Background

The City of Houston has an extensive collection of civic art of great diversity.  Prior to 1999, the city’s collection grew primarily through gift of artwork from private individuals and organizations.  Conservation occurred through the dedicated work of volunteers who raised the necessary funds for maintenance and conservation. In 1997, the Houston Arts Foundation (HAF) established the Adopt-a-Monument Program to foster a sense of civic responsibility for and community ownership of the city’s public art. In 1999, City Council passed an ordinance authorizing 1.75% offunds from eligible capital improvement projects with budgets in excess of $500,000, to be used for acquisition of new artworks and, importantly, maintenance and conservation of a collection of more than 400 works.

Established in 2006, the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) is the city’s non-profit municipal arts agency, on behalf of the city charged with distributing grants to arts organizations, expanding cultural tourism, and managing the city’s public art collection.  HAA and HAF work closely to advance the mission of the Adopt-A-Monument Program.

Program Purpose
The Adopt-a-Monument Program provides an opportunity for individuals, groups of individuals and organizations to make a difference by making a donation to conserve and restore specific works of art. Promoting cultural awareness, especially with the next generation of citizens is a key focus of the Adopt-A-Monument Program.

History
At the recommendation of Mayor Bob Lanier, Bunker Hill Elementary School has participated in this program since 1997. The school adopted the Sam Houston Monument, one of the city’s and Hermann Park’s most famous outdoor sculptures. Installed in 1925, the monument was in danger of collapsing due to its disintegrating granite base. For the past 14 years, students from Bunker Hill have raised money for the conservation of the sculpture through raffles, prize contests, and letter writing campaigns.

To mark the 10^th anniversary of this project – the sculpture was restored and treated at a cost of $18,000, all of which came from the funds raised by the school’s annual donations. Steve Totti, one of the country’s premier art conservators who worked on the team responsible for the Statue of Liberty restoration, oversaw this cleaning. An old sealant was removed and three new layers were painted to protect Sam from future contamination.

Benefits
Students develop an appreciation for public art and enhance their connection to the community and city. They learn about Houston’s past, present, and future and how to make a positive difference in their community

Students develop intimate knowledge of a piece of work and feeling of ownership with the piece of art they are working to preserve and they begin to understand conservation from a scientific perspective, including chemical reactions and erosion and discover the importance of conservation and maintenance

While working together towards a common goal, students have the opportunity to develop creative fund raising activities, such as bake sales, contests, penny wars and raffles, that promote friendly competition. They also have the opportunity to interact with the corporate world by securing sponsorship and support.

In the end, school spirit is fostered and the students extend and apply learning outside of the classroom.

Click here for Educator's Information.

Contacts

Richard Graber
Director of Programs & Services
Houston Arts Alliance
Richard@haatx.com

Janel Badrina
Programs & Services Coordinator
Houston Arts Alliance
Janel@haatx.com

Jimmy Castillo
Civic Art + Design Collection Manager
Houston Arts Alliance
Jimmy@haatx.com