East End Houston Cultural District
Telling the stories of Houston's historic East End, a state-designated Cultural District since 2014.
Below you will see all of our current opportunities. To access the opportunities:
- You will need to create a free Submittable account, or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials in order to submit to these forms.
- You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- If you need to make changes to your form, please withdraw your submission and resubmit.
- If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
- Our platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser, and that the files are valid file types. You can find the acceptable file types under the "Choose File" button on the application.
- We will follow-up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly.
- Check out the Submitter Resource Center for help videos and articles or to reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions
PUBLIC ART APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Application deadline: December 30, 2025
Call Summary
The East End Houston Cultural District is assembling a group of young professionals interested in public art and eager to make an impact in public spaces.
Apply to join our Public Art Apprenticeship Program—a transformative program designed to equip you with the skills, experience, and connections needed to thrive in the world of public art.
Program Description
Five - ten apprentices (aged 18+, living or working in East End) will be selected to participate in a series of meetings, community feedback sessions and finally, the creation of a large scale mural celebrating the neighborhood's multicultural identity and deep love of soccer. Coinciding with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this project will transform a large public wall into a vibrant canvas that honors the neighborhood’s heritage and invites global visitors to explore the area beyond the adjacent official Fan Festival footprint.
This program is January 2026 – May 2026, and each selected participant will receive a stipend of $2,500. Apprentices will work with artist mentor, Betirri, in the creation of the mural.
The Public Art Apprenticeship is part of Creative Career Pathways, a program of the East End Houston Cultural District providing emerging artists and creatives with valuable opportunities to develop their skills and contribute to the East End neighborhood. Modeled after successful programs like Creative Waco’s ARTPrenticeship and Cincinnati’s ArtWorks, the CCP is designed to offer hands-on, professional training while fostering a deeper connection to community. Apprentices will engage with the artistic process and contribute to the creation of large scale mural.
What Will Apprentices Do?
Apprentices in this track will learn the art of public art creation, from design and conceptualization to the execution of murals in public spaces. They will have the opportunity to work directly with professional muralists, gaining valuable skills in techniques, materials, tools, and project management specific to public art.
Program Highlights:
● Hands-On Workshops: Dive into focused sessions packed with practical exercises on technical and creative topics.
● Real-World Projects: Apply your skills by contributing to a large-scale public art project from start to finish.
● One-on-One Mentorship: Receive personalized guidance and career advice from a professional artist, gaining insights into the artistic process and career development in the public art sector.
● Community Engagement: Collaborate with local communities to ensure your art reflects cultural and historical stories, especially within the East End.
Program Schedule:
● In-Person Meetings: Meetings will take place from 5:30-7pm on Mondays and Wednesdays from January through May 2026. Exact schedule to be determined based on availability.
● Community Meetings: Two sessions to support community feedback and engagement will take place on Sunday afternoons in February.
Why Apply?
● Build a professional portfolio with real public art projects
● Develop valuable technical and creative skills
● Gain mentorship from industry leaders
● Connect with like-minded artists and local communities
Stipend
Payment to each selected apprentice is $2,500.
Eligibility
Applying young professionals must be aged 18+, live or work in East End, and legally able to work onsite in the United States.
About the East End Houston Cultural District
In 2014, the Texas Commission on the Arts officially designated Houston’s East End as a Texas cultural district, allowing tourists and local residents to explore the artistic value present in the East End community. The East End Houston Cultural District boasts one of the largest collections of outdoor murals in the city of Houston and is home to more than 30 arts and culture institutions, artist studios, showrooms and design and fabrication shops. The District is rich in historical sites and structures that connect the community to its heritage, as well as culinary traditions that offer visitors a taste of the best food Houston has to offer. Read more about the history of Houston’s East End at eastendhouston.com.
About Betirri Born in Puebla, Mexico, Betirri is based in Houston, Texas. His educational background includes a B.A. in Architecture in 2007 and a B.A. in Fine Arts in 2009, both from the University of Houston. His brand and signature body of work expresses the crossover between art and sports with a distinctive surrealistic style that allows the viewer to explore the identity and impact of sports in current society. His portfolio includes hundreds of paintings and over thirty murals. He has acquired international recognition through the exhibit of his art around the world including the last three FIFA World Cups (Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022). He is passionate about helping the local community through his philanthropist efforts including his initiative to enhance seven blocks of the Columbia Tap trail through sports and art activities calling it Goal Park. His latest accomplishment is the design and construction of his iconic pink gallery/studio in Houston's East End with the vision to host classes and events to motivate younger generations to pursue their artistic endeavors.
Questions regarding this application and/or process should be directed to culture@eastendhouston.com