagram @HoustonArtsAlliance and on X @haatx.

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