FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 15, 2015
Project Row Houses, UH Mitchell Center Using Art to Connect Campus, Community
‘Performing the Neighborhood’ to Spotlight Performance-Based Art
HOUSTON, Sept. 4, 2015 – Project Row Houses (PRH) and The University of Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts are joining forces to present “Performing the Neighborhood.” Starting in 2016, this five-year partnership will bring nationally acclaimed artists to Houston to deliver performance-based works that explore Houston’s historic Third Ward community.
During each year of “Performing the Neighborhood,” a guest artist will create a new performance-based work that is inspired by the Third Ward and its relationships with the city and neighboring University of Houston. Works generated through this partnership will be presented during the Mitchell Center’s spring CounterCurrent Festival.
Houston-born jazz star and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Jason Moran will be the first artist to contribute his talents to this initiative.
“For years, the Mitchell Center and Project Row Houses have sought to deepen the connection between UH and the Third Ward through arts events,” said Mitchell Center Executive Director Karen Farber. “Through this partnership, we will have an annual occasion to host visionary artists such as Jason Moran in performance-based works that activate, animate, and communicate.”
Moran’s participation in “Performing the Neighborhood” is in conjunction with his “Homecoming” residency (presented by the Mitchell Center and Da Camera). Future “Performing the Neighborhood” residents include visual/sound artist Kevin Beasley, performer/writer Okwui Okpokwasili and choreographer Kyle Abraham.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the connection between the student body of UH and the surrounding community, Houston’s Historic Third Ward. Drawing on the rich history of the area, we are attempting to engage people who live here and continue to activate Third Ward sites by presenting large-scale, site-specific projects that highlight the local area while inviting all of Houston to experience a project from a nationally recognized performer”, said PRH Public Art Director Ryan Dennis. “We want to make this a rich, immersive experience for all parties, and this is a great way to do so!”
Press Release (PDF; 321KB)
About Project Row Houses
Project Row Houses (PRH) is a community-based arts and culture non-profit organization in Houston’s northern Third Ward, one of the city’s oldest African American neighborhoods. The mission of Project Row Houses is to be the catalyst for transforming community through the celebration of art and African-American history and culture. Learn more at ProjectRowHouses.org
About the Mitchell Center
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts is dedicated to interdisciplinary collaboration across the performing, visual, and literary arts. Based at the University of Houston, the Mitchell Center commissions and produces new works, presents public performances and exhibitions, offers curriculum and scholarships, and hosts residencies with renowned visiting artists from throughout the world. The Center is home to the Mitchell Artist Lecture, an annual event featuring a pioneer in contemporary art-making, as well as CounterCurrent, an annual spring festival of new performance. The Mitchell Center forms an alliance among five departments at UH: the School of Art, Moores School of Music, School of Theatre & Dance, Creative Writing Program, and Blaffer Art Museum. For more information visit mitchellcenterforarts.org.
