Whitmire Orders Review of $2.5 โคMillion Houston Airport Art Program after KPRCโข 2 Investigation
HOUSTON โ- Mayor John โWhitmire has called for a complete review and audit ofโข the โคHouston Airportโข System’s art program following a KPRC 2 investigationโ revealing passengersโฃ largely ignore theโข artwork, despite a $2.5 millionโ investment. the investigation prompted a sharp response from the Mayor, who questioned โthe value of the program and itsโ use of public funds.
KPRC 2’sโฃ Mario โDiazโข reported that during observations at the airport, โฃalmost no travelers โฃpaused โคto viewโ theโ artโ installations, even those seated directly in front ofโ them. When presented with the findings, Mayor Whitmire expressed disbelief, stating, “Hell no!” when asked if travelers were looking at the art, and โdemanding to see the video footage. “It would be interesting to hear the justification,” he added.
Houston Airportโค System Director Jim Szczesniak defended the art, its placement, โand associated costs, arguing it’s a key component in remaining competitive with โคother โฃmajor airports. “We haveโฃ to remember that we have this connecting โฃpassenger โtrafficโฆso if I go to other airports โขI โknow a โbunch of them that have terrible artโ programs and I don’t want to connectโ through them,” Szczesniak explained.
However,Mayor Whitmire is โunconvinced. “I think weโค ought โto do โa review, an audit,” he stated, adding, “Thank youโข for bringing it to me, we are going to haveโ a grown up discussion aboutโ art โขat the airport and the best useโข of the art fund.”
A preliminary inquiry by KPRC 2โค found that neither the airportsโ in San โคantonio nor โAustin have purchased art valued โคat $2.5 millionโข or more. A โคresponse from โฃDallas is still pending.