[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6495043,"mediaKeyId","5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15","parentId",5587808,"title","Local arts groups urge city support for studios, recording space and workforce development","audioSeconds",620,"startMs",4407000,"endMs",5027000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15&start=4407&end=5027","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15/thumbnail_4407000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6495043/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Local-arts-groups-urge-city-support-for-studios-recording-space-and-workforce-development","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495043-4580688d7784a3f0ae73a5c168624c81/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150773&Signature=Tt2PZIUgSbyzDveCUdtReUg7u6qw0ubmUzAhXDvImgDU94IvXPQnSc-Y-MfiYjvYuZZUehjxvDEfH8a2RGCQSuqjzsM6poXqIp4YoI8anJ6YfgeVQ3zn5TV0VNSWj-KKCEne1cn-r0Gz3DlGOLtekXTUEyHyA~OchUE5V3ZCOWzs2DGyCTvsHwfOQZAhNttwbQmV0uWVryK15e8it~bFw4HPsK4RBbIPwi0OFfFWf7RY7YI2CZ5BuIvudpv~89c6AKWeMEy5LGUjCz4f1BvsOXv8~jPL2oKus9d9PRxboqj1jy61UKbjanLye9uh5BcBe~FxjresFHHxZkiUVKaj9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-08-13T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives from several Houston arts organizations used the committee meeting to describe gaps in local arts infrastructure and to request opportunities for partnership with the city.

Almeda‑area and Fifth Ward partners said the Deluxe Theater has resumed film screenings after acquiring a new projector and hosted a community block‑party screening of Spike Lee’s Crooklyn; Ameci Ogu, programs manager at the Deluxe Theater, said the venue aims to be a hub for screenings, panels and workshops for Houston filmmakers and asked the committee to publicize upcoming events.

Ruth Villatoro introduced the Houston Association of Producers, a newly formed nonprofit that aims to represent producers’ workforce and infrastructure needs; she said the group will host an industry awards event and stressed producers are often the first local point of contact for incoming productions and require consistent local infrastructure such as edit suites and production services.

Anne Lundy of the Community Music Center described a recently purchased site at 3020 Holman that the center is fundraising to renovate to provide lessons and performance opportunities for primarily Black and Latino children. Craig Hauschel of the Theater District announced Houston Theater Week, a BOGO ticket initiative spanning 21 performing arts organizations and asked that the district office help spread event information.

Amy Gibbs, managing director of Rocco Chamber Orchestra, urged the committee to consider the music sector in film and moving‑image incentives and to support physical recording studios that can accommodate larger ensembles; Gibbs said many current Houston studios lack acoustical space for ensembles larger than about 10 musicians.

Speakers asked for city help connecting to grants, space‑planning efforts (including proposed Greenspoint redevelopment discussions), and outreach to universities and vocational programs to strengthen a production workforce pipeline. Committee staff and council members agreed to accept follow‑up materials and to set up further meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Arts & Culture Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives from the Deluxe Theater, Houston Association of Producers, Community Music Center, Houston Arts Center founder and Rocco Chamber Orchestra described needs for production infrastructure, rehearsal/recording spaces and training pipelines.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6495048,"Neighbors urge halt to Granada Theater demolition; council staff offer to follow up",1231,3460000,4691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15&start=3460&end=4691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15/thumbnail_3460000.jpg","/articles/6495048/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Neighbors-urge-halt-to-Granada-Theater-demolition-council-staff-offer-to-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495048-3746356ca77d3dc51280ccdb43688f7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150773&Signature=KDLtsuIu9-K1PrGqVTGAo6wmKo9Co2q7rqHx0GanLqcfvIQdGLwYO~oYtZJ7Sqxg1I2R7Ft9BTQMWHatRd7GD5JVzg5UAlyAqpERukZqgoVWr-DClOpTLmlEhsDygO4MukDOf0XukqkHPfQ8w46fVPwrhfYFEE9pwE8W3pf6L1FrzvDWTnlhKaLDGaslhwzHuwe~PhYbB5gmn8bkyVaIBaG4LXI0KcBiPiUTD3EuRnK0o~XxeNAGBAZIOBk4J5g5CbFUhTwDJxWs6Mo5gvisOuoTVJOFvDCNQGpmzeH11l2AlBL6yKsO4j2SGdaDwuJkVigAbt5pDStl7vINfVmPqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents, artists and planning consultants used the public‑comment period to urge committee members to intervene after learning that the Granada Theater in the East‑Jensen neighborhood is slated for demolition.

