HOUSTON - Acres Homes announces seven arts and cultural projects selected for the Visit My Neighborhood program of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Complete Communities initiative—the first of the five pilot communities to announce its programs.

A panel of community leaders awarded seven grants totaling $63,750 for events in Acres Homes from September to December 2018. Funding for the grant program is provided by the City of Houston using Hotel Occupancy Tax proceeds dedicated to the arts.

“Houston is a city of cultures that make our neighborhoods fun and interesting places to live and visit,” said Debbie McNulty, director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “The mayor’s signature Complete Communities initiative is capitalizing on our own local assets with more ways to explore Houston and strengthening community bonds.”

Complete Communities is a pilot program designed to revitalize Houston’s under-resourced communities and involves working closely with their residents.

Acres Homes hosted an orientation session for artists and creative individuals, created an application process, selected a community screening panel and awarded grants working with the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center Advisory Committee, Inc.

The community panel included Angeanette Thibodeaux, Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), Clifford Johnson, Lone Star College Victory Center, John Meade, Houston Community College, Pat Jasper and Meagan Alexander.

Visit My Neighborhood is a pilot program that allows Houston Arts Alliance to partner with community-based organizations to expand arts and cultural experiences for residents and visitors based on the knowledge and expertise in the local community. This program is offered in the five Complete Communities, Acres Homes, Gulfton, Near Northside, Second Ward and Third Ward. Each partnership reflects the communities.

Add these events to your calendar, follow the progress on Facebook of Ulavia Dilworth (@AcresHomesThe Documentary), the Acres Homes Storyteller and share your experiences using the hashtag, #VMNAcresHomes. Congratulations to the Acres Homes Visit My Neighborhood grantees:

Sandra Price presents a celebration of the Acres Homes Black Cowboys History, Culture, & Artistic Appeal with a Trail Ride/Parade, Show & Tell, Zydeco and Country Western music event in early November 2018. The Trail Ride/Parade will ride down West Montgomery through the Acres Homes community. Award amount $7,779

Priscilla Graham presents the 21st Century Freedom Colonies Exhibit featuring Acres Homes on October 13, 2018 at Lincoln City Park Community Center. The 21st Century Freedom Colonies Exhibit featuring Acres Homes is a visual editorial documentary designed to create awareness, inform, educate, and stimulate learning through positive imaging and storytelling using photography and cinematography. Award amount $9,971

SPARK will be re-SPARKing the park at Osborne Elementary with Marsha Dorsey-Outlaw creating the new mosaic entryway illustrating pioneers in Black Entrepreneurship from 1910 - 1980, presented by the Acres Homes Historical Society to be completed October 31, 2018. Award amount $10,000

Community Music Center of Houston presents a free community and family friendly Music Festival with Houston’s own Keeshea Pratt Band, the Conrad Johnson Orchestra, the Soul Strings and L.T. and the Zydeco Mob on Saturday, September 1, 2018 from 3:00pm-6:00pm at Lincoln Park, 927 Glenshaw, Houston, TX 77088. Award amount $10,000

Houston Museum of African American Culture will install an art display in the Acres Home Chamber of Commerce reception area from September to November 2018. HMAAC will also provide programming each month under the title CIVICS in Acres Home to allow residents and visitors to have discussions around the experiences of service in local government. Award amount $10,000

Jessica Diane Simien will give members of the community an opportunity to be a part of the creation of a temporary pixel/pop art style mural. This will be constructed November 17, 2018 at Sylvester Turner Park. Award amount $6,000

Norma Jo Thomas presents The 4-4, Reclaiming Our Artistic Heritage: The Acres Homes Cultural Renaissance Festival (ĀHCR -pronounced Acre - Fest), four months of Performing & Visual Arts mini-fests and workshops culminating in one grand festival December 14-16, 2018 at the C. Lee Turner Performing Arts Center at M.C. Williams Middle School. Award amount $10,000

For more information about any of these events, contact acreshomesvmn@gmail.com

To learn more about the Complete Communities cultural strategy and other City cultural programs visit, https://www.houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs and follow the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs on Facebook @HoustonMOCA.