Mayoral Forum on
Arts Culture

2015

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$126 Million Economic Impact

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Responses from Council Member Steve Costello

1. Do you have an Arts & Culture white paper along with Public Safety, Infrastructure,
etc.? If so, please send a copy.
Please visit www.costelloformayor.com, or follow me on facebook or twitter (@s_costello) to
learn about my vision for moving Houston forward. There you can read about my top three
priorities – improving our infrastructure, increasing public safety and getting our city
finances under control – as well as other white papers outlining my goals for public policy.

2. How do you personally participate in the arts and culture both in Houston and when
traveling?
My family and I love to take advantage of the arts scene in Houston. We are season ticket
holders for Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS), and love to take our grandchildren when they
are in town. When it’s just Debbie and I out for a night, we like to take in a show at Miller
Outdoor Theatre. We love going to the symphony, and really like the programming over
the last few seasons where they combine classic rock with the symphony – it brings a
whole new audience to the table and we value enjoying the experience with them.
Those are special events, but I think I’m most appreciative of the arts in our own home.
Our dining room is filled with several of Houston artist Mark Coyle’s beautiful floral pastels.
Debbie and I met Mark a few years ago at an arts festival here, and bought a painting. We
went back the next year and bought a few more, and the year after that picked up a couple
more.
We also hired a local artist, Ashley Nguyen, to paint a mural inside our home. It’s a bistro
scene that has many characters in it, and depending on what angle you’re looking at it from
it can tell a completely different story then when looking at it from another direction. The
mural took about 60 days to complete, and Debbie and spent many evenings just watching
Ashley create. She had complete freedom, we gave her some basic thoughts about what
we thought we wanted and just pointed her to the wall so she could create.

3. What specific strategies would your administration undertake to ensure the growth
of the creative sector by making it possible for individual artists to live and work in
the City?
In addition to just creating a better quality of life atmosphere for any community, there is a

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strong argument to be made that artists are good for neighborhood development.
Essentially all they need is space to create and perform, and their talent will increase foot
traffic and interest in an area. The challenge then becomes keeping a neighborhood or
district affordable for emerging artists after it becomes popular.
My administration would work with private developers to create incentives for investors who
want to promote artistic development. The focus would be on keeping display and creative
rental costs low, with a vision towards expanding out towards more profitable commercial
properties as interest in an area grows.
The goal of the program would be to start small in one area and determine the interest of
investors and the needs of the artistic community. Once we find a model that works, we
could expand into other neighborhoods if the market is available and stakeholders find the
model rewarding.
The other piece of this is affordable housing for artists to live in. Federal funding is
available that links affordable housing to economic development, and I believe such a
program would be a perfect match. Not only would we be creating jobs, but we would be
rewarding a community of creativity and partnering it with private investors who want to see
our great city grow in size and character.

4. Would you, and if yes please provide 2 directives that you would give to city
departments to include arts and culture in their work? Would you
include affiliate agencies also?
We should all recognize that funding is a challenge for any new endeavor the city
undertakes. But we should also be aware of the enormity of resources a city our size
already invests in, and finding artistic opportunity in the investments we are already
making. To that end:
1) In my first meeting of department heads I will issue a simple challenge: what resources
in your department can be made available to the artistic community? It could be display
space, training resources, excess materials that could be repurposed for artistic
endeavors, etc. As a fiscal conservative, I abhor waste. I firmly believe there is “artistic
waste” in every one of our departments simply because no mayor has ever challenged
our city to find it. In my administration, it would be a priority to correct that oversight and
I would make it clear on day 1 to anyone who wants to lead a department under me.
The departments would have 60 days to identify opportunities for artists within their
departments, and then report it to the Office of Cultural Affairs for next steps.
2) In the same 60 day time frame, I will direct the Office of Cultural Affairs to engage in a
broad and open dialogue with the residents of our great city on artistic opportunities we
are missing out on contained

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within our current investments. This will be done through a series of town halls, but also
through a well promoted and resourced online portal so every citizen has the ability to
offer input as well as review the thoughts of others. In tragedy and triumph, I firmly
believe our city works best when we are all working together.
At the end of that 60 day time frame, when our government and our citizenry have
assessed the opportunities before us, the Office of Cultural Affairs will then have 30
days to review those opportunities and then present a plan of implementation that is
forward leaning and budget neutral. We will then execute that plan through a series of
“90 Ways in 90 Days” where we demonstrate how our current investment in city
services can be made even more valuable through artistic display.

