The Woodlands' 50th Anniversary Community
BY VANESSA HOLT
Editor's note: This story is part of a monthly series that Community Impact will run through the 50th anniversary of The Woodlands in October 2024 highlighting the community.
The need for an organized arts presence in The Woodlands emerged as the region became more of a destination for those looking for culture and entertainment since the community’s inception in 1974. Fifteen years after the Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion opened as an outdoor music venue in 1990, The Woodlands Waterway Art Festival devel- oped through a collaboration of the Pavilion, Visit The Woodlands and The Woodlands Development Company, said Jenny Carattini-Wright, executive director of The Woodlands Arts Council. The arts council itself is a nonprot organization that developed because of the festival, she said. “Once the festival started to make money, that’s when we kind of jumped into our education out- reach programs, and then that triggered the public art experience,” she said. “... We’ve ... continued to grow and continue to have success with the arts festival in the community—really embracing us as a hometown event.” The inspiration While the festival itself brings together about 200 artists from around the world, as well as local artists, the eorts it fuels have given back $1.4 million to the community in the form of arts schol- arships and microgrant programs for teachers. The scholarships are available to any high school students in Montgomery County, and the micro- grants developed in 2020 as the council looked for a way to make an impact on the community amid the coronavirus pandemic. The grants are available to music teachers, art teachers and performing arts teachers. The festival will reach its 20th anniversary in 2025, and the arts council will hold a 50th anniver- sary program, “A Golden Vision,” for The Wood- lands at its newly established location at 9450 Grogans Mill Road, Ste. 160, with an invitational for artists to display art in May, June and July. Festival brings outdoor art market to The Woodlands since 2005
The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, which was rst held in 2005, features outdoor art and performances along The Woodlands Waterway.
Jenny Carattini-Wright is executive director of The Woodlands Arts Council.
“Water Break” by Regina Lyubovnaya is featured in this year’s arts festival.
What’s next In addition to the annual festival, the arts coun- cil plans several other inaugural events this year to expand on the arts presence in The Woodlands as well as its continuing annual scholarship. • The rst Young Makers Market at Market Street will take place Sept. 7 • The new market allows students ages 8-18 to sell their original creations. • The Texas Fine Craft Show will be held indoors at The Woodlands Resort on Nov. 1-3. • The Woodlands Arts Council Student Art Schol- arship is awarded each year.
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Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.org
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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