This year, Midtown Houston is doing something it has never done before.

For the first time, Midtown is launching an official Artist in Residency Program—an new investment in local creativity that gives one Houston artist the time, space, and support to build new work while actively connecting with the community along the way.

The idea behind the residency is simple but powerful: when artists are given real resources, they create work that doesn’t only live in a studio, it lives in the neighborhood. It sparks conversation, brings people together, and helps tell the story of a place in a way nothing else can.

That vision is at the heart of Midtown’s inaugural residency cycle, which runs from April through July 2026. Over four months, the selected artist will receive a dedicated workspace with 24/7 access, a $20,000 stipend, and strong promotional support from Midtown’s team and cultural partners. But what makes this opportunity especially meaningful is that it’s designed to be public-facing from the start. Rather than creating behind closed doors, the resident artist will engage directly with Midtown residents, visitors, and stakeholders through a series of community activities that invite people into the creative process.

In many ways, this residency reflects where Midtown is headed. The district has continued to expand its cultural arts programming, and this program marks a major step forward, one that deepens Midtown’s long-term commitment to artists while strengthening connections between art and everyday life in the community.

Throughout the residency, Midtown will document and share key moments of the artist’s journey, from concept development to community engagement to final outcomes. The selected artist will also be introduced during Midtown’s Cultural Arts Mixer, creating another opportunity to connect local creatives, partners, and supporters in one shared space.

Applications opened on February 2, 2026, and will close on March 15, 2026, with an announcement of the first artist to be made the first week of April. From there, the residency will unfold across spring and summer, concluding on July 31.

For emerging and mid-career artists based in Houston or Harris County, this is more than a call for submissions, it’s an invitation to shape Midtown’s cultural landscape in real time. And for Midtown, it’s the beginning of what the district hopes will become a lasting platform for creative growth, community connection, and neighborhood storytelling through the arts.

Midtown has always been a place where people come together. With the launch of its first Artist in Residency Program, it becomes an even stronger place for art to grow right alongside the community.