5. The amount of public funding for the arts through grants is currently limited to HOT
funds. Although HOT funds continue to grow as the number of hotel rooms expand,
the arts and culture field is growing more quickly, thus putting pressure on the
amount of funding that is available to the field. Would you consider an additional
funding mechanism, and if so, please explain?
I understand the desire for more funding, but first I want to assess what we are doing now
as a city and whether we are already missing opportunities because we haven’t been
creative enough with current investments.
As budget chair for the city, I instituted a practice of Core Services Evaluation where every
department would present their budget and go through it line by line to explain the services
they were offering the city and why continued funding was justified. The hearings were
open to the public and increased transparency of how our tax dollars are being spent as
well as educated the public on services our city provides.
One of the top concerns of artists is limited funding opportunities provided by the city, and
the transparency behind the process in awarding opportunities. My challenge to the arts
community is simple: How do we work together to convince the public that art projects are
a core service the city should provide, and how will they be funded adequately? Until this
argument wins the support of voters – perhaps through the creation of an enterprise fund
via a ballot initiative – we must continue to identify opportunities within our current budget
and funding structure that are being overlooked.
6. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism to fund arts that targets the
city’s changing demography and expanding neighborhoods? If so please provide an
example.
My administration will not reserve favoritism for certain demographics or impede the artistic
development of art in any neighborhood that wants it. I plan on promoting art education and

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appreciation in all areas of our city; this is the only way for art programs to grow organically
throughout Houston.

7. Houston art organizations spend millions of dollars a year on arts education that
cannot be funded by HOT dollars. As the government continues to cut funding for
arts education the demand on our local arts organizations increases. Talk about
what kind of action you would take to advocate and actively work with our state
legislators and HISD Board of Trustees to reinstate arts education funding in our
public schools?
I strongly support arts education, but as it relates to schools that is ultimately the jurisdiction
of HISD and the state legislature. If the artistic community and parents make it a priority,
the governmental entities that actually have jurisdiction over our public schools will be
responsive. Otherwise, the electorate should hold the public officials who govern those
entities responsible at the ballot box.
In areas where the city can participate, I support the implementation of innovative non-profit
programs like NewSpring Center that works to inspire at-risk youth in the Spring Branch
area to define and achieve a bright economic future through their Visual Arts
programs. Through a partnership with SBISD they offer opportunities for professionally
trained artists to come into the classroom as guest teachers and share with students the
real world business of art while encouraging young people to follow their passion for the
arts. In addition, NewSpring provides an art facility that is accessible to any Spring Branch
ISD student who wishes to enroll in their after school program free of charge. There they
receive professional guidance to perfect their skill and are exposed to numerous other
opportunities to showcase their artwork through auctions and art shows.
8. What action would you take to ensure that our local art organizations and
institutions of all sizes emphasize local artists and support their work?
The Costello Administration will have an open door policy for the arts community, and I will
make it clear to all city departments that they must do the same. The programs I’ve
outlined above are a good first step, but I think the most important steps will be to gather
input from stakeholders and identify what opportunities are before us.

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Responses from Honorable Bill King

1. Do you have an Arts & Culture white paper along with Public Safety, Infrastructure, etc.? If
so, please send a copy.
The only “white paper” I have issued is one on the need for pension reform which is attached.
My website sets out my position on certain other core principles of my campaign. Of course,
over the last ten years, I have written approximately 400 columns for the Houston Chronicle
where I outlined my thoughts on many of the challenges facing the city along with a variety of
other issues. Those columns are available on-line through the Chronicle’s website.
2. How do you personally participate in the arts and culture both in Houston and when
traveling?
I am principally interested in painting, sculpture, live theater and the symphony, although I do
occasionally frequent the opera and ballet as well. I have been a member of the Houston
Museum of Fine Arts for a number of years and regularly attend exhibitions there. I co-chaired
the annual gala for the Ensemble Theater a few years ago.
While traveling, I attend performing arts events, and visiting museums is a frequent pastime.
In the last few years I have visited the Foundation Louis Vuitton Museum, Musée d’ Orsay,
Musée du Louvre, the Albright Knox Art Gallery, Musée de l’Orangerie, the Montreal Museum
of Fine Arts and several special exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. In
addition to various performances in Houston I have recently attended performances at the
Paris Symphony, the Shaw Festival Theater (Niagara on the Lake, Ontario), the Thalian
Theater (Wilmington, NC), and a number of Broadway performances.

