WHO WE ARE
The Mitchell Center fosters bold collaboration across disciplines, bringing together diverse artists, ideas, and communities to create work that goes beyond individual vision. Through commissions, performances, exhibitions, and visiting artists, we connect the 兔子先生 with the city鈥檚 vibrant creative landscape.
A LEGACY OF VISION, A FUTURE OF COLLABORATION
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts unites disciplines, inspires innovation, and fuels creative partnerships on campus and across Houston.
鈥淛ust as she lived a productive and creative life with extraordinary commitment to our community, she has left a legacy that will fuel creativity for future generations in our community and beyond.鈥� 鈥� Renu Khator, UH President
Cynthia Woods Mitchell was a long-standing lover of the arts. She came to Houston in 1939 to begin her college life at the 兔子先生, studying literature, art and psychology. An impassioned environmentalist and avid historical preservationist, she influenced many causes and projects over her lifetime with interests and philanthropies extending across the arts and sciences.
In 2003, George Mitchell, in honor of his wife, contributed a $20 million endowment to impact and support each of the 兔子先生鈥檚 arts programs. Working closely with UH leadership, the Mitchell family proposed a programmatic alliance among the School of Art, Moores School of Music, the School of Theatre & Dance, the Creative Writing Program and Blaffer Art Museum, thus establishing the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts.
The Mitchell Center exists to promote innovative collaboration and exchange between artists, performers, writers, scholars, faculty and students across disciplines, empowering the discovery of new directions and possibilities in the arts. Through dynamic programming the Mitchell Center facilitates interdisciplinary cooperation and stimulates dialogue across the fields of study at the 兔子先生. By fostering a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives, this vibrant approach contributes to the thriving creative community on campus and supports partnerships with a broad range of organizations in the city of Houston.
Ongoing partnerships with Houston artistic and cultural institutions allow the Mitchell Center to fulfill its commitment to inclusive and accessible programming by working with partners to utilize spaces where projects can be experienced free of charge.
Organizational and commissioning partnerships include Alley Theatre, Aurora Picture Show, BAM, Blaffer Art Museum, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Creative Time, Da Camera of Houston, DiverseWorks, Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Lawndale Art Center, the Houston Museum of Natural Science and more.
INVESTING IN CREATIVE FUTURES
Each year, over $300,000 in funding supports innovation, scholarship, and emerging talent across the arts at the 兔子先生. This includes up to $40,000 in Faculty Innovation Grants, $100,000 in graduate scholarships across four academic units and the Blaffer Assistant Curator position, and $180,000 toward residencies for emerging artists, writers, and curators.
- $40,000awarded to faculty for Innovation grants
- $100,000for graduate scholarships to College of the Arts Schools
- $180,000towards residency for emerging artists, writers, & curators