Museum of Human Achievement (MoHA)

According to tax filings, in 2023 MoHA received over 59 percent of its funding from government grants. ²

History and Activities

The Museum of Human Achievement was founded in 2012 by Zac Trager, the executive director of the organization. The organization is both a visual arts museum and a community space for artists and organizations to access institutional resources, including assistance with grant writing, legal assistance, production assistance, office space, financial planning, and microgrants. MoHA advertises itself as an “inclusive” space led by leadership that is 57 percent minority, 45 percent LGBT, 12 percent non-binary-identifying, and 53 percent women. ¹

Programs conducted by MoHa include an annual independent video game festival; virtual reality and augmented reality exhibitions and performances; an online gallery; a 24/7 art gallery devoted to “diverse artists”; a mobile art gallery and store focused on “uplifting women artists, queer artists, and artists of color”; a mobile performance center; and drive-in movies. ¹

MoHA also claims to provide studio, office, and event space to 35 artists, with space provided to individuals “based on a sliding scale that accounts for income and historical access to resources.” ¹

MoHA also hosts visiting artists for public programs and conducts fiscal sponsorships to provide organizations with tax benefits under MoHA’s 501(c)(3) status. ^{1 3}

Additionally, MoHA has a paid fellowship program for students interested in grant writing, event production, arts administration, or digital arts at nonprofits. ³

MoHA requires those that enter its space to abide by a code of conduct that respects “differing gender, gender identity and expressions, sexual orientation, physical ability, neurotypicality, physical appearance, body size, age, race, and religion.” The organization states that it does not tolerate “misgendering or use of ‘dead’ or rejected names” but that harassment does not include criticizing people for being “transphobic,” “reverse racism,” or “reverse sexism.” ⁴

Leadership

The executive director of the Museum of Human Achievement is Zac Traeger. ¹ Trager was previously a youth programming coordinator at the YMCA, a piano teacher, and a self-employed composer. ⁵

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2023 the Museum of Human Achievement reported $642,733 in revenue, $562,379 in expenses, and $792,842 in assets. Of its expenses, the organization reported spending $434,419 on running a space “grounded in affordability, inclusivity and access.” Of its revenue, MoHA received over 59 percent ($380,954) from government grants. ²

MoHA reports that during its existence it has received funding from the National Endowment of the Arts, the Texas Commission on Arts, Rally Austin, Capital Impact Partners, PeopleFund, the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Department, United Way, the Mid America Art Alliance, and SBA’s Shuttered Venue Operator Grant. ¹

In 2024, the City Council of Austin approved a $5.1 million bond for Rally Austin, an economic development entity. The Austin Monitor reported that some of the funding would be directed to the Museum of Human Achievement. Under the bond agreement, MoHA was to purchase its 1.3-acre property, provide a 40-year ground lease to Rally Austin, and then Rally Austin would sublease the property back to MoHA. The bond was also given to provide improvements and upgrades to the building. ⁶

In 2023, MoHA received $50,000 from the Austin Creative Space Assistance Program as well as a $25,000 grant from Creative Capital Foundation, an organization that provides artists with development services and has been accused of intentionally discriminating against white people. ^{7 8 9}