3. What specific strategies would your administration undertake to ensure the growth of the
creative sector by making it possible for individual artists to live and work in the City?
Workforce housing is a challenge for all large cities, including Houston. It is important we keep
working on public and private solutions to this challenge. Certainly, if the arts community and
its patrons undertook an effort to provide subsidized housing for artists, I would support that as
mayor and as a private citizen. However, I would not support any use of taxpayer money that
gave preferential treatment to any class or workers, including artists.

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4. Would you, and if yes please provide 2 directives that you would give to city departments to
include arts and culture in their work? Would you include affiliate agencies also?
I am open to proposals that would improve quality of life in the city by integrating more arts and
culture into our routine operations. I have no current plans for directives to city departments;
however, I will carefully consider any such strategy that is consistent with the city’s priorities.

5. The amount of public funding for the arts through grants is currently limited to HOT funds.
Although HOT funds continue to grow as the number of hotel rooms expand, the arts and
culture field is growing more quickly, thus putting pressure on the amount of funding that
is available to the field. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism, and if so,
please explain?
I would repeal the cap (enacted last year) on the amount of the HOT tax revenue that Houston
arts organizations receive. This is one of many examples of how the financial difficulties the
City faces in its general fund, principally due its unsustainable pension plans, affects all other
facets of the City’s finances. Unless these issues are addressed, all quality of life initiatives
will continue to see pressure on their funding from the City.
6. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism to fund arts that targets the city’s
changing demography and expanding neighborhoods? If so please provide an example.
I would certainly support, as mayor and individually, private initiatives to expand the reach of
Houston arts to disadvantaged areas and to the City’s neighborhoods. I would not support the
use tax revenues for such initiatives.
7. Houston art organizations spend millions of dollars a year on arts education that cannot
be funded by HOT dollars. As the government continues to cut funding for arts
education the demand on our local arts organizations increases. Talk about what kind of
action you would take to advocate and actively work with our state legislators and HISD
Board of Trustees to reinstate arts education funding in our public schools?
I have long been an advocate for the public school system. Most recently I co-chaired the
HISD bond campaign that will rebuild most of Houston’s high schools, including HSPVA. My
track record in this regard is part of the reason I have been endorsed by many current and
former teachers, principals, and school board members. (See attached.) I believe in
comprehensive education that includes life-enriching studies like art and music, and I will
advocate for these investments with the Legislature, the school districts, and the public.
I appreciate the efforts of a number of our arts organizations to reach out to local schools with
free classes and in-school performances. Field trips to our top arts venues are a great tool for

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exposing students to new cultural experiences. This, of course, is primarily a matter to be
arranged between the participating arts organizations and various school districts, but to the
extent the City or the mayor’s office can help facilitate such outreach, it should do so.

8. What action would you take to ensure that our local art organizations and institutions of all
sizes emphasize local artists and support their work?
My proposal for promoting local artists is to create a citywide framework that recognizes
particular Houston artists for excellence in their respective fields. This could take the form of an
annual award ceremony, or a more segmented approach that recognizes standout talent with
an honorary title, much like the Poet Laureate program.
We should also encourage our local arts groups to seek out ways to directly help Houston
artists by involving them in their programs, encouraging them to apply for grants, showcasing
their accomplishments, and providing them with cooperative advertising and outreach.

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Responses from Representative Sylvester Turner

1. Do you have an Arts & Culture white paper along with Public Safety, Infrastructure, etc.? If
so, please send a copy.
I am in the process of developing detailed policy proposals across issue areas. Conversations with
stakeholders about key issues, including during tonight’s forum, are critical to that development
process. Please stay tuned on our website as we post policy proposals throughout the campaign.
2. How do you personally participate in the arts and culture both in Houston and when
traveling?
As I lifelong Houstonian, I have been proud to watch our city’s arts community grow and develop
over the years. I have been an active supporter of that development in both my public and personal
lives. In my role as a state legislator, I have repeatedly chaired the House subcommittee
overseeing the budget of the Texas Art Commission, and I have been a strong advocate for robust
funding for that organization. I have fought for incentive funding at the state level for the film
industry. Most recently, I led a successful effort during this year’s legislative session to secure $10
million in funding for arts and cultural districts across the state; this is the first time ever that the
state has appropriated money for cultural districts.
In my personal life, I have long been a strong supporter of the Ensemble Theater Houston. In
2014, I chaired the Ensemble Theater’s annual fundraiser, and I am pleased to note that we raised
more money than ever in the history of that event. I regularly attend performances at the Miller
Outdoor Theater, Jones Theater, and the Hobby Center, and I am a regular visitor to the Houston
Museum District. I have worked closely with Michelle Barnes, founder of the Community Artists’
Collective for years; she is married to my long-time law partner, and several pieces by Community
Artists’ Collective artists decorate our offices. Due to my years of legislative service and my role in
arts funding at the state level, I have strong working relationships with individuals throughout the
Houston arts community. I look forward to building on those relationships as Mayor.
3. What specific strategies would your administration undertake to ensure the growth of the
creative sector by making it possible for individual artists to live and work in the City?
Artists face the same struggles that too many working Houstonians face: rising cost of living and a
lack of affordable housing. Artists often struggle to make ends meet, taking on work outside of
their creative field – including minimum wage or tipped-wage service work – to pay the bills. At the
current federal minimum wage of $7.25, a parent who works full time, year round, does not earn
enough to be above the federal poverty line. Cities are leading the way in addressing this problem
and I believe Houston should take a hard look at increasing our minimum wage.

