Come On In

Inaugural event invites Houstonians to ramble through art-filled wonderland

Browse your way through four art studio buildings.

Photo courtesy of Sawyer Yards

Where can you find 100-plus art studios, art exhibits, live music, unique cocktails, and tasty bites, all in one place? At the first-ever Art Ramble, a picture-perfect Saturday that will be held at Sawyer Yards on September 30 from 2-7 pm.

This walkable art event, held across four art studio buildings, is designed to showcase the brilliance of local artists and encourage the community to engage with and purchase art at various price points, helping to support Houston's thriving art scene.

Marvel at everything from awe-inspiring paintings and captivating sculptures to alluring photography and exquisite ceramics.

As you ramble (get it?) from building to building and studio to studio, indulge in the tastes and sounds of more Houston creatives.

Local drink vendors like Platypus Brewing, Modern Vintage, Eureka Heights Brew Co., and William Price Distilling will be pouring their finest, while the food trucks Crunchy's For the Munchies and Katy Sliders will be parked for the day.

Talented musicians will also fill the corridors with their sounds for an all-encompassing celebration of art and community.

Receptions for multiple exhibitions, including a ceramics showcase and a corn maze installation, will close out the day in each of the participating buildings from 5-7pm.

Here's a peek at where you'll find what:

Silver Street: Gabriela Monterroso "Down to Earth," West Gallery
The Silos at Sawyer Yards: ClayHouston "FLUX 2023 Members' Show," Bay 100 Gallery
Sabine Street Studios: Lorena Molina "At What Cost? Part II" corn maze, North Gallery
Sabine Street Studios: Arohi Ranade :Restless Node in a Quiet Net," East Corridor Gallery

Head here for more information and a complete list of participating studios.

Sawyer Yards is a creative community thriving in the heart of Houston’s historic First Ward and Arts District Houston. One of the largest working artist communities in the country, Sawyer Yards is home to over 400 artists and creative businesses.

galleries festivals promoted

the next 60 years

Houston's Jones Hall completes 5-year, $67.5 million renovation

Courtesy of Houston First

Mayor John Whitmire issued a proclamation celebration Jones Hall's 60th anniversary.

Fans of Houston’s performing arts groups have a reason to celebrate. Jones Hall, home to the Houston Symphony and Performing Arts Houston has completed a five-year, $67.5 million renovation project.

Virtually every component of the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts has been enhanced as part of the renovations. Improvements to the performance hall include:

New seating and additional aisle
Acoustical improvements including new sidewalls, orchestra shell, and forestage reflector
Refinished stage floor and new grand curtain

In addition, the lobby has been reconfigured, the restrooms have been expanded, and the Green Room has been expanded and relocated. Other changes include a new roof, new elevators, and upgraded HVAC. All of these will benefit both attendees at the dozens of performances the venue hosts every year.

Jones Hall 60th anniversary dedication City officials and others attended the ceremony. Courtesy of Houston First

“Jones Hall has been at the center of Houston’s performing arts community for six decades, and this investment ensures it will remain there well into the future,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. “I’m pleased to see Houstonians come together to help preserve this important arts space.”

The Foundation for Jones Hall and Houston First Corporation teamed up to raise the money necessary to perform the renovations, which have been completed in time for the venue’s 60th anniversary. As CultureMap’s Joel Luks noted in May, the original renovation plan was for a less ambitious, $25 million project. As a result of the more thorough project, “the result is a reimagined Jones Hall with enhanced patron spaces, improved sound quality, updated backstage operations, additional lounges and restrooms, and expanded accommodations for guests with disabilities,” Luks wrote.

“Great cities invest in the institutions and public spaces that bring people together,” said Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First. “Jones Hall has done that for Houston for 60 years. With this transformation complete, we are excited about what the next 60 years will bring.”

performing-arts downtown jones hall