Request for Proposals
Jones Artist Awards Program at Houston Endowment Inc.
Response Deadline: August 24th, 2025
Call Summary
Weingarten Art Group invites artists who live in or are originally from the Greater Houston area to submit artwork for Houston Endowment’s 2026 Jones Artist Awards Program. The Program, entering its fourth year, was created by Houston Endowment in 2023 to recognize local artists and reflect the many stories and perspectives of Greater Houston’s residents. Jones Artist Awards recipients receive individual grants and the opportunity to exhibit their work in Houston Endowment’s headquarters.
Houston Endowment hosts three exhibitions annually that are curated by Weingarten Art Group (WAG) for a prime space in the building’s lobby. The exhibitions are seen by the many visitors to the building and through online platforms.
Houston Endowment’s mission is to improve the quality of life for everyone in Greater Houston. As long time supporters and admirers of the vibrant arts community in Greater Houston, Houston Endowment views the Jones Artist Awards Program as an extension and component of its mission and a complement to its permanent art collection. For more on the Jones Artist Awards Program’s past exhibitions and featured artists, please visit the following links:
Jones Artist Awards Program website
2024 Jones Artist Awards Program video
2023 Jones Artist Awards Program story and video
Award & Compensation
The 2026 Jones Artist Awards Program will feature three exhibitions: one solo exhibition and two group exhibitions with four artists each. A total of nine artists will be selected.
The solo exhibition artist will receive a $12,500 honorarium and group exhibition artists will receive a $4,500 honorarium.
The program also covers exhibition-related expenses such as framing, art transport to and from the artist, installation, professional photo and video documentation, and artist headshots. These services are provided at no cost to the artist and will be fully managed by Weingarten Art Group.
Exhibition Theme
Inspired by poet Jane Hirshfield’s reflection that “hope is the hardest love we carry,” (Hope and Love, 2016), this year’s theme invites artists to consider: What does it mean to choose hope?
Hope is not often light or easy. It requires courage, resolve, and creativity. It asks us to sit with uncertainty even as it holds the promise of joy. Hope lives in moments of personal change, collective struggle, quiet persistence, and in laughter.
We invite artworks that explore, but are not limited to, experiences of transformation, healing, strength, imagination, and humor.
Exhibition Location
The exhibition space is approximately 30 ft wide and 11 ft tall. Site photos and specifications are available at this LINK.
Artist Eligibility
This opportunity is open to artists 18 years of age or over who live in or are originally from the Greater Houston area.
The Program has an emphasis on (but is not exclusive to) early career, underrecognized, or underrepresented artists. Artists in Houston Endowment's permanent collection and/or previous Jones Artist Awards recipients are not eligible.
Artwork specifications
Artists may submit existing artworks or proposals for new commissions.
Artists will be asked to indicate whether they are submitting for a solo exhibition, group exhibition, or are open to both. If open to both, artists may submit the same artwork for consideration.
Eligible media: Paintings, photography, works on paper, sculpture, site-specific or multi-media installations, lightworks, painted murals, digital designs that can be printed as vinyl wall covering, and video & new media.
All artworks will be returned to the artist at the end of the exhibition.
Installation considerations:
- A 50” video screen is available and may be configured as a horizontal or vertical screen.
- Audio may only play on headphones, made available by Houston Endowment (no speakers).
- Artworks may be suspended from the ceiling, but installation methods must avoid any damage to the building. Non-invasive options such as command strips or equivalent materials are encouraged and subject to approval by Houston Endowment.
Application Components
- You may submit up to 20 artworks for consideration. For existing artwork, please submit images or video. For proposals of new artwork, please submit renderings or sketches
- Image list: For each artwork, please include a thumbnail of the artwork, title, medium, date, and dimensions. You may include a brief description of artworks where further context is helpful
- Artist Statement (400 words max) that describes your artistic practice and explains how the submitted artworks or proposals relate to the 2026 exhibition theme. If you do not currently reside in Greater Houston, please also describe your connection to the region.
- Samples of past work or exhibitions: Submit up to 5 past artworks or images of past exhibitions.
- Artist resume or CV
Application materials may only be submitted via the Submittable platform. If applicants encounter any technical issues, please address this with Weingarten Art Group during the period open for questions.
The deadline for questions is 11:59 PM on Thursday, August 21st, 2025. and the deadline for submissions is Sunday, August 24th, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
Selection Process & Criteria
Artist submissions will be reviewed by Weingarten Art Group and Houston Endowment and will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of proposed artworks to the 2026 exhibition theme
- Scale and suitability of the proposed artworks for the space
- Applicant’s connection to the Greater Houston area, either through current residency or ties to the region
We are committed to a policy of providing opportunities to people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or physical ability.
Submission Instructions
Please submit all materials via Submittable at this link:
The deadline for submissions is Sunday, August 24th, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
Timeline
Dates subject to change
RFP released: Monday, June 16th, 2025
Questions due to ady@weingartenartgroup.com: 11:59 PM on Thursday, August 21st, 2025
RFP due: Sunday, August 24th, 2025, at 11:59 PM
Artist(s) selected & notified: Monday, November 3, 2025
Exhibition 1 artwork delivered to WAG: Friday, December 5, 2025
Exhibition 1 installation: Friday, January 16th, 2026
Exhibition 1 opens: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
Exhibition 1 closes: Friday, May 15th, 2026
Exhibition 2 artwork delivered to WAG: Friday, April 10th, 2026
Exhibition 2 installation: Friday, May 22nd, 2026
Exhibition 2 opens: Tuesday, May 26th, 2026
Exhibition 2 closes: Friday, September 18th, 2026
Exhibition 3 artwork delivered to WAG: Monday, August 17th, 2025
Exhibition 3 installation: Monday, September 28th, 2026
Exhibition 3 opens: Tuesday, September 29th, 2026
Exhibition 3 closes: Friday, January 22nd, 2027
Artists will be notified promptly of their exhibition status. Those accepted will receive a Loan Agreement stipulating each party’s responsibilities.
For Further Information
Please contact Ady Avivi at ady@weingartenartgroup.com or 832-228-5452.