Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Garcia.
Exalted Arts was ‘officially’ founded as a non-profit organization in September 2015, but had been ‘in development’ for 10 years. Its founder, Cynthia Garcia, a New York-trained actress had the great privilege to serve as Drama Minister at a local church during that 10-year period. It was during that time that original theatrical and film works were produced, and the rest ‘as they say’ is history.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road can be best described as adventuresome. (Smile) Some of the struggles along the way have been the challenges that come with many new businesses (i.e. limited capital, the wearing of many hats, and maintaining a healthy balance between home and work life).
Exalted Arts’ specific struggles have been challenges in obtaining grants and other funding opportunities that are a fit for the organization, securing the proper personnel for varying projects, and really firming up the heartbeat of the organization–the board of directors.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Exalted Arts is a faith-based production company. We specialize in making God’s name famous through the production of plays, films, books, and media arts. We are emboldened to develop bridges between the performing arts and faith-based interests locally and globally, and we purpose to do this by excellently producing and professionally employing God-honoring art.
What we are most proud of as a company is our annual production of our signature musical, The Great Exchange. This production is held yearly at The DeLuxe Theatre, located in Fifth Ward, during the Christmas season. Our 2017 production was directed by Yunina Barbour-Payne, a local actress, and educator who holds a Masters Degree in Performance Studies and has coordinated the best production to date.
What sets Exalted Arts apart from other production companies that focus on faith-based arts and entertainment is our commitment to creating and producing original works that uphold the values of excellence and biblical truth. When someone comes to an Exalted Arts production they will quickly ascertain that a group of studied and committed individuals has come together to create beautiful works of art that encourage them to think about life in a more meaningful way.
Our goal is to always engage, encourage, edify, enlighten, and entertain.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Houston is an EXCELLENT city for a business like ours. Hurricane Harvey saw many people lose their homes, their cars, their possessions, and in some cases their lives. Exalted Arts says, ‘there’s hope’. In fact, Exalted Arts says, ‘there’s always hope’. What we offer can be enjoyed by all. While all of our fares are family-friendly there are a few of our works that may not be grasped by younger ages. This is one of the reasons The Great Exchange is touted as our signature production, as this performance can be enjoyed by the entire family no matter the age.
One of the great things about Houston is the fact that our mayor, Sylvester Turner, is a big proponent of the arts, Mayor Turner’s commitment to art encourages us in the work we are doing.
I would absolutely recommend someone just starting out to start out here in Houston. There are such great resources madeavailable through the City of Houston, SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), the SBA (Small Business Administration), and other specialized programs for women and/or minorities. The climate is fertile for visionaries to take a leap of faith.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6942 FM 1960E, #382 Humble, TX 77346
- Website: www.ExaltedArts.org
- Phone: 832-356-4548
- Email: Cynthia@ExaltedArts.org
Image Credit:
Yunina Barbour-Payne, Berlinda Franklin, Lynn Menzer, Asha Edwards, Curmira Bill, Cameron Humble, Iris Lacsamana, Michelle DeBelen, JoAnne Davis-Jones, Dean Weis, Lex Buchner, Michael Benitez, Kevin Burns. Wesleyglenn Yarbrough, Caleb Fields, Ariel Simon
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
