Fresh Arts, Sawyer Yards, and Houston Arts Alliance have partnered to host a Pop-Up Art Show & Fundraiser for the artists of Winter Street Studios. We were able to raise over $11K from this event that will go to the HAA Emergency Fund.
On December 20, 2022, a devastating fire took place at Winter Street Studios causing damage to countless artworks, art equipment, personal belongings, and extensive structural damage to the building. This has directly impacted the 77 studios and 100+ artists that were housed in this building who will be displaced for at least 6 months.
The Disaster Services program of the Houston Arts Alliance has activated its Emergency Relief Fund to provide stipends to those affected by the tragic fire at Winter Street Studios. HAA is currently contributing $15,000 from its reserves to the relief effort to help where it is needed. 53 artists have reported damages of $1,125,000, but about 50 more haven’t yet reported their damage – so we expect that number to go up substantially.
The Emergency Relief Fund has received 307 donations in the amount of $48,423.10. Our local Houston community has met the challenges of this incident with open arms and we have received an outpouring of support.
Over 100 local artists donated artwork for our fundraiser, and 100% of all art sales will go towards the Houston Arts Alliance Emergency Relief Fund, which will directly provide stipends to the artists affected by the fire at Winter Street Studios. General donations to the Houston Arts Alliance Emergency Relief Fund are still being accepted.
Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) is facilitating the Emergency Relief Fund that is providing stipends to the artists of Winter Street Studios. They are also coordinating with TX-CERA to provide art conservation resources and materials for free for the Winter Street Studios artists.
Fresh Arts is coordinating recovery resources and information to provide the Winter Street artists. They are coordinating workshops and information sessions with accounts, lawyers, and insurance experts to help these artists make their next steps. The Fresh Arts office is also located in the Winter Street Studios and has been displaced; they aren’t receiving any of the proceeds from the fundraiser or emergency fund.
Sawyer Yards is in the process of helping the displaced artist find other spaces to use. They are also providing the Winter Street artists space in the Silver Street Studios Warehouse on Second Saturday – on February 11, 2023 – to sell their art. Sawyer Yards has also put the Dreamscape exhibition – the exhibition that was being shown during the time of the fire – will be presented digitally and accompanied by an exhibition statement.
Follow HAA (@houstonartsalliance), Fresh Arts (@freshartsorg), Sawyer Yards (@sawyeryards) on social media for ongoing updates on Winter Street Studios.