HII Launches 45 DAYS: EXPLORE THE ARTS IN HOUSTON Today

Houston Is Inspired (HII) is a city-wide arts marketing initiative which strives to bring awareness of and pride in the arts in Houston to Houstonians and Texans alike. HII is launching a new call to action, 45 Days: Explore the Arts in Houston, which represents a concentrated time at the start of the 2014 - 2015 Season to celebrate all that's happening around our city artistically. The goal is to focus Houstonians and Texans on the 45 days from today, September 4 - October 18, 2014 and urge them to get out and take advantage of as many Houston arts offerings as they can in those 45 days.

This is the first time arts organizations, galleries, and artists from across Houston have come together to create a specific call to action for arts patrons to get out and explore the local arts scene. More than 40 entities are participating in the first-ever 45 Days, and each has at least one, if not more, artistic offerings taking place between September 4 and October 18. A list of participants is below. HII urges Houston arts explorers to use #HouArts45 to share their arts experiences (and those who use the hashtag could win free tix at the end of 45 Days).

The second component of 45 Days is to promote cultural tourism to our city. To this end, HII is running a regional advertising campaign, which has been co-oped by the participating entities included in those ads, with Houston Arts Alliance serving as the Sponsoring Underwriter for the ad campaign. There is no fee for an entity to be part of HII or 45 Days. There are paid advertising opportunities for 45 Days for those who wish to do so, but there are numerous free marketing opportunities for 45 Days as well. Houston Is Inspired is comprised of arts organizations, galleries, and individual artists.

A Toast at OKRA

On Thursday, August 28 from 4 - 6pm at OKRA Charity Saloon, the public is invited to join HII to toast the 2014 - 2015 Arts Season and the launch of 45 Days. OKRA is located at 924 Congress, Houston, TX 77002.

45 Days Participants (as of Aug. 21, 2014)

Anya Tish Gallery, Asia Society Texas Center, Bayou City Art Festival, Bayou City Concert Musicals, Blaffer Art Museum, Booker-Lowe Gallery, Brazilian Arts Foundation, BRILLIANT and Tenenbaum & Co, Children's Museum of Houston, Contemporary Craft, CORE, DaCamera, Discovery Green, DiverseWorks, FrenetiCore, Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Ballet, Houston Chamber Choir, Houston Museum District, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Indian Performing Arts - SAMSKRITI, Inprint, Le La Beaux Model & Talent, Looking At Art, Main Street Theater, Mercury, Mildred's Umbrella Theater, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, National Museum of Funeral History, Project Row Houses, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Rothko Chapel, Russian Cultural Center "Our Texas", Stages Repertory Theatre, Texas Arts & Entertainment, Texas Foundation for the Arts, The Alley Theatre, The Ensemble Theatre, The Menil Collection, The Young Houston Magazine, UH Arts Initiative, and University Museum at Texas Southern.