By:  Davila                                            H.R. No. 562
       73R9204 NBM-F
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Houston International Festival, one of the
    1-2  largest celebrations of arts and international culture in the
    1-3  United States today, will mark its 22nd year with 10 exciting and
    1-4  colorful days of music, dancing, art, and fun that will begin on
    1-5  April 22, 1993; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, This popular event, which began in 1972 as a small
    1-7  street festival called Main Street, has grown over the years to
    1-8  become the city of Houston's official celebration of cultural arts,
    1-9  annually attracting more than a million visitors; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, This year, in keeping with the tradition established
   1-11  in 1988 of honoring a specific country each year, the festival's
   1-12  theme will be A Salute to Mexico, which will focus on Mexico's
   1-13  performing and visual arts and provide festival goers with a unique
   1-14  blend of offerings by local, regional, and national artists; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, The festival will encompass 20 blocks in downtown
   1-16  Houston and feature seven outdoor stages with more than 1,800
   1-17  performing artists; among the myriad attractions will be dance,
   1-18  theater, visual arts, and music to suit almost any taste, including
   1-19  folk, country, cajun and zydeco, blues, jazz, and rock; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, In conjunction with the annual event, the festival
   1-21  will offer an education program to be used in area schools to
   1-22  promote an increased awareness among students of the arts, culture,
   1-23  language, geography, government, and customs of Mexico; other
   1-24  highlights of the event will be the Mayor's Gala, an international
    2-1  business seminar, the 5K Fun Run, the Tour & Travel Program, and
    2-2  Roadside Attractions:  The Artists Parade, a unique parade
    2-3  featuring ornamented automobiles and mobile sculpture designed by
    2-4  artists from throughout the country; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, The Houston International Festival is truly a
    2-6  significant cultural event that promotes understanding and
    2-7  appreciation of the world's peoples, a contribution that is indeed
    2-8  deserving of special legislative recognition and encouragement;
    2-9  now, therefore, be it
   2-10        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-11  Legislature hereby honor the Houston International Festival and
   2-12  extend sincere best wishes to the many dedicated and hardworking
   2-13  individuals who have worked so diligently to ensure that the
   2-14  festival will be a perennial success; and, be it further
   2-15        RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
   2-16  for the organizers of the Houston International Festival and the
   2-17  Consulate General of Mexico as an expression of high regard by the
   2-18  Texas House of Representatives.