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In a city with no zoning and very few land-use controls, it’s very tough to mandate affordability
when it comes to renting or owning a home. That’s why lifting the income of struggling Houstonians
– artists or otherwise – is so important. One of the few tools that the city has for directly impacting
affordable housing accessibility is its administration of federal housing grants. Houston just
completed its five-year consolidated plan for affordable housing, with substantial input from the
community, including a community survey, a series of public hearings, and open public comment
on various report drafts. Essentially, through this public process, the Houston community has
come together to identify our affordable housing challenges and to propose the solutions that meet
our needs. What we need going forward is effective leadership in implementing those solutions,
and the $200 million in federal funding we anticipate receiving over the next five years. My
collaborative leadership approach is the natural extension of the community conversation that is
already ongoing, and I look forward to working closely with stakeholders across the city, including
our arts community, as these funds are administered.
4. Would you, and if yes please provide 2 directives that you would give to city departments to
include arts and culture in their work? Would you include affiliate agencies also?
Yes. Artists and creative professionals have proved valuable across the country in helping cities to
develop new long-range visions. As Houston continues to grapple with our long-range plan and the
kind of city we want to be, it is only appropriate that we tap local artists for their critical perspectives.
Minneapolis offers one example of this kind of collaboration, with a program partnering local artists
and the City to develop ideas addressing environmental, transportation, and social issues. Other
cities have pursued similar collaborations through an artist-in-residence program within their city
planning departments. In San Francisco, the city worked with it’s recycling and landfill vendor to
create an artist in residence program at the city dump – to increase interest in recycling and re-use.
Since then, Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon have created similar programs. Substantial private
grant funding is available for these important collaborations. I would be eager to establish this kind
of program for Houston as mayor.
5. The amount of public funding for the arts through grants is currently limited to HOT funds.
Although HOT funds continue to grow as the number of hotel rooms expand, the arts and
culture field is growing more quickly, thus putting pressure on the amount of funding that is
available to the field. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism, and if so,
please explain?
Yes. I agree that, rather than limiting ourselves to dividing up the same pot of money, we should be
focused on generating even more revenue for the arts. And that is the context within which I
believe we can ensure an equitable distribution of public funds, both for our large arts and cultural
organizations and our smaller groups.
One proposal I would like to explore is lifting the current cap on HOT funding for the arts. Another
possible solution would be to lend flexibility to Houston’s existing percent for art program.
Currently, funds from that program may only be used to acquire or maintain permanent art

