The Odessa Council for the Arts & Humanities began as the Odessa Cultural Council in 1978 using a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts that was written by Ellen J. Taft, the first Executive Director of the organization. The
mission was to coordinate, communicate and support the visual, performing and literary arts and humanities in
Odessa. In 1994, the Council resolved to be more involved in community-wide endeavors that would promote and
support the interests of its members, to aid emerging as well as existing arts organizations through various marketing strategies and to be especially sensitive to the needs of various ethnic groups in the city.

In 1997, it became apparent that to many people, the word “cultural” meant “having to do with some specific culture”
rather than the arts and humanities. Consequently, in 1998, the name was changed to the Odessa Council for the
Arts & Humanities in order to be more descriptive of our actual mission. It is the umbrella organization for all the arts
and humanities organizations in Odessa. The Council is a part of most of the theatre productions, concerts, art exhibits,
museum exhibits and special events in Odessa through the giving of grants to assist the presenting organizations.

In partnership with Main Street Odessa, the Odessa Council for the Arts & Humanities presents Hot Summer Nights,
a series of free outdoor concerts during the summer. The series features all types of music from big band to Texas swing, jazz to cowboy music and gospel to folk music. It is held in Noel Heritage Park on Friday nights during June
and July and attracts hundreds of Odessa citizens as well as folks from out of town.


The Council also promotes individual artists through various means such as an arts festival or art show; produces
events at low cost to encourage participation by the entire Odessa community; holds a Volunteer Appreciation
Luncheon each year where a Volunteer of the Year is named; and holds membership meetings with programs of
interest to the arts organizations.