Houston, Texas (KTRK) – We’re in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month and we continue to share stories that impact our community. ABC13 highlights the Houston Arts Alliance, and we’ve got more about who they are and how they’re working to reach more Hispanic artists since discovering a gap between the organization and the city’s demographics.
Patrick Medrano is a painter and sculptor, and Sonia Flores describes herself as a mixed media artist. Both are different types of creatives, but they come together to paint a better idea of how the Houston Arts Alliance has helped them in their artistic journeys to inspire other artists, especially Hispanics.
Flores said that, as a recent scholarship recipient, she felt that her work was not only appreciated, but validated.
“Everything I do is serious business,” Flores said. “Having the grant allowed me, it gave me the opportunity to put value in my work and not just as a hobby and take my art seriously.”
On the other hand, Medrano explained how he knows firsthand what young artists may face now.
“Most of the time we sit trying to figure out how to spend eight hours a day, young artists, at a job that gives us nothing in our soul so we can go home and produce art that means something to us. It’s hard to balance that, and with organizations like the Houston Arts Alliance, they They make it very possible by giving you a head start.”
Michelle Lil Farah said she would love to hear the positive feedback, but there is still a lot of work to be done. As Vice Chair of the HAA Board of Directors, she said there is a lot of grant money since nearly $15 million is awarded annually, but not enough applicants that reflect the demographics of our city.
Data from the Houston City Department of Health shows that Hispanics make up approximately 41% of the city’s population. However, Lil Farah said equity is one of the main pillars of the alliance, and after looking at this type of data, they identified a divide between the organization and the Hispanic community.
That’s why members of the organization are working to translate their resources into Spanish and even simplify their application process.
Lil Farah said, “You know and I know we are the majority of the population here, and so we should be the majority of applicants and the majority of grantees. That’s what we’re working for.”
It’s also possible, she said, that the arts community doesn’t know who they are and how they can help. Medrano added that it is also possible that young, up-and-coming artists in certain communities do not see the organization’s mission due to their environment.
“If you don’t have access to a computer or a library,” he said, “you don’t have access to knowledge and resources.”
Since receiving a grant in 2007, Medrano has worked on a number of projects and was recently named Featured Artist for the upcoming nonprofit fundraising event. He’s working on a piece now called “The Circle,” a five-arm puppet designed to be interactive.
As for Flores, she recently showed us a macrame palette she created as part of a larger collection called Nebula One. She said all the materials were paid for with a grant and explained the story behind the colorful piece.
Her latest installation is already on its way since receiving offers from other galleries to showcase her work. Flores said this is the perfect example of how the Houston Arts Alliance has helped her grow her craft.
“When you run out of money, there are no opportunities, as long as you consistently pay it,” she said. “You stay relevant and stay in the public eye.”
This is also her secret to making her voice heard and being recognized for her work but not before finding the inspiration and confidence to believe that others can be the next recipients of the scholarship.
Medrano added, “You can imagine you’re struggling, and suddenly an organization says there’s $6 million to see what you can do. That’s the strength of the artist.”
For more information, visit Houston Arts Alliance website
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