The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) organization recently held its 15^th annual Arts in the Airport Workshop in Houston. The two-day workshop is the only one of its kind dedicated to art and culture programs in airports.

“Houston had the second largest attendance in this workshop’s 15-year history, which says a lot for a city that is recovering from devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey,” said Tommy Gregory, Public Arts Program Interim Director. “We proved that Houston has so much to celebrate, and we are a destination for the visual arts.

 The Houston Airport System fosters a collection valued at approximately $40 million dollars and approximately 76% of the collection was created by Texas-based artists. 

The workshop highlighted both the art programs throughout George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), as well as those of large and small airports across the U.S. and Canada. Workshop attendees gained insight on the the public relations and monetary value of an art program, how to begin and maintain a program, and trusted best practices for a successful program. The conference attendees toured the collections at both airports and were hosted by Houston’s finest art museums and galleries including the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and McClain Gallery to name a few.