Our Achievements

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Achievements

To date, Aurora has hosted over 400 visiting artists and presented over 4000 films and videos. Over 6,000 people participated in Aurora’s programs in 2008.

In 2008, Aurora celebrates ten years of continuous programming. We are proud to be one of the few nationally recognized microcinemas in the country.

Over the years Aurora has presented many ground-breaking premieres including the Houston premieres of Isaac Julien’s “True North” at Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center (April 28, 2007) and Laurie Anderson’s film, "Hidden Inside Mountains" at The Menil Collection (October 9, 2008) in partnership with The Menil Collection and the Society for the Performing Arts.

For three consecutive years (2005-2007), Aurora received major support from the Andy Warhol Foundation’s exclusive capacity building program, the Warhol Initiative, making it one of 12 organizations selected nationally for Stage II, which focuses on artist-centered non-profits. Aurora regularly receives programming support from the Warhol Foundation.

Presenters at Aurora have included award-winning artists Laurie Anderson, Steina and Woody Vasulka, Miranda July, Ant Farm, Craig Baldwin, James Benning, Christopher Wilcha, Constance DeJong, Les Leveque, Sharon Lockhart, Art Jones, Isaac Julien, Andy Mann, Bjoern Melhus, Tony Oursler, Ellen Spiro, Elisabeth Subrin, Stephen Vitiello, and William Wegman. As testament to the high artistic merit of Aurora programs, over fifteen percent of the 2008 Whitney Museum Biennial artists had previously exhibited at Aurora.

In 2008, Aurora presented fifteen free events, in partnership with organizations that include The Menil Collection, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, the Society for the Performing Arts, Blaffer Gallery, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Fresh Arts Coalition, among others.

In 2008 with funding from the Warhol Initiative, Aurora Picture Show, along with DiverseWorks and Project Row Houses, initiated a new fund for artists called The Idea Fund. During 2008-2009, The Idea Fund will award 20 Houston-based artists up to $4,000 each to realize their projects.