The Houston Arts Alliance is excited to announce that we’re now in Phase 2 of our Cultural Asset Inventory—a project aimed at identifying and understanding the cultural resources that shape Greater Houston’s identity. Cultural Asset Mapping helps us recognize the people, places, and resources that reflect the creativity, diversity, and history of our communities. It’s about documenting what already exists and what communities value most—whether it’s a neighborhood art studio, a local festival, or a historic building.
In this phase, we’re focusing on tangible cultural assets. These may include non-profit organizations, cultural heritage groups, and arts collectives; music venues, theaters, and performance spaces; galleries, museums, and exhibition areas; local businesses like mom-and-pop grocery stores, barber shops, print shops, bookstores, and recording studios; arts education providers such as dance academies and training studios; recurring cultural events and festivals; artist studios and creative workspaces; historic sites, public art, murals, and culturally significant landmarks; and houses of worship that also serve as centers of cultural expression. The next steps in the project will involve deeper research into the individuals, organizations, and programs that make up the region’s arts and cultural ecosystems.
Once enough data is collected, it will be used to create a Cultural Asset Map that visually represents Houston’s cultural assets and resources. This map will help us better understand the cultural landscape—to assess vulnerabilities, identify risks and gaps in support, and inform future efforts around economic development, disaster planning, and policy decisions that impact artists, organizations, and cultural communities.
We’re asking for your help to identify the places and resources that are important to your neighborhood. Your input will ensure the map reflects the full range of cultural life in Greater Houston. Take the survey and help us highlight the assets that matter most to your community.
