The Project Row Houses (PRH) mission—to be a catalyst for transformation and enrich communities through engagement, art, and direct action—is drawn from our founders’ vision. Thirty years ago, 7 Black artists in Houston’s Third Ward established a community platform for artists historically marginalized in traditional art world spaces. They also sought to preserve the culture and history in one of the city’s oldest Black neighborhoods through the practice of socially-engaged art.

PRH’s founding program, the Public Art Program, provides opportunities for artists to take risks and experiment in their practice while exploring new ways of working outside of the studio.

Through learning the complex history of the neighborhood, connecting with Third Ward residents, and understanding the changes that come with working within this context, artists create site-specific installations that live inside the art houses or in public spaces.

PRH’s longest running program Artist Rounds is open twice a year in March and October during which seven of the historic row houses on Holman Street are open to visiting artists to install works that address a topic, question, or challenge facing the community.

Artists are given very little guidance beyond that curatorial prompt and can change the space in any way that doesn’t affect structural elements and can be reversed when the round ends. Throughout the run, artists host community events centered around their installations.