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installations. It may be possible to extend some of that funding to arts education and other arts
programming designed to create art for public spaces.
Another idea that works successfully in other cities is a voluntary arts contribution program, where
residents may voluntarily designate up to a certain amount from their property tax contribution to
support arts funding. I would also like to see the city redouble its fundraising efforts from private
sources.
6. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism to fund arts that targets the city’s
changing demography and expanding neighborhoods? If so please provide an example.
Yes. Houston is the most diverse city in the country, and our arts funding priorities should reflect
that diversity. At the state level, I have long been a staunch advocate for these diverse spaces. For
example, this year, as vice-chair of the Texas House Appropriations Committee, I successfully
secured half a million dollars in funding for the Buffalo Soldiers Museum, another half a million
dollars for the Houston African-American Museum, and 1.5 million for Emancipation Park.
At the local level, Houston has made successful use of the cultural district designation – and the
attendant economic opportunities – to focus resources and encourage growth in select areas.
During the recent legislative session, I led a successful effort to appropriate funding to cultural
districts around the state for the first time ever, resulting in ten million dollars in funding for cultural
districts throughout the state. I think that the cultural district model is ripe for expansion in
Houston, with potential designations focusing on the diversity of our neighborhoods and anchored
by unique landmarks, historical experiences, or cultural spaces. These designations are a great
way to celebrate the great cultural spirit of our neighborhoods, spur growth, and foster collaboration
among artists, community residents and local businesses.
7. Houston art organizations spend millions of dollars a year on arts education that cannot
be funded by HOT dollars. As the government continues to cut funding for arts
education the demand on our local arts organizations increases. Talk about what kind of
action you would take to advocate and actively work with our state legislators and HISD
Board of Trustees to reinstate arts education funding in our public schools?
Houston is a city that absolutely recognizes the importance of the arts and of arts education. The
existence of a partnership like Arts Access Houston, though which HISD is proactively partnering
with arts groups and stakeholders across the city to provide arts opportunities for young students,
demonstrates our community’s level of commitment to arts education. Unfortunately, the state is
not doing its part to support our educational priorities. During my decades of legislative service, I
fought every session to ensure robust public education funding; I have a deep and detailed
knowledge of the state budget process and as mayor, will continue to be an effective advocate for
our students at the state level as well as in Houston. As mayor, I will also advocate for creative
partnerships that can help fill the gap, such as funding for after-school programs and my idea for
incorporating more arts education into the percent for art program.

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8. What action would you take to ensure that our local art organizations and institutions of all
sizes emphasize local artists and support their work?
Houston is a world-class city attracting high quality artists and art from around the globe – it’s a
huge asset for our city and one we should always seek to maintain. That said, supporting local artists
is critical to maintaining that essential essence of Houston that makes us proud to call it home. We
can learn from the buy local movements and the city’s Hire Houston First program that were born out
of economic downturns as a way to take care of our own. I believe the idea of providing incentives for
institutions seeking city funds to engage local artists or art organizations, whether though
grantmaking, facilities-sharing, or project acquisition – is worth exploring for our arts community.

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Responses from Honorable Chris Bell
1. Do you have an Arts and Culture white paper along with Public Safety, Infrastructure, etc.?
If so, please send a copy.
Bell: Copy provided.
2. How do you personally participate in the arts and culture both in Houston and when
traveling?
Bell: We attend art and cultural events as often as possible. We stay current with exhibitions at our
major museums, being particularly fond of the Menil, and we support the work of local artists by
including them in our home and office surroundings. And who doesn’t love the Art Car Parade?
3. What specific strategies would your administration undertake to ensure the growth of the
creative sector by making it possible for individual artists to live and work in the City?
Bell: I believe the Houston real estate market is very conducive to building live/work environments
for artists. Using the East End as an example, economic development agents are encouraging the
redevelopment of industrial and warehouse spaces for creative purposes.
4. Would you, and if yes please provide 2 directives that you would give to city departments to
include arts and culture in their work? Would you include affiliate agencies also?
Bell: 1) To seek opportunities to include public art wherever possible; 2) to encourage the use of the
City’s public spaces to host art and cultural events
5. The amount of public funding for the arts through grants is currently limited to HOT funds.
Although HOT funds continue to grow as the number of hotel rooms expands, the arts and
culture field is growing more quickly, thus putting pressure on the amount of funding that’s
available to the field. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism, and if so,
please explain?
Bell: I don’t think the political will for additional taxes or fees exists at this time in light of the city’s
infrastructure and public safety pressures, but I believe if the current HOT structure is carefully
administered and distributed fairly and equitably the organizations served will continue to thrive.
Bell: As a City Council Member, I fought a proposal to cap HOT revenue for arts funding and as
Mayor, I would defend the percentage of distribution against any attempts to lower funding.

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6. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism to fund arts that targets the city’s
changing demography and expanding neighborhoods? If so please provide an example.
Bell: I would look at the existing funding mechanisms and if I find they are not reaching their
intended demographics and locations we would look at other options.
7. Houston art organizations spend millions of dollars a year on arts education that cannot be
funded by HOT dollars. As the government continues to cut funding for arts education the
demands on our local arts organizations increases. Talk about what kind of action you
would take to advocate and to actively work with our state legislators and HISD Board of
Trustees to reinstate arts education funding in our public schools?
Bell: As the only candidate who has made early childhood education a major thrust of the
campaign, I think making sure that any expanded Pre-K and early childhood programs include
music and art is an excellent starting point. I expect none of this will happen without working with
state and school officials. I am a strong believer that including music and art in the earliest years of
schooling produces better students and more creative thinking.
8. What action would you take to ensure that our local art organizations and institutions of all
sizes emphasize local artists and support their work?
Bell: I am a strong advocate for including public art in every public project. I am particularly excited
about the Houston Arts Alliance project to turn some of those unsightly traffic signal boxes into
local artists’ tableaus. As a City Council Member, I advocated a “Blight-to-Bright” approach to
improving overpasses and other public infrastructure and would continue to advocate that
approach as mayor. It’s a pleasure to see the painted intersections in Midtown and let’s take that
around the city.