Veronica \"Ronnie\" Cabrera, who said she operated an art center in the neighborhood with support from a 2020 Kelly Clarkson/HEB award, told the committee the theater \"is about to get demolished by the end of this month or maybe next month\" and asked council staff to \"halt the demolition\" so the community can be informed and pursue historic review or alternatives. Cabrera said the nonprofit purchaser does not yet have a completed capital campaign and that neighbors were not adequately notified.

Noe Moreno of Art in the Heart and Carlos Espinosa of CGA Planning and Design said the Granada is a cultural landmark with a long history of Spanish‑language film exhibition and Hispanic cultural significance. Moreno said the theater is \"a symbol of art and film and also of Hispanic culture\" and asked the city to preserve the building. Espinosa said neighborhood leaders and consulting planners are preparing a historic‑preservation outreach plan and requested the city's assistance to expedite review; he reported the community believes there are fewer than 30–60 days before demolition could begin.

Council and staff responses: committee members directed staff to connect community representatives with Councilmember Mario Castillo’s office (the district representative identified in the meeting) and suggested the neighborhood meet with permit and historic‑preservation staff to explore options. A staff member in the meeting agreed to engage with Cabrera and the community and to review permitting steps; council staff indicated they would follow up.

Speakers urged a temporary administrative pause on demolition permits to allow time for community education, possible fundraising, and historic review. The committee did not take any formal vote or issue an immediate moratorium; instead, staff said they would coordinate follow‑up conversations with the district office and affected community groups.","Multiple residents and community groups told the Arts & Cultural Affairs Committee that a locally significant Granada Theater in East‑Texan/Jensen neighborhood faces imminent demolition and asked the city to halt permits and review options for preservation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6495053,"Film commission and local media groups push Houston as production hub; new state incentives highlighted",336,2019000,2355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15&start=2019&end=2355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15/thumbnail_2019000.jpg","/articles/6495053/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Film-commission-and-local-media-groups-push-Houston-as-production-hub-new-state-incentives-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495053-7b741fee2b3c1b9bd45c5d59f0e4dad6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150773&Signature=QFSZaDDJ0f9WJeL2IeidN6J3AyUn3PIc3W14ljdoH8SwDS3jDVUoFSnQEGnNc6LmS4fWxrwqbCIRZPLoFQ3oO~hsNJFTxdwilOv7GOw1Sr~NchWCFvU8FhWfAHnkDfq3Mu5OzLvgjfS5XDlZrSwtbZZlxblBtsbWPBwa9u~16vd9Cn4gqn7ljOeCrBK7pBJUMN05Fg6bNYL54j~wimgCIF35DcoI6jQ1Tfb26lHndCb-kj8MjnFBRfUWF1C15ypcMBIBES2843NKTO9V5v6V50fSPUQ-jRWMFbIJ~AHmbFuqAS1SKVTQni3foZ1T7HbwaQa~jt2crSFi1~LvKlLyTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alfred Cervantes, executive director of the Houston Film Commission, and representatives of Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP) and the Houston Cinema Arts Society told the council committee that Houston is positioning itself to attract more film, television and media production through promotion, workforce development and the new Texas incentive law SB 22.

Cervantes described the Film Commission’s mission: \"We are here to promote and market the greater Houston area as a production destination,\" he said. He noted an above‑average local economic impact last year, which he quantified as about \"$81,000,000\" in local film spending, and said Houston’s diverse locations and proximity to Galveston provide a wide range of looks for productions.

Speakers from SWAMP and the Houston Cinema Arts Society outlined the Houston Media Conference, now in its third year, which the organizations said is growing from about 300 attendees in 2023 to an anticipated more than 1,000 in 2025. Katie Kriegen Rios of the Houston Cinema Arts Society and Randi Ramsey of SWAMP described a program of more than 100 panelists, a vendor floor that has expanded to include local studios and national equipment vendors, and sessions on financing, postproduction, distribution and the new Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (SB 22).

Cervantes and conference organizers briefed the committee on SB 22: Cervantes called the measure a “game changer,” describing a dedicated incentive pool of $300 million every two years over a 10‑year period and saying the program makes long‑term planning for studio and series production more viable. Conference organizers said they will include sessions explaining SB 22 and practical steps to access rebate‑style incentives.

Local industry leaders asked the committee to support infrastructure for production. Ruth Villatoro, a producer and founder of the Houston Association of Producers, said the city lacks easily discoverable edit suites and other infrastructure used by incoming productions and invited council members to meet with the producers’ group. Speakers also described local workforce development efforts linking high‑school and university programs to production‑career pathways.

