Program areas at SPA
Performing Arts Houston offers culturally diverse programming ranging from world-renowed music, dance, theater, speakers and a variety of other performance-based events that engage a wide range of audience demographics. Programming is partially underwritten by foundations, corporations, and individual donors to achieve the goal of making these world-class performances affordable for all audiences. Our 2022-2023 season showcased our first full season of live performances since the covid-19 pandemic. We were thrilled to present 29 domestic and international artists in 44 performances, complemented by numerous community outreach programs. From dance theater of harlem to mariachi herencia de mexico, our artists reflected the rich diversity of our community. Watching our audiences experience the talents and artistry presented throughout our season highlighted one of our core beliefs that when we experience the Arts together, we build and strengthen community.
In late april, Performing Arts Houston presented a free concert for our community at miller outdoor theater in Houston. Over 2500 people experienced the magnetic energy of adg7 (aka ak dan gwang chil), a nine-piece south korean ensemble who draws equal inspiration from the korean folk styles of gut and minyo and the contemporary eurocentric stylings of modern k-pop. Adg7's surprising mix of these musical influences thrilled the audience with its raucous, danceable energy.
Performing Arts Houston's education and community programs leverage the diverse talents of the remarkable artists we present on our stages through a multitude of school and community events that promote access, discover, and creativity in the Performing Arts. In our 2022-2023 season, we offered a series of free conversations between our visiting artists and local creators, students and audiences alike on our stages, out in the community or virtually through podcasts and on-demand videos. Our in-person extended programming featured master classes across numerous artistic disciplines, giving local students and talent an opportunity to learn from our extraordinary artists. In march, over 2000 houston-area students enjoyed the energy, non-stop action and percussive sounds of stomp at a dedicated student matinee. Our in-school residency program, the colloborative Arts project, taught by local teaching artists, impacted over 400 students in the dance & visual art classrooms of area schools. Additionally, our long-running student art contest, which draws its theme every year from our main stage programming, featured over 650 submissions, a celebratory awards presentation, and a traveling city-wide display of winning artwork to highlight the talents of area students. Our new/now Houston artist commissioning project awarded four commissions that supported local artists and collaborations in the creation of new artistic work which premiered at the cullen theater of the wortham center for the Performing Arts. This program, now in its third year of supporting the extraordinary work of Houston artists, celebrates artists' voices throughout our community with a focus on bipoc artists and artists in other marginalized communities.