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Honorable Chris Bell White Paper
Houston can be very proud of what it has to offer from its various stages, museums,
galleries, and public spaces. We can also be proud of the individual talents the area
has produced in artists, filmmakers, musicians and cultural leaders.
Houston is very fortunate to have benevolent citizens in its midst who have shared their fortunes with
their city to help build the formidable institutions that host the arts.
In return, the City must recognize what arts and culture groups have achieved by
supporting them with good local governance and responsible civic management.
We have a support system in place funded largely by the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax,
at a rate of 19% of revenue collected from the room tax. I support the rate. For the
moment, I see no reason to lower or otherwise alter the rate, and I would urge as I
would with all public revenue that arts funding be well-managed and distributed fairly.
Beyond ensuring that funding for arts and culture is enough to continue our great
successes, I want Houston to be a leader in arts education. With the world coming to
our door, think of the opportunities to teach our younger new Houstonians how to be a
part of our exciting music or theatre scene and to encourage them to share the art and
music of their various cultures.
While running for Mayor, I am advocating for expanding early education and prekindergarten
programs. We can move those programs into unused space in our
libraries. With a little imagination, we can find a way to keep the library quiet, but fill
those classrooms with young voices and early musical masterpieces.
Here are some of my favorite places, spaces and events:
Jones Hall for the Houston Symphony; The Art Car Parade and its massive crowds lining Allen
Parkway; Neighborhood art galleries where you can find that meaningful piece for your home; The
elaborate and fun murals popping up around the city; and
Big-name stars giving great performances.
Most of all, I love sharing these experiences with Houstonians who appreciate the old,
new, and undiscovered with many great moments still to come.

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Responses from Honorable Adrian Garcia
1. Do you have an Arts & Culture white paper along with Public Safety, Infrastructure, etc.? If
so, please send a copy.
As soon as we have a white paper on Arts & Culture we will send you a copy.
2. How do you personally participate in the arts and culture both in Houston and when
traveling?
My appreciation for the arts developed when I was a student at River Oaks Elementary. I
was awarded a scholarship to the Glassell School of Arts and there began my lifelong love
and appreciation for the arts. As the director of the Anti Gang Office, I worked to create more
rewarding opportunities for street artists to share their talents and possibly find a pathway to
becoming an established artist. Personally, I continue to enjoy the many art venues our city is
fortunate enough to have; from the small galleries and community theaters to the world-class
collections in the Museum District, to the many high quality productions in our Theater District.
When I travel I take every opportunity to enjoy and take in each community’s art scene. I am proud
of the fact that Houston ranks second to New York City; however, I want to work with all
stakeholders to make Houston the number one destination for the arts.
3. What specific strategies would your administration undertake to ensure the growth of the
creative sector by making it possible for individual artists to live and work in the City?
The cost of living in Houston has been rising and it makes it a challenge for not only artists, but
also teachers, public safety personnel, and city staff. To begin addressing affordable housing
issues within the city limits, I believe we need to revisit and reinvigorate the city’s Land
Assemblage and Redevelopment Authority (LARA) programs that I was proud to work on with
Mayor White. LARA currently has between 900 and 1,000 lots that are ripe for redevelopment,
and to maintain a focus on affordable housing for artists I will work to ensure LARA has a voice
in the arts community. Additionally, 30% of each TIRZ’s funds are earmarked for affordable
housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Through LARA and smart leveraging of TIRZ dollars I believe we can move from the current
model of artists pioneering the way into old warehouse districts or other low cost areas and
reinvigorating a neighborhood only to see the gentrification that follows to push them into the
next low cost neighborhood. Other cities in Texas, like Austin, currently have affordable
housing programs and incentives for artists. If elected, I will look at the best practices from
other cities as we craft a Houston solution to this issue.

