Project Row Houses History

Project Row Houses is a neighborhood based art and cultural organization located in Houston's Third Ward. PRH was established in 1993 on a site of 22 abandoned shotgun houses (c. 1930) to connect the work of artists with the revitalization of our community. It was inspired by the work of African-American artist Dr. John Biggers who celebrated the social significance of the shotgun house house community in his paintings. After a decade of successfully generating programs that combine arts and cultrual education, historic preservation, and community development, the future of the Third Ward is threatened by gentrification. To preserve and protect the irreplaceable historic and cultural legacy of our community, PRH spawned a sister organization, the Row House Community Development Corporation.

Together, we're expanding the original campus which now includes 13 units of low-income housing, two of which are long-term artists residencies and two commercial buildings, one of which houses the historic Eldorado Ballroom, an artist-initiated bike cooup, and an artist residency/gallery space.

With the financial and material resources of Houston's corporations, foundations, and art organizations, volunteers have been able to renovate the site of 2500 Holman and the twenty-two shotgun houses that sit upon it. Ten of the twenty-two row houses are dedicated to art, photography, and literary projects, which are installed on a rotating six-month basis. When a group of artists is commissioned, each is given a house to transform in ways that speak to the history and cultural issues relevant to the African-American community. Located in seven houses adjacent to those dedicated to art, The Young Mothers Residential Program provides transitional housing and services for young mothers andtheir children.