Moody Center for the Arts Named Best Free Museum in Houston by Houston Press in Best of Houston® 2024

Houston Press selected the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University the Best Free Museum in Houston in its Best of Houston® 2024. Lauded for its dynamic programming and accessible approach to the arts, the Moody has established itself as a vital cultural hub in the city.

“The Moody Center for the Arts has it all,” noted the Houston Press, highlighting the Moody’s multifaceted offerings that extend beyond traditional gallery experiences. The center’s $30 million, 50,000-square-foot space includes a gallery for experimental artwork, a studio theater, a maker space and classrooms. “On any given day, guests may see a choir or dance performance, a full sensory immersion art display, a sand mandala being created, dynamic photographic exhibits and anything else that merits observation, consideration and public consumption.”

The recognition aligns with the Moody’s mission to foster creativity and collaboration through its exhibitions, workshops and public art initiatives. By bridging the arts with academic and community engagement, the Moody is committed to offering transformative experiences that connect the arts at Rice to the broader Houston community.

The current exhibition, “Do Ho Suh: In Process,” exemplifies this approach. Opening the Moody’s fall 2024 season, the exhibition transforms the gallery into a studiolike environment, allowing visitors to engage directly with the creative process of the internationally acclaimed artist. The show features finished works like “Inverted Monument” and “Blueprint” alongside collaborative projects and works in progress.

The Houston Press emphasized that in addition to the Moody’s innovative programming, “It also doesn’t hurt that entrance … comes at the best price in town: free.”