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4. Would you, and if yes please provide 2 directives that you would give to city departments to
include arts and culture in their work? Would you include affiliate agencies also?
Yes, of course. First, we will make available to the public the number and amount of public
art completed in each year’s CIP, the number and anticipated amount of public arts projects
we anticipate coming in each year’s CIP. For the upcoming projects, I will direct city
departments to apply the Hire Houston First policy in the bidding process for public art
projects. Second, I would enforce transparency and accountability in the HOT funds the city (and
the Mayor’s office, specifically) receives. Each organization that receives HOT funds are
required to submit detailed plans and equally detailed reports on how those dollars are
spent. I think the same level accountability should apply to the city. Third, I will direct the city
departments that have open access to the public to identify areas for local artists to display their
work. Additionally, I will ask the departments to identify in unused spaces that could be used as
studio space for artists.
5. The amount of public funding for the arts through grants is currently limited to HOT funds.
Although HOT funds continue to grow as the number of hotel rooms expand, the arts and
culture field is growing more quickly, thus putting pressure on the amount of funding that is
available to the field. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism, and if so,
please explain?
First, I would like to re-examine the current HOT contracts that caps HOT funds and then divides
the increases over the capped levels. Second, I believe we need to identify all art funding streams
across the city, including the CIP funded Civic Arts Program, determine which ones may be
possible to re-program, and consolidate these funds. It is not clear today that we are spending our
public arts dollars in the most efficient way possible, and we must do that before we employ an
additional funding mechanism.
Additionally, the city is currently updating the Arts and Cultural Plan for the first time in over
20 years. This update should also guide how we are able to prioritize public dollars spent
in support of the arts. We need to have clarity on how these dollars are spent currently and make
adjustments as needed.
Finally, if our economy plateaus or shrinks in the coming years so will the HOT tax. So in
addition to talking about how do we cut up the potentially shrinking pieces in the pie, we
should focus on growing the overall pie. We need to look for more ways to fund the arts.

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6. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism to fund arts that targets the city’s
changing demography and expanding neighborhoods? If so please provide an example.
I believe the rich diversity and ever changing nature of Houston is one of our greatest
strengths. As I discussed in the answer to the previous question, we can consider
additional funding mechanisms after we ensure our current HOT funds and CIP funds are
being spent in the most efficient manner. In my answer to the fourth question, it should be
clear that the same level of transparency and accountability that is contractually required by
HOT funds recipients should be applied to the city as well.
7. Houston art organizations spend millions of dollars a year on arts education that cannot
be funded by HOT dollars. As the government continues to cut funding for arts
education the demand on our local arts organizations increases. Talk about what kind of
action you would take to advocate and actively work with our state legislators and HISD
Board of Trustees to reinstate arts education funding in our public schools?
Much as I have been a vocal advocate for increased funding from the state for mental
health programs, I also believe our state legislature has done our children an extreme
disservice by not funding our schools at even adequate levels. In the Houston area alone,
our arts organizations are spending in excess of $10 million dollars annually to fill that gap
both inside public schools and within their own organizations. As Mayor, I would make it a
priority to work with the Arts Access Initiative recently launched by Houston ISD to ensure
that we are able to get adequate funding for our schools in general and for arts education
as an important component of a well rounded education.
8. What action would you take to ensure that our local art organizations and institutions of all
sizes emphasize local artists and support their work?
I believe we should look at expanding programs like the Mayor’s Art Scholarship to help our
budding artists. Additionally, as I mentioned in question 4, we should utilize the current
Hire Houston First policy for all public art projects, and to the extent that we can require
local government corporations such as Houston First and the Houston Parks Board to
adopt the same policy we should. I will ask that my appointees to boards and commissions
that expend taxpayer dollars to adopt Hire Houston First policies that include any public art
projects.

