Many Houstonians know and love the Museum District and our amazing downtown theaters. But how up-to-date are you on more eclectic parts of our arts scene? Welcome to your monthly guide to Houston’s arts and culture scene. No velvet ropes, no algorithms, just the best art exhibits, events, shows and more. Get ready to be inspired, and thanks for reading! See something we missed? Heard something worth sharing? Let us know about it!
Collage a Card for Mom | May 11 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tap into your artistic side and create a handmade, heartfelt card for your mom, or any mother figure you love! Asher: Off the Wall, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft’s retail space, is hosting a community collaging day for Mother’s Day. They will also provide complimentary gift wrapping or an upcycled gift basket for any gift purchases that day!
Bike Ride and Zine Workshop | May 13 | 6 - 9 p.m.
Find artistic inspiration in our city with a community bike ride! Hosted by two East Downtown neighborhood staples, this 8-mile bike ride begins at EaDo Bike Co. and ends at Equal Parts Brewing. You’ll make some friends and find some inspiration on the way, then at 7 p.m., you’ll bring those creative ideas to life with a zine workshop at Equal Parts Brewing. This is a fantastic way to get to know the zine community and learn how to create a zine yourself!
Reading poetry: Vincent Katz, with Kevin Prufer | May 15 | 6:30 p.m.
If you participated in the Houston Independent Bookstore Crawl in April, you may have heard of Basket Books & Art. Explore the more intimate side of the bookstore with their upcoming poetry reading this month. You’ll hear Vincent Katz read from his new collection, Daffodil and other poems, and he’ll be joined by Kevin Prufer, creative writing professor at the University of Houston. The reading promises “an encounter with the immediacy we must embrace to see the world around us with clarity.”
20th Century Main St. Architecture Walk | May 18 | 2 p.m.
Downtown Houston has some beautiful architecture, from the Art Deco masterpiece at the 1929 Gulf Bank Building to the former Sakowitz building that’s now a fancy marble-clad parking garage – only in H-town! Learn about downtown’s architecture and history with Preservation Houston’s Architecture Walk. This 90-minute guided walking tour with Preservation Houston highlights the history and architecture of significant buildings on Main Street, while also exploring the role that this street has played as Houston has grown.
Extremely Shorts Film Festival 2025 | May 30 - 31 | Various times
Houston’s iconic Aurora Picture Show has a brand new home in the East End! Help celebrate the arts nonprofit’s new digs with its annual film festival. Running for 28 years, this festival features contemporary short films from various genres and creative methods. This year’s lineup includes 30 films from all over the world, including Brazil, New Zealand, and Tunisia.
Other Upcoming Arts Events, Shows & Happenings:
- ELEVATE HER: A Special Weekend of Events Celebrating Local Female Artists | May 9 - 11 | Various times | Free, donations accepted | Alta Arts
- Musica Tra Amici in Schubertiade! | May 11 | 7 p.m. | $35 | MATCH in Midtown
- Opening Reception for Art League’s Spring ‘25 Exhibitions | May 16 | 6 - 8 p.m | Free | Art League Houston, Montrose
- Live music featuring Valen the Valentine | May 16 | 7 p.m. | $20 | The River Oaks Theatre
- Vanzant Driver Exhibition Opening | May 25 | 1 - 4 p.m. | Free | The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art: The Beer Can House
Editor’s Note: Vivian Nguyen is a freelance writer in Houston. For her day job, she is a curatorial administrative assistant at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The MFA had no role in these monthly picks.
