The Cypress Creek Foundation for the Arts & Community Enrichment (FACE)

Many Northwest Houston community leaders have worked for years to see the reality of a wonderful cultural center serving as an anchor for quality of life enrichment. Because of their dedication and hard work, this dream became a reality. In the fall of 1997, The Cypress Creek Christian Community Center’s magnificent new 885-seat performance hall, The Centrum, was completed.

The Cypress Creek Foundation for the Arts & Community Enrichment (FACE), a non-profit foundation, was established with a mission to provide cultural arts programming in The Centrum for the community. The concerts feature a wide range of the highest caliber national and international classical and popular performing artists and traditional to contemporary, large ensembles to small ensembles, solo performers, new artists and art forms and multi-cultural attractions.

Another aspect of the Foundation’s mission was to provide educational opportunities for the community. Therefore, the Focus on Education program was formed. Through this program, FACE is able to provide workshops, master classes, collaborative concerts, special family concerts, free children’s concerts, and special student ticket prices. Workshops have taken place with Star-Lit! series artists such as Joshua Bell and Canadian Brass.

To fulfill it’s artistic and educational missions, Cypress Creek FACE created three types of concert series: Star-Lit!, Promenade, and Children’s. FACE concerts began in November of 1997 with a Grand Opening Star-Lit! Series concert featuring Marvin Hamlisch. Over the past ten seasons, performers have included Nancy Wilson, Bill Cosby, Maynard Ferguson, Tommy Tune, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Bob Newhart, Burt Bacharach, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Doc Severinsen, Canadian Brass, the Four Freshmen, Glen Campbell, Hal Holbrook, Ronan Tynan, The Fifth Dimension, Joshua Bell and other classical and popular artists.

The Promenade Series features local and regional artists showcased in ten concerts. Nine of these concerts are scheduled on the second Tuesday afternoon of each month to accommodate senior citizens in our community. FACE works with local retirement communities, nursing homes and senior groups to provide programming they will enjoy and an opportunity for socialization. In addition, each year FACE brings an internationally acclaimed choral conductor, like Moses Hogan, Sweden ’s Robert Sund, and Venezula’s Maria Guinand, to work with area schools to present a combined choral concert, A World of Song.

The Free Children’s Series features local artists whose programming is specifically geared to elementary age children. The concert series highlights various forms of the arts including opera, puppetry, drama, classical and popular music. Since the 2000-2001 season, the Children’s Series has been underwritten by  The Centrum Arts League allowing FACE to invite all area elementary-age children to attend the concert free. These concerts are attended by children of all races, ages – from 3 to 103 – and income levels. FACE delivers over 40,000 flyers to 41 schools in four school districts announcing each concert.

During the 2008-2009 season, The Family Series was introduced. It provides family friendly programming at an affordable price. Artists are selected for their ability to perform for children of all ages… 3 to 103.

The Centrum Arts League, a volunteer organization, was formally chartered in the summer of 1998 with its mission to support Cypress Creek FACE. This group, with over 200 members, supports FACE with a wide range of activities that include ushering at concerts, fundraising and ticket sales.

FACE is very excited to heading into its fourteenth season.