“The Woodlands is a new community, and establishing traditions is what creates culture,” said Jenny Carattini-Wright, executive director of The Woodlands Arts Council.
The arts council organizes the annual event as a fundraiser for the nonprofit, which aims to create a strong presence for the arts in The Woodlands area.
Last year, 18,000 people attended the event despite COVID-19 precautions still being in place, and the event is planned with safety considerations in mind again this year. In 2020, about 13,000 people and 80 artists participated in a virtual version of the festival, Carattini-Wright said.
“It brought us closer and made us stronger, because ... all of a sudden our focus was a little different,” Carattini-Wright said.
This year the event returns in a format similar to last year, including a featured artist. This year’s featured artist is Guilloume, a resident of New Mexico originally from Colombia, who uses a minimalist style to create works in several media.
The overall show is juried, with a small group of judges who select the next year’s featured artist.
In addition to the festival, an Art Dash Party is held April 8 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center featuring an art auction. This year’s event is also its first with a title sponsor, Fidelity Investments.
“This is an opportunity for our community to be sparked for creativity, and have the opportunity to see something they may not [otherwise] be able to,” Carattini-Wright said.
Date: April 8 (Art Dash Party), April 9-10 (festival)
Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (9-10 a.m. early access for age 60 and older)
Cost: free (age 12 and under), $10 (single day for students), $15 (weekend for students), $15 (single day), $20 (weekend pass)
The Woodlands Waterway &
Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive,The Woodlands
www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.org
