At the heart of Houston’s diverse art scene are the artists themselves. Now, with a new mentorship program launched by Discovery Green Conservancy, underrepresented local artists will be provided with skills and resources necessary to expand their work into larger scale and more technology-focused pieces.

Art Lab, Discovery Greens pilot program, aims to reshape “the landscape of public art in Houston by supporting local artists, fostering diversity and spurring innovation within the community.”

Two local artists will receive an opportunity to participate in an apprenticeship, practicum and honorarium of $4,500 to work with a team of mentors that includes renowned artist/engineer Jen Lewin, Weingarten Art Group and Metalab.

The selected artists will have the opportunity to work with Lewin on a yet-to-be announced art installation for the 2024/25 winter season. Through this they will learn invaluable insights on the design build and installation of a large-scale public art project. The creatives will also be invited to submit proposals for a potential 2025 temporary pop-up art installation at Discovery Green, according to a press release. .

“Public art has been at the heart of Discovery Green since its inception 16 years ago, and the park has grown into an open-air gallery with a world-class permanent collection and remarkable temporary installations that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year,” said Discovery Green Conservancy President Kathryn Lott. “Our goal with Art Lab is to keep connecting Houstonians and visitors to inspiring and thought-provoking works while creating opportunities for the incredibly talented artists in our own backyard.”

For those interested in applying visit www.discoverygreen.com/artlab for more information.

Photo courtsey of Discovery Green.