Artists and Creative Individuals in Texas

The Support for Artists and Creative Individuals (SACI) grant program is managed by the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA), a local arts and culture organization contracted by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs in Houston. The SACI program is one of HAA’s annual competitive grant opportunities and is fully funded through cash on hand derived from the City of Houston’s Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). The HOT supports arts and cultural programming that benefits both the local community and visitors. This program was developed in response to community requests for more stability in grant funding, ensuring applicants are awarded from secured, rather than projected, funds. SACI provides grants of up to $15,000 to support the creation, completion, and public presentation of new works by artists and creative practitioners based in the City of Houston. It is designed to fund projects across all artistic disciplines, including but not limited to music, visual arts, performing arts, digital media, literary arts, textile design, conservation, and creative entrepreneurship. Eligible creative entrepreneurs may include hairstylists, nail artists, arts administrators, and others demonstrating artistic merit and community engagement. Applications must describe a specific project and include a clear public presentation component within Houston city limits. Events must be accessible to the public either through a live in-person venue or virtual format and may not be restricted by invitation-only or exclusive access. Eligible applicants must be individual artists aged 18 or older and residents of the City of Houston throughout the entire grant period. Applicants are required to provide valid documentation to verify residency and age, as well as submit work samples and a detailed program proposal. Applications must be submitted online through the HAA Online Grants Portal, and each project is limited to one application. Collaborative projects are allowed if one artist serves as the primary applicant, and collaborators meet eligibility requirements. Fiscal sponsorship is not required for SACI applicants but may be used if needed. The public presentation must occur within the grant year, which runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Applications will be reviewed through a multi-step process including eligibility verification, peer panel scoring based on artistic merit, public benefit, and stewardship of resources, followed by approvals from the HAA Grants Committee, Board of Directors, and the City of Houston’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Applicants will be scored on a 100-point scale with categories including artistic programming (45 points), public benefit (30 points), and stewardship of public resources (25 points). Specific components include narrative questions on program details, community engagement, inclusivity, marketing strategy, artist compensation, and timeline. Applications open on June 16, 2025, and close on July 25, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Grant notifications will be sent via email, and final awards are contingent upon approval by the City of Houston. Grantees are required to acknowledge City funding in promotional materials and submit a final report within 30 days after the project ends. Questions or technical support requests should be directed to HAA’s Support Desk or by calling 713-527-9330 during business hours.

Use your authentic voice. Clearly define the project timeline and community relevance. Ensure that artist payments are clearly shown in the budget.