KHOU & CultureMap

Early shopping heaven: Your cheat sheet to the Winter Holiday Art Market

Fresh Arts' Winter Holiday Art Market — now celebrating its ninth year — is taking off this weekend, starting with a preview party on Friday evening. More than 60 artists from across Houston have been chosen to participate in the annual event, taking place all weekend long at Winter Street Studios.

This week's KHOU CultureMap Moment highlights the unique event and the incredibly diverse array of pieces available at the annual shopping destination.

If you're looking for one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones this holiday season, there's literally no better place to find them than at this weekend's art market.

Over the past eight years, the Winter Holiday Art Market has put more than half a million dollars in the pockets of local artists.

"You can find paintings, photography, jewelry, soaps," says Joel Luks, CultureMap's resident arts and culture expert. "It's just about everything you could want."

The market will feature countless pieces from talented local artists, ranging from screen-prints and handmade accessories to sculptural works and intricate textiles.

"It also feels good because this is an event that gives money back to the economy that exists in Houston," Luks adds.

In fact, over the past eight years, the Winter Holiday Art Market has put more than half a million dollars in the pockets of local artists.

The can't-miss holiday shopping event kicks off on Friday with a preview party from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is $10 for Friday's preview, but it's free for the rest of the weekend. The market will be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Watch the KHOU CultureMap Moment:

These pieces by Carlos Pozo, as well as countless other works crafted by artists from across the city, will be available at this weekend's Winter Holiday Art Market.

Winter Holiday Art Market ninth annual 1

Fresh Arts

These pieces by Carlos Pozo, as well as countless other works crafted by artists from across the city, will be available at this weekend's Winter Holiday Art Market.

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Emerging talent

Houston Grand Opera's 'Concert of Arias' showcases rising star singers

Winners of the 2024 Concert of Arias on stage at Houston Grand Opera

Photo by Michael Bishop, courtesy Houston Grand Opera

Winners from the 36th Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. Concert of Arias is one of Houston Grand Opera's most-loved traditions. It affords cash prizes to the winners and determines placement in HGO's Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio program.

Houston audiences can hear seven emerging opera singers from around the globe at Houston Grand Opera’s upcoming 37th Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. The annual audience favorite, also known as Concert of Arias, is Friday, January 17 at the Wortham Theater Center at 7 pm.

Prior to the performance, the seven finalists spent a week immersing themselves in HGO’s culture and collaborating with its music staff. Each finalist will sing two arias, accompanied by the HGO Orchestra, conducted by Maestro James Gaffigan. They are competing for cash prizes and placement in HGO’s prestigious Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio, one of the country’s top residency programs for emerging opera talent.

The winners will take home $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place, $10,000 for third place, and $5,000 for the Audience Choice Award. Each non-placing finalist will receive $3,500, with one of them selected for the $2,000 Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award.

The finalists are:

Lauren Carroll, a soprano from Bettendorf, Iowa who earned her Master of Music degree from Rice University and her Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University.
Daria Lupu a soprano from Romania who is a member of the Experimental Studio in Musical Performing Arts “Ludovic Spiess” at the Bucharest National Opera.
Alexis Seminario, a soprano who is currently a Young Artist with Palm Beach Opera and a 2020 alumna of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy. She holds a Master of Music degree from Bard College Conservatory.
Meg Brilleslyper, a mezzo-soprano and 2022 alumna of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy who is pursuing her Master of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Luke Norvell, a tenor from Tacoma, Washington who is a fourth-year resident artist at Academy of Vocal Art and has a Bachelor of Music degree from the Master’s University.
Luka Tsevelidze, a tenor from Georgia and student at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire who made his operatic debut as Tamino in The Magic Flute with the Tbilisi State Conservatoire Opera Studio.
Geonho Lee, a baritone from South Korea who holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Seoul National University and was a 2024 semifinalist in the renowned Operalia Competition. He is currently pursuing advanced studies at the University of Music and Theatre Munich.

Tickets are sold out, but people can watch a live stream of the performance, interviews with the singers, and more on HGO's YouTube channel.

houston grand opera performing-arts