Arts / Cultural Sites

Texas Southern University
Founded in 1947 so that many African American Texans could utilize their veteran’s educational benefits; since then Hispanic Americans have also availed themselves to this tremendous educational institution; the Thurgood Marshall School of Law has graduated more than 50% of practicing African American lawyers in Texas; 100% of a recent School of Pharmacy class passed the national pharmacy license exam; also features an upcoming School of Business on this well maintained campus (photos) of 10,000 students; world renowned artist John Biggers teaches in the School of Art named in his honor (photo); Carol H Simms Sculpture Garden in the center of the campus is also a must visit; TSU was recently ranked by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s best universities; 3100 Cleburne Street;
713-313-7011; www.tsu.edu

Starving Poets
This energetic group showcases mostly regional poets and musicians and sometimes artists from the across the country; since they perform at many venues and you don’t want to miss their slammin Poetic House Party, be sure to check their calendar of events; 409-839-8187; http://www.starvingpoets.org

Traditional African Art Gallery
Contains a collection of African art acquired over the past four decades; composed of over 200 works from East, Central and West Africa, the collection is varied and vast enough in it scope to allow the study of true African traditions and concepts; Robert J Terry Library, Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne; 713-313-7149

Barbara Jordon and Mickey Leland Archives
Robert J Terry Library is home to archives which chronicle local, state, national and international achievements of TSU’s most famous alumnae who also represented the 18th District in the US Congress; Barbara Jordan (1936-1996) was the first African American from Texas elected to the US Congress after Reconstruction; a masterful orator, debate team captain and constitutional scholar she is best remembered nationally when arguing for the impeachment of Richard Nixon and delivering the keynote address at the 1976 Democratic Convention; perhaps her greatest compliment is the respect received from arch-conservative rivals who dared not to publicly debate her; due to multiple sclerosis she retired from the US Congress after three terms in 1979; Mickey Leland (1944-1989); before he died during a humanitarian mission to Ethiopia, he filled Barbara Jordan’s seat and went on to chair the Congressional Black Caucus for the 99th US Congress; he successfully pushed for stronger sanctions that helped lead to the collapse of Apartheid; a federal office building downtown named in his honor since; TSU Campus at 3100 Cleburne Street; 713-313-7011

Project Row Houses
This collective of 22 restored "Shotgun" row houses is nurturing and reaffirming shelter for artists-in-residence, community services, and community galleries for primarily African American art; a major urban revitalization success story; guided tours available by appt; 2658 Delmar Blvd; 713-533-1003

Shape Community Center
A staple in the Third Ward with its indoor community programs and summer youth programs; each year the Shape is the proud coordinator of the city’s Kwanzaa Celebration and the annual Pan-African Cultural Festival attended by thousands; 3815 Live Oak; 713-521-0641

The Ensemble Theatre
The late George Hawkins founded this theatre in 1976 as a touring company with a mission to preserve African American artistic expression, entertain and enrich a diverse community; the theatre enjoyed overwhelming growth in the 1980s when it moved to its current home and has since become a distinguished resident theatre able to purchase its facility in 1995; this theater and performers can hold its own with any regional theatre in the nation; a sample of their performances which appeal to all ages and across cultures includes: Tap Dance Kid, Black Nativity, Johnny B. Goode, and Black Eagles, fee-based workshops and master classes offered for children to gain confidence and enhance creativity by participating in theatre and for students to refine their theatrical skills; year round season with limited parking nearby; 3535 Main; 713- 520-0055

Community Artists Collective
This nearly block long building stone building is home for many African American artists and their exhibits; to see exhibits and artists schedule an appointment by call 11a-3p, Tue-Sat; sometimes the collective also hosts fundraising events; 1501 Elgin at La Branch; 713-523-1616

African Cultural Exchange
Founded by Nanteza Kakembo, this exchange focuses on cultural arts and educational programs between African countries and the Americas; presents history of Africa from antiquity to modern times; with children programs are accessible regardless of race or creed; Pearl of the Nile Valley performers fulfill objectives of the exchange with rites of passage, youth soccer, after-school cultural arts programs, sponsor of the Africa Day Festival in early May; 9-5pm Mon-Fri; 4101 San Jacinto, #224; 713-521-1797

M.E.D.I.A. Performing Arts Center
Checkout Afro-jazz and community art exhibits; most performances are in the nearby Houston Community College; popular with students; also located here is Kuumba House This non-profit multi-cultural arts center hosts theatrical, musical, and dance productions; children and adults can take African dance or introductory tap, ballet, Jazz and tumbling classes; 3412 LaBranch, Suite 10;
713-526-7966 and Kuumba House 713-524-1079

Family Fun/Downtown District- Looking for something to do visit Downtown Houston 30 organizations headquartered in downtown Houston www.houstondowntown.com/home/default.asp.

Alley Theatre
One of the oldest professional theater companies in the country, as its names implies, began in an alley; no longer roughing it, the theatre has long since moved to a post-modernist structure housing two stages; the troupe was awarded a Tony Award as an outstanding regional theater; 713-228-8421; http://www.alleytheatre.org/
Jones Hall
Home of the Houston Symphony and Society for the Performing Arts; a venue for international solo artists, orchestras and dance companies; 713-224-7575, http://www.houstonsymphony.org/ and
713-227-4772, http://www.spahouston.org/

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Recently opened, this iconic structure features a sweeping glass facade that faces the downtown skyline and a 2,650-seat auditorium with a star-studded ceiling, home for Theatre Under the Stars; the popular Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) troup calls it home; destined to be a popular venue for touring R&B and Jazz artists; 713-678-5440; http://www.tuts.com/
 

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston features art from Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas from antiquity to the present; includes an outdoor sculpture garden, the Glassell School of Art, many temporary exhibitions and public programs, and weekly showings of Hollywood classics and foreign films; MFAH is the nations sixth largest art museum; the Straus Collection of Renaissance and 18th-century art and the Beck Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art are superb; works by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and Paul Gaugin are equally inspiring; 1001 Bissonnet; 713-639-7300; http://www.mfah.org/
Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston
Housed in a metal-sheathed parallelogram; changing exhibits of modern-day masters, thrill enthusiastic patrons; 5216 Montrose at Bissonnet; 713-284-8250; http://www.camh.org/

The Menil Collection
World-renowned art collectors John and Dominique de Menil, created this exceptional 15,000-piece museum of Byzantine art to the 20th-century schools of Cubism, Minimalism, Surrealist works; 1515 Sul Ross; 713-525-9400; http://www.menil.org/

Rothko Chapel
The eight-sided structure adorned only by 14 paintings by modern artist Mark Rothko; reflecting pool in front contains Barnet Newman's memorial sculpture to the Martin Luther King, Jr. is called "Broken Obelisk"; 3900 Yupon at Sul Ross, 713-524-9839; http://www.menil.org/rothko.html

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