Houston Mayor John Whitmire has appointed Michele Leal as the new Director of the Office of Arts for the City of Houston, a leadership role focused on guiding municipal arts investments and expanding access to cultural programs across the city.
Experienced Leader in Arts and Community Engagement
Leal brings more than 15 years of experience as a communications and public affairs strategist across the public, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. Most recently, she served as mayoral-appointed chair of the Houston Arts Alliance, the nonprofit agency responsible for implementing Houston’s vision for arts grantmaking and civic art initiatives.
In 2025, she received the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award in recognition of her volunteer work supporting and educating Houston’s Hispanic community.
Background in Fundraising and Community Health
Throughout her career, Leal has worked with consulting clients and led multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns. She also served as Development Director for El Centro de Corazón, where she oversaw communications and fundraising for a federally designated community health center serving uninsured and underinsured Latino patients.
Vision for Houston’s Cultural Future
“I am grateful to Mayor Whitmire for entrusting me with this role. He understands that the arts are essential to a thriving city and to the quality of our neighborhoods,” Leal said. She emphasized her commitment to collaborating with artists and residents to broaden access to arts programs citywide.
Whitmire praised Leal’s leadership, noting she will work with partners including Houston First Corporation and Houston’s Cultural Districts to strengthen creative opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
Start Date
Leal will officially transition into her new position on March 2, 2026, and will work closely with the City Council’s Arts and Culture Committee to advance Houston’s cultural initiatives.
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