Third Ward Houston
The Third Ward Cultural District (TWCD), officially created by the Texas Commission on the Arts in September 2020 and managed by Project Row Houses, supports Third Ward residents and artists by activating healing spaces and fostering creativity. It provides a haven for artists most in need of a safe place to create and thrive while inviting global visitors to connect with and participate in the community's rich cultural work.
The Third Ward Cultural Arts District exists to preserve, protect, inspire, and share the artistic and cultural legacy of the Historic Third Ward with current and future generations of artists and creatives through innovative arts and cultural engagement.
For the latest news and updates check out the district's website.
Opportunity for All
For community residents, cultural district designation is an opportunity to develop an environment that fosters creativity, protecting the community's history while securing its future. Despite challenges with rising housing costs, taxes and the like, Third Ward community surveys report that the majority of residents are intent on staying in the area. They cite:
- Connections to the collective memory of Juneteenth celebrations in Emancipation Park
- Community bonds cultivated through generations of participation of historic local churches
- An ingrained sense of identity stemming from the talented artists who have brought their art and awareness to the Third Ward such as John Biggers, Phylicia and Debbie Allen and both Solange and Beyonce Knowles.
