Crisis can strike at any time, sometimes with warning, sometimes without. Recovery can take years, and many people find themselves adjusting to a new normal.
Born from the lessons of Hurricane Harvey and the unique challenges the arts face in disasters, the Disaster Services Division works with partners across Texas and beyond to close preparedness gaps and connect the arts to emergency response systems. Our focus is advocacy, collaboration, and resilience building.
As part of Houston Arts Alliance, we are among the nation’s first year-round programs focused on protecting and strengthening the arts and cultural sector against disasters. We help artists, organizations, and historic sites in greater Houston prepare, respond, and recover while fostering long-term resilience so the creative community thrives for generations.
Our mission is to support Houston’s diverse arts and cultural communities and the neighborhoods they enrich before, during, and after crises.
The Disaster Services Division serves the nine (9) counties within Houston, which include: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, and Montgomery Counties.
In addition to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, “artists” and “creatives” include, but are not limited to, individuals working across disciplines such as performing arts, visual and digital arts, literary arts, cultural heritage, and design. This includes anyone whose work contributes to creating, presenting, or preserving art and culture. Examples include:
Performing artists: actors, dancers, musicians, composers, singers, performers
Visual and digital artists: painters, illustrators, printmakers, animators, mixed media artists, graffiti and street artists
Arts professionals: educators, curators, art therapists, conservators, cultural heritage specialists
Creative industries: architects, engineers, fashion, costume, and textile professionals, film and stage directors, producers, and managers
Writers and authors
Culinary artists
Lighting and sound designers
Michelle Dobbins serves as the Disaster Services Division Director. With 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including 20 years specializing in long-term disaster recovery, Michelle has a proven track record of using strategic planning and community partnerships to drive resilience and create lasting impact. Known for fostering collaboration, Michelle believes that meaningful partnerships are essential to achieving sustainable outcomes and positive social change.
As a progressive thinker, Michelle takes a holistic approach to disaster recovery to understanding the key intersections of preparedness, education, economic development, and community well-being. Committed to empowering individuals and communities, Michelle focuses on strengths-based approaches that build resilience and self-sufficiency.
In addition to expertise in disaster recovery, Michelle brings skills in program monitoring, workforce development, cross-functional team leadership, business process improvement, and change management. Michelle is dedicated to driving transformative, positive change that strengthens communities and equips them to thrive in the face of future challenges.