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Responses from Marty McVey
1. Do you have an Arts & Culture white paper along with Public Safety, Infrastructure,
etc.? If so, please send a copy.
No.
2. How do you personally participate in the arts and culture both in Houston and when
traveling?
I participate by attending the Houston Symphony, plays at the Alley Theater and the Miller
Outdoor Theater. I appreciate the insights offered by the many exhibitions at the Museum
of Fine Arts of Houston (MFAH) and the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), The
Menil Collection, the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, and the Contemporary Arts
Museums (CAM).
I visit museums and performances around the world both as an individual and as a
Presidential appointee.
3. What specific strategies would your administration undertake to ensure the growth
of the creative sector by making it possible for individual artists to live and work in
the City?
I believe the best way to support artists living in our city is to grow the market for their work.
My plans for attracting domestic and international business to Houston will do just that by
working to diversify our economic sector with a focus on well-paying jobs that provide the
means to support arts and culture in our City.
4. Would you, and if yes please provide 2 directives that you would give to city
departments to include arts and culture in their work? Would you
include affiliate agencies also?
As mayor, I plan on creating a new economic development office and consolidate the city’s
various international relations under their own department. Under both of these initiatives,
arts and culture will be a central pillar to each office’s mission. Specifically, I plan to
highlight our vibrant artistic and cultural communities in business development marketing.
I would direct the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs to add “interactive art initiatives” to our
existing Arts and Cultural Plan. This would allow events that the City would sponsor to
encourage the art talent of Houston’s population from children to adults to display their
talent.

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5. The amount of public funding for the arts through grants is currently limited to HOT
funds. Although HOT funds continue to grow as the number of hotel rooms expand,
the arts and culture field is growing more quickly, thus putting pressure on the
amount of funding that is available to the field. Would you consider an additional
funding mechanism, and if so, please explain?
Right now HOT funds provide an important source of funding for arts in Houston. As
mayor, I would seek to complement this initially by working to help local arts funding, nonprofits increase their profile with the citizens of Houston through partnerships with the
Mayor’s Office. Additionally, I am currently working with city business leaders to develop a
plan for specific startup communities within our city. I plan to make support of the arts
central to this plan.
Under the new Office of Economic of Development, I will create a strong grant acquisition
division that will research and write grants from all national revenue streams. Houstonians
pay large tax dollars to the federal government, and my directive will be to bring every
possible federal dollar paid by Houstonians back to Houston whether that is arts and
culture, transportation, housing, health or welfare. This division will also seek private
funding available to municipalities for encouragement and growth of the arts.
6. Would you consider an additional funding mechanism to fund arts that targets the
city’s changing demography and expanding neighborhoods? If so please provide an
example.
An essential focal point of my plan to encourage start-ups in Houston is to work to create
new opportunities in the multicultural communities for businesses that can benefit our city
as a whole. Part of this will be facilitating artists and cultural endeavors to compliment new
startups and create vibrant diverse neighborhoods for our citizens.
7. Houston art organizations spend millions of dollars a year on arts education that
cannot be funded by HOT dollars. As the government continues to cut funding for
arts education, the demand on our local arts organizations increases. Talk about
what kind of action you would take to advocate and actively work with our state
legislators and HISD Board of Trustees to reinstate arts education funding in our
public schools?
Government at all levels is collaboration. As mayor, I will work with the county, state, and
federal elected officials to find ways to reinstate arts education funding in our public
schools. Look at the new, world class performance stage being constructed in the rebuild of
award-winning Parker Elementary, a music magnet HISD elementary that is more than 50
years old. Schools all over the country are looking at this exemplary commitment to
talented children, who are in those crucial early stages of development. Parker's music
program is well-known among local, state and national music organizations. Parker was
named a National Grammy

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Signature Elementary School in 2002, and its student band and chorus groups routinely
bring home top awards, even in competition with older students.
The magnet program begins in kindergarten with Suzuki violin and cello or music
enrichment.
First-graders can choose violin, cello, piano or rhythm band, and a guitar program starts at
second grade.
The vocal music program starts with first grade and advances to third-grade beginning
chorus and fourth- and fifth-grade advanced chorus. This year, Parker's advanced chorus
will perform Gustav Mahler's "Symphony No. 3" as part of the Houston Symphony
Orchestra's season finale at Jones Hall.
I would also call a stakeholder conference to discuss the future of Houston’s children,
including Children at Risk and the Collaborative for Children. At the center of any
successful city is a strong, prioritized educational system for our children.
As mayor, I would use the full influence of the mayor’s office to assist all school districts
within the city of Houston’s boundaries to return arts educational funding to our public
schools.
8. What action would you take to ensure that our local art organizations and
institutions of all sizes emphasize local artists and support their work?
As mayor, I would spotlight organizations and institutions that emphasize local artists, like
the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo’s School Art Committee. Last year, there were more
than 200,000 entries, which resulted in 15 graduating high school students receive fouryear $18,000 college scholarships to pursue a degree in a subject of their choice at a
Texas college or university. Additionally, I want to add a marketing initiative under my new
business development platform. By providing heightened visibility to organizations that
support local artists, we can nurture them and also encourage other organizations to place
a greater emphasis on our City’s local talent.