HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2026 — Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) marked its 20th anniversary Saturday with The Gilded & Golden Gala at Thompson Houston. The annual benefit honored Debbie Allen and H-E-B, brought Houston artists to the stage and raised over $600,000 in gross revenue to help HAA continue serving the city’s creative community.
Funds raised will support HAA’s ability to respond to the needs of Houston’s arts community, including resilience and recovery, community engagement, data advocacy, artist-centered initiatives and emerging needs across the cultural sector. Private support helps sustain that work alongside HAA’s public programs and partnership with the City of Houston.
Houston Arts Alliance is the City of Houston’s local arts agency and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. HAA administers city-funded arts grants, commissions and cares for the City of Houston’s Civic Art Collection, and leads cultural planning, bringing public, private and philanthropic investment together to strengthen the region’s creative life. HAA also operates one of the nation’s only year-round arts resilience and recovery programs, helping the creative sector stay resourced and resilient throughout every season.
City of Houston Mayor John Whitmire attended the event as a special guest. In remarks during the program, he praised HAA CEO Taylor Jackson and spoke about the value of Houston’s arts and culture community to the city’s growth.
ABC13’s Rita Garcia hosted the gala for the fifth consecutive year. Leigh Smith and S. Shawn Stephens served as co-chairs. Houston Arts Alliance Board Member and Special Events Committee Chair Lauren Anderson, Board Chair Sergio Selvera and members of the organization’s leadership and board joined artists, cultural partners, philanthropists, corporate supporters, and community leaders among nearly 470 guests.
Debbie Allen, the Houston-born performer, director, choreographer and arts educator whose honors include five Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, a Kennedy Center Honor and an honorary Oscar, received this year’s Golden Trailblazer Award. Harrison Guy and Urban Souls Dance Company honored her life and body of work through an emotional dance and spoken word performance.
HAA also recognized H-E-B as its Community Legacy Honoree for the company’s continued investment in the organization and commitment to strengthening Houston’s creative community.
The program featured a spoken-word performance by Houston poet Bella Kalra whose work grew through Writers in the Schools (WITS). The performance reflected the power of sustained arts education and mentorship. Grants administered by HAA have supported Writers in the Schools (WITS) in connecting Houston youth with professional writers and helping young people share their stories.
Grammy Award winner Kam Franklin closed the program with “Fame,” honoring Allen’s iconic role as Lydia Grant in the television series.
“Saturday night was joyful, moving and full of the energy that makes Houston’s creative community so special,” said Taylor Jackson, CEO of Houston Arts Alliance. “As we honored Debbie Allen and H-E-B and reflected on 20 years of Houston Arts Alliance, I kept thinking about the artists and communities we have the privilege of serving, and the many people who made this celebration possible. I’m deeply grateful to our staff, board, sponsors, and supporters for helping us mark this milestone and invest in what comes next.”
Gilden & Golden was made possible thanks to the generosity of Texas beloved grocery chain H-E-B and their continued support. Other lead sponsors included Stephanie and Frank Tsuru, Eddie and Chinhui Allen, Chevron, Jim Jordan and S. Shawn Stephens, Leigh and Reggie Smith, Sewell Automotive Companies Automotive Exclusive, Houston First Corporation, Bank of America, Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, United Airlines, Untitled Art, Innovating Marketing Group and other corporate and community supporters. Media sponsorship was brought to you by PaperCity Magazine, the luxury and style brand of Texas. Special thanks to Casa Mendoza | Creative Direction + Event Production and to UOVO: Art, Fashion, Wine for providing professional white-glove artwork handling and post-sale coordination.
ABOUT HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE
Houston Arts Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that strengthens Houston’s creative ecosystem through programs supported by private, philanthropic and public partners. As Houston’s local arts agency, HAA partners with the City of Houston on key public programs while also delivering privately and philanthropically supported initiatives serving the broader creative community.
Its work includes administering city-funded arts grants, commissioning and caring for civic art, leading cultural planning, and supporting resilience and recovery efforts. HAA’s mission is to connect Houston’s creative community by equipping artists and organizations with the support, resources and partnerships needed to grow and lead with creative strength. For more information, visit houstonartsalliance.com.
