art on a budget

Affordable Art Fair will sell work from 350 artists starting at $100

The Affordable Art Fair has announced the exhibitor list for its 2026 Houston debut. From October 15-18, the George R. Brown Convention Center will be home to the international fair, displaying artwork from 350 artists across 55 galleries.

Houston galleries make up the largest contingent, with 17 exhibitors, followed by 22 national galleries and 16 international exhibitors from the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, Mexico, and Argentina.

Photo courtesy of the Affordable Art Fair

Laura Clay, a featured artist from Austin, is one of the 350 artists that will be displayed at the Affordable Art Fair in Houston

The contemporary artwork will range in price from $100 to $12,000.

The Houston contingent includes Foltz Fine Art, ELLIO Fine Art, Hooks-Epstein Galleries, Bisong Art Gallery, Koelsch Gallery, Laura Rathe Fine Art, Gallery Sonja Roesch, Cindy Lisica Gallery, House of Devi, Print Matters Houston, and Three Studios. Nine Austin galleries will also participate, along with exhibitors from Dallas, Waco, Wimberley, and Comfort. The full list of artists and galleries can be viewed on the Affordable Art Fair's website.

Local talent will take center stage during the event, such as Argentinian, Houston-based photographer and multimedia artist Karen Navarro, who will display artwork in the fair’s center lounge.

Attendees can join a walking tour led by fair director Cori Teague on Friday, October 16, from 3-4pm, and Sunday, October 18, from 2-3 pm.

A hands-on printmaking workshop in collaboration with Print Houston will take place during the event at select times, while KIDO Preschool is hosting kid-friendly activities and scavenger hunts on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-1 pm. Young professionals can attend the Art After Hours on Friday and Saturday from 5-8 pm for live music and additional programming.

The full schedule of events, including panel talks, will be released at a later date.

The $60 all-access pass for the Affordable Art Fair includes entry to the private view event on Thursday, October 15. The $20 general admission ticket provides access to one of the fair’s three days during general admission hours (Friday, 12-8 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11 am-6 pm). Tickets are also available for families and attendees under 16, with discounted admission offered to students, military members, and seniors. Tickets can be purchased now for the event.

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Bravo!

Houston Theater Week's BOGO deals raise $2 million for the arts

Singers and dancers performing a number from Showboat at Houston Grand Opera

Photo courtesy of Houston Grand Opera

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Local arts organizations are giving audiences a standing ovation for the success of Houston Theater Week. The fifth annual edition of the buy-one-get-one-free ticket promotion brought in more than $2 million in total sales — meaning nearly 42,000 tickets sold to more than 400 live performances.

“Reaching its fifth year is an important milestone for Houston Theater Week and a testament to the event’s growing impact on our city’s performing arts community,” said Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First. “Early sellouts for several shows demonstrate the enthusiasm and anticipation that Theater Week has generated. But this campaign is about more than great ticket offers — it’s a celebration of Houston’s vibrant performing arts community and the cultural experiences that make our city such a compelling destination. Houston First is proud to lead this initiative and help connect more people with the arts in Houston.”

Held from August 24-31, ticket buyers had a wide array of choices, covering everything from ROCO’s Fellow Travelers concert in November at the Ismaili Center and the Houston Grand Opera’s production of Showboat in April 2027 to holiday fare such as Choir! Choir! Choir! Un-Silent Night: An EPIC Holiday Sing-Along at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in November; the Houston Symphony’s annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah at Jones Hall; Houston Masterworks Chorus’ Carols and Lullabies at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Overall, 16 local organizations participated in Houston Theater Week. They are:

4th Wall Theatre Company
Alley Theatre
Apollo Chamber Players
Ars Lyrica Houston
Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre
Chamber Music Houston
DACAMERA
Houston Ballet
Houston Contemporary Dance Company
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Masterworks Chorus
Houston Symphony
Main Street Theater
Mercury Chamber Orchestra
Performing Arts Houston
ROCO
Stages
Tee Zee Productions
The Ensemble Theatre
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Theatre Under The Stars

“Our performing arts organizations of all sizes welcomed thousands of new faces into their venues through Theater Week and that is our ultimate goal,” said Meg Booth, board chair of the Houston Theater District. “Theater Week is about breaking down barriers and making live performing arts accessible, so that our entire community can find inspiration and connection through the power of the arts. Our sincere thanks to Houstonians and certainly Houston First for another successful Theater Week.”

Houston Theater Week is presented by Huntington Bank, with additional support from Houston First. Ticket sales from the promotion have raised nearly $9 million for local performing arts organizations since 2022.

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Holly Beretto contributed to this article.

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