The Ultimate Guide to FotoFest

The ultimate guide to FotoFest: 5 don't-miss events from Houston's international photo party

With six weeks of programming and more than 100 participating gallery spaces, the 2014 FotoFest Biennial offers art fans an ocean of outings and events.

CultureMap has combed though this year's jam-packed schedule of exhibits, lectures, films and more for the best and brightest happenings. Here's a quick rundown of five must-see events to get you started.

Opening night party (Saturday, 7 p.m., Spring Street Studios)

Taking place at Spring Street Studios (and not the old FotoFest headquarters on Vine Street), the biennial opening night bash is a sight to behold. This free event — a wild blend of photography, music, artists, beer and food trucks — drew an estimated 4,000 revelers in 2012, a record for the arts organization.

This year, guests will get a chance to hear the eclectic jazz stylings of Kinan Azmeh, a Syrian clarinetist who has performed and recorded alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Yo-Yo Ma.

Conversation with Fred Baldwin & Wendy Watriss (Monday, 7 p.m., The Menil Collection)

After creating FotoFest more than 30 years ago, Houston photographers Fred Baldwin and Wendy Watriss are passing the torch to the organization's newly-appointed director Steve Evans. In their honor, the Menil Collection has curated a small survey of the couple's work titled In the Midst of Things, featuring vintage images from the Civil Rights Movement and a newly-built Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

At 7 p.m. on Monday, Baldwin and Watriss will discuss their early careers, the legacy of FotoFest and their future plans in front of an intimate crowd at the Menil.

FotoFest Fine Print Auction (March 24, 7 p.m., Doubletree Hotel–Downtown)

One of the highlights of every FotoFest Biennial, the fine print auction lures hundreds of collectors to the downtown Doubletree for a chance to acquire museum-quality pieces from current and past FotoFest artists. Funds from the auction support FotoFest's Literacy Through Photography education program as well as the organization's outreach efforts in more than 60 counties.

Arab world art conference and film series (March 29 and month of April, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston)

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will host a free day-long conference on contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa. Speakers include FotoFest Biennial curators Karin Adrian von Roques and Wendy Watriss as well as Stephen Stapleton of UK arts initiative Edge of Arabia and acclaimed Palestinian photo artist Steve Sabella.

The MFAH continues its focus on the Arab world with an April film series that includes 2012's Academy Award-nominated Wadjda, the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia.

Rice University seminar on "Arabophobia" (April 2, Rice University)

Sponsored by FotoFest along with Rice University's Humanities Research Center and Baker Institute for Public Policy, this unique seminar pairs scholars with artists from FotoFest's biennial exhibits to deconstruct the rise and continuing threat of anti-Arabism across the globe.

Speakers include Rice University Arab Studies professor Ussama Makdisi, noted Middle East historian Melani McAlister and Palestinian-American poet Fady Joudah.

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let's open this house

Houston Theater District's free, family friendly event returns in March

Photo courtesy of Theater District Houston

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Houstonians looking for fun, free activities in March can take part in the ExxonMobil Theater District Open House on Monday, March 9 in downtown Houston from 11 am to 3:30 pm. Attendees can expect free performances, hands-on activities, and special promotions from a variety of arts groups.

Among the planned events are an enriching, interactive, family workshop with an Ailey Arts in Education Teaching Artist, hosted by Performing Arts Houston. The Houston Ballet II will perform excerpts from Sleeping Beauty and other ballets. DaCamera will perform jazz and chamber music in Lynn Wyatt Square and the Center for Dance. Theatre Under the Stars will host interactive musical theater workshops at the Hobby Center. The event concludes at 3 pm with a free concert by the Houston Symphony. A full listing of activities is on the event website.

“This event is a powerful reminder of Houston’s position as an international cultural destination and our shared pride in the arts,” said chair of the Houston Theater District Board of Directors Meg Booth. “The variety of theaters, performing arts organizations and cultural diversity is on display and completely free for guests of all ages to explore — whether that’s a backstage tour, a performance or a hands-on activity for kids.”

Venues like the Alley Theatre, Jones Hall, the Wortham Theater Center, and others will be open for attendees to explore and learn more about the arts presenters who perform there and what it takes to be on stage.

Food trucks will be available throughout the district and concessions are available for purchase at the Hobby Center, Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall, Lynn Wyatt Square, and Alley Theatre Skylight Lounge.

Parking is available at the Hobby Center, the Lyric Garage, and Theater District garages.

In 2025, the event resumed for the first time since 2019, drawing nearly 7,500 participants. Organizers are hoping for even more visitors this year.

“This event isn't just a part of Houston, it’s part of family histories, too,” said Houston Theater District executive director Craig Hauschildt. “Last year, we heard from parents who first attended in the ‘90s and were returning with their own kids. Every visit is an opportunity to continue that tradition.”

performing-arts family friendly