FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Houston, Texas, October 3, 2025 – Houston Mayor John Whitmire joined artists, community members, philanthropic and civic leaders at the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) Luminescence Gala on Saturday, September 27. Attended by 300 guests, the event raised over $315,000 through donations and auctioned artworks in support of Houston’s creative sector.

City of Houston Mayor John Whitmire joined board chair Michele Leal Farah in commending HAA’s new CEO, Taylor Jackson, for her remarkable leadership since taking the helm earlier this year. The Mayor also expressed enthusiasm for the City of Houston’s continued support of Houston’s arts community, sharing on social media what a powerful “celebration of creativity, community and culture” the evening was and recognizing the talent and vision of the arts community that makes our city so special.

The gala proceeds support HAA’s privately funded outreach, education and resiliency efforts aimed at complementing city-funded arts initiatives and strengthening Houston’s arts sector. These critical resources allow HAA to host quarterly community-building arts convenings, gather, analyze and disseminate arts impact data, and administer disaster preparedness initiatives on behalf of artists and arts organizations. In addition to the funds raised at the gala, HAA partners with the City of Houston in the administration of arts grantmaking through Hotel Occupancy Tax funds and civic art projects initiated under Houston’s Civic Art Ordinance.

Emceed by ABC 13’s Rita Garcia for the fourth year in a row, this event was co-chaired by Zsavon Butler & Nicholas Stuart, and arts patrons, Jereann Chaney and Alecia Harris.

Former Houston Ballet principal dancer Lauren Anderson outdid herself once again as Special Events Committee Chair – honorees Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones and longtime arts patrons Anita and Gerald Smith were celebrated with special performances of “Wild Horses” and “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Christina Wells and vocalist Labraska Washington.

PAC Art Residency’s founder Paola Creixell curated a sold-out live art auction featuring artworks by: Kaima Marie Akarue, Zsavon Butler, Abbie Preston Edmonson, Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee, Preston Gaines, Robert Hodge, Gerardo Rosales and Chayse Sampy.

The Houston Contemporary Dance Company delivered captivating performances that set the tone for the evening, and Mayor Whitmire led the charge on the dance floor, where DJ MLE kept the celebration energized with dynamic mixes well into the night.

In attendance were local luminaries such as District H Councilmember Mario Castillo and District J Councilmember Edward Pollard. The gala was graced by Mayor Whitmire’s chief of Staff, Dr. Cynthia Wilson, as well as Leigh Smith, George and Marilyn DeMontrond, Michael Heckman, Roslyn and Derrick Mitchell, Winell and Doug Herron, Brandon Bourque and Derrick Shore, and Michael Carr who is the General Manager of ABC 13 Houston.

The Luminescence Gala was presented with the generous multi-year support of H-E-B. Additional corporate sponsors included Advantage BMW, KeyBanc, Coca-Cola Southwest, Insperity, and Houston First. The HAA Gala is where generations, neighbors, and friends from all walks of life come together once a year to celebrate and champion Houston’s vibrant arts ecosystem.

For more information about HAA’s 2025 Luminescence Gala or to make a donation, please visit www.haatx.com/haa-gala. 

About Houston Arts Alliance (HAA)

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 http://www.houstonartsalliance.com and follow us on Facebook & Instagram @HoustonArtsAlliance and on Twitter @haatx. 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Karen Martinez

Houston Arts Alliance

Phone: 713.550.6752

Email: karen@haatx.com