Mike Vance

Mike Vance has taken a unique path to become a Texas historian, building on decades of work in professional show business combined with a lifetime of history study. His talents had been spent writing theatrical scripts, humor and music while touring the English-speaking world as a performer. Mike was also co-host of both a television sports show and an afternoon talk radio program in Houston, and he has a litany of award-winning national and regional voice over work to his credit.

In 2005, Vance founded Houston Arts and Media, a non-profit organization that creates innovative ways to educate Texans about their history. Since that time they have not only fashioned projects of their own but have worked with dozens of other groups, cities and schools districts to build a variety of highly acclaimed projects.

Today, Mike Vance is one of the best history story tellers in Texas. The documentary work that he has written and produced has been recognized by top entities around the state. The feature length documentary, Houston: A Nation's Capitol, was the 2011 winner of the Platinum Award in Documentary at World Fest/Houston International Film Festival. Vance's weekly history television series, Postcards from Texas, was named most outstanding media effort in the state by both the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution for 2010. He has also written and produced 40 installments of the popular web-based video series HAM Slices of History that are featured regularly on the HISD Channel.

His recent book, Houston's Sporting Life: 1900-1950, from Arcadia Publishing, is now in its second printing. For the past two years, Vance has lectured on Houston history topics as part of the Continuing Studies program at Rice University.

Mike currently serves on the Harris County Historical Commission and has been on the Education Committee for the City of Houston's Archaeological and Historical Commission. He is also on the advisory boards of various regional history non-profits.

His wish to channel his creativity to let the local production community fill historical and educational needs is what led him to the concept of Houston Arts and Media.

www.mikevance.us