Committee members asked for budget detail and use of tourism/marketing dollars. Cervantes said the film commission maintains a line item within Houston First’s marketing budget used to advertise Houston to studios and to sponsor local organizations; he also said Houston First provides sponsorship funds to SWAMP and the Houston Cinema Arts Society. Council members requested more precise budget breakdowns and additional follow‑up on studio and infrastructure planning, including local projects such as Greenspoint redevelopment mentioned by staff as a proposed studio site.","Houston Film Commission and local media nonprofits presented the Houston Media Conference and said new state incentives (SB 22) and local workforce and studio development could boost production and jobs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6495057,"Houston Airports showcase new public art, mayor’s cultural office reorganization highlighted",228,56000,284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15&start=56&end=284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5587808-15d2198062af85a6856d9756be299b15/thumbnail_56000.jpg","/articles/6495057/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-Airports-showcase-new-public-art-mayors-cultural-office-reorganization-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495057-1fd747ea69920a59ad4f2299e94a37e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150773&Signature=TpPIG8OG5YY~h~lq9D8zEeXxLCDurZ839BfXwprSavpmLXIZ-gbhfclm~2IDjCzrAFm8Bdo0lLyOMUVLvuql0lufYjB2p9D1xqV~913gVputxtpiILklL59wGRkKr81vtXFt0E8zfJZTi6Y8-QhpVKVi0VtCGmiVZ-TbtcVnO63zk9Ul2THoYm8uf1QRE7T9edY8itmwC7h7sf3uwLx8Sb1mAQVNO-H7~9nmlkZggMiMzoG166jwtkO6J~b2TT6mG8v7JIrSZYBu37~TmInipqd3PJkKOZQ0pWuy8J~uA-HGiD4BO4IfCl2okT5C0tozMe9hPW~qo~TPTd8hSTcnYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alton Delaney, chief curator for the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, told the City Council’s Arts & Cultural Affairs Committee that Houston’s airport art program expanded significantly across both Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports and that the mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) is working to stabilize contracts and grant distributions.

Delaney said the airport served \"over 60,000,000 passengers\" last year and stressed the value of placing art in high‑traffic public spaces. He summarized recent projects at the new international terminal — including Regina Silveira’s Paradise terrazzo and glass installation, a series of six gate commissions featuring local and Latin American artists, a large Dale Chihuly installation described as the airport’s largest, and newly relocated and conserved works at Hobby Airport.

The update included program details: the airport’s artist‑in‑residence program continued through the pandemic and now operates at both airports; the airport purchased 30 portable works to circulate through terminals; and the airport expanded live‑music programming called “Harmony in the Air” to four stages with daily performances.

Delaney also described steps taken to clear outstanding administrative issues in MOCA and partner contracts. He said outstanding invoices for city‑hall exhibitions have been paid and that the Houston Arts Foundation is nearing completion on 13 conservation projects for city‑owned art. He said round 1 of the mayor’s HOT (hotel occupancy tax) initiative grants had awarded 27 grants totaling $117,000 and a separate set of 13 city initiative grants totaled $128,000, for a combined $245,000 distributed in the first round.

On staffing, Delaney said MOCA posted an arts administrator opening that drew 286 applications and that finalists have been identified and are awaiting final approval. He said the office has established a workspace in the Legacy Room on the mezzanine and that MOCA is \"open for business.\" Delaney encouraged council members and residents to provide suggestions on how to program the space and on temporary exhibitions in the connector gallery.

Committee members asked about selection processes and funding: Councilmember Sally Alcorn asked whether portable acquisitions and large commissions were reviewed by panels; Delaney explained portable works are purchased from an open call scored by a panel, while major commissions use a request for qualifications followed by a request for proposals and selection of three finalists for site‑specific designs. Alcorn also asked for clarification on how the 1.75% civic‑art allocation is applied; Delaney said that the city ordinance designates that 1.75% of vertical construction budgets be allocated for civic art and that those funds are channeled through the Houston Arts Alliance.

Delaney concluded by noting awards and partnerships: the airport art program was recognized by Skytrax as the world’s best airport art program for a third consecutive year, and MOCA and Houston Arts Alliance will continue to develop temporary exhibitions and grant programming across the city.

Committee members and staff requested follow‑up materials on grant processes and public interpretive information; Delaney said the city and Houston Arts Alliance websites are being updated and that staff will share more detailed materials with council offices.","Chief curator Alton Delaney outlined expansions to Houston airports’ art program, described recent acquisitions and grants, and said the mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs has been reorganized and is hiring an arts administrator.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Local arts groups urge city support for studios, recording space and workforce development

Neighbors urge halt to Granada Theater demolition; council staff offer to follow up

Film commission and local media groups push Houston as production hub; new state incentives highlighted

Houston Airports showcase new public art, mayor’s cultural office reorganization highlighted