Houston International Festival
houston international festival also known ifest contemporary multidisciplinary multicultural art music festival held annually houston texas north american festival take place every april acre downtown houston park plaza city ordinance annual day event houston official city celebration visual performing art according article houston chronicle ifest announced june seeking chapter bankruptcy protection making clear fest would last ever festival annual downtown event celebrates music dance culture around world early festival featured almost exclusively local act festival grew international nationally known artist recently george clinton steel pulse eddie palmieri ozomatli scheduled addition regional local performer festival feature vendor selling local international food craft ifest also feature six eight art market artist including juried art market festival large area dedicated cultural educational exhibit depicting different culture footprint divided zone one focusing specific culture food exhibit entertainment living museum represents spotlighted culture year iconic structure interactive exhibit artisan demonstration performance festival impact houston tourism economy drawing tourist attendance generates local state touristbased tax million houston international festival owned houston festival foundation inc c organization us proceeds festival yearround art education program schoolchildren greater houston area main street name given salute art held downtown—a weekend happening celebration highlighting performing visual art sidewalk street store window located dallas mckinney main street houston texas sakowitz foleys department store cultural affair committee houston chamber commerce blessing mayor louie welch sponsored event beginning cultural salute grew evolved today houston international festival ifest began featuring art culture different honoured country year began complementing local artist regional national international artist today international component set tone evolving celebration world culture houston main street art happening moved downtown houston texas city ordinance prohibited street closing houston museum fine art ground across contemporary art museum still main midtown attempt outdoorindoor celebration created safety concern crowd pedestrian crossing street art happening moved hermann park near museum expanded two weekend help minimize risk inclement weather affecting attendance event named houston festival remained next ten year organizational structure changed creation houston festival foundation c nonprofit board director budget separate houston chamber commerce sponsorship foundation still remains producing entity today festival moved back downtown time two stage across alley theatre jones hall jones plaza attendance grew expansion limited site festival moved larger potential site market square order accommodate growing number participant attendee houston festival foundation nonprofit c organization spun independent entity houston chamber commerce mission celebrate promote art houston rest world supported city houston houston cultural art council greater houston convention visitor council board director hired first president rochella cooper immediately set involve performing visual literary art organization individual promoting houston festival festival expanded location encompass next six year twenty downtown block including nine performing stage fine craft artist outdoor sculpture exhibition along bank buffalo bayou involvement major art organization houston symphony houston grand opera houston ballet alley theatre free public president charged board director developing five year plan would include important sesquicentennial houston texas plan emerged big event first art car parade took place houston festival exposing thousand attendee creativity art car maker new music america national showcase new music chose houston annual gathering top professional genre including world renowned composer john cage rendezvous houston highlighting anniversary houston texas sesquicentennial celebration biggest event ever staged houston produced centerpiece houston festival laser firework danced around skyscraper downtown accompanied french composer jeanmichel jarres original music composition june president rochella cooper resigned accept opportunity dr james austin hired late summer board set reexamine path future festival began expansion basic concept event adding nowestablished education business collaboration program name celebration changed houston international festival celebrate houston role international city following event plan developed spotlight art culture individual country region world year request assistance participating government highest level possible point board director decided charge admission festival fenced entire area contain event australia first country honor international theme presenting amalgam country culture art different country region alternate part globe selected spotlight thereafter although festival continued build performing stage ensure ongoing presentation art throughout world twoweek event continued new pattern spotlight france followed united kingdom japan spain new world mexico italy turkey west africa china island caribbean southern africa brazil millennium ireland revisit france mexico twenty year city ordinance regarding festival unique status lapsed downtown houston throe major renaissance urban development street improvement possible congestion factor presented foundation need examination alternative site houston international festival moved south time following track metro new light rail transportation line better access space reliant park houston international festival turned towards asia first spotlight thailand festival plaza reliant park five asian elephant joined programming mix special appeal family houston international festival returned previous downtown footprint covering acre downtown houston park plaza ifest turned spotlight india jamaica china houston international festival offered new twist honored country theme theme ifest africa three journey celebrated rich history achievement contribution triumph african people africa caribbean latin america united state rest world ifest returned honored country theme revisited culture ireland honored region houston international festival caribbean silk road – theme houston international festival follows route marco polo focus china india culture silk road honored country argentina honored country brazil australia becomes honored country theme june houston festival foundation announces plan file chapter bankruptcy inception artist houston primary source programming ifest began featuring art culture different honored country year began complementing local artist regional national international artist festival popular event texas world music afropop blue rock country reggae soul cajun zydeco almost music fan event feature hundred performer six ten stage including many internationally touring artist festival become one premier music festival state texas performer appeared festival include ifestorg