Opening Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 11 am - 7 pm Thursday: 11 am - 9 pm Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm Sunday: 1 - 5 pm

admission is free

The mission of Arthouse is to promote the growth and appreciation of contemporary art and artists in Texas. Through its exhibitions and programs in Austin and statewide, Arthouse helps nurture artists' careers and deepen public understanding of contemporary art.

History

Arthouse has a proud history of mapping the future of the visual arts in Texas. It is both the oldest statewide visual arts organization in Texas, and the only one devoted solely to contemporary art. Founded as the Texas Fine Arts Association (TFAA) in 1911, the organization's initial purpose was to maintain the studio and collection of the internationally celebrated sculptor Elisabet Ney. Soon, TFAA's mission was to promote and give identity to the visual arts in Texas. The Association's early leadership helped to establish the studio art department at The University of Texas at Austin, promote the formation of a state arts commission, and found some of the state's major art museums.

In 1927 TFAA began a visual arts touring program that brought selected works of art to communities throughout the state. In 1943, Clara Driscoll deeded her Austin estate, Laguna Gloria, to TFAA who operated the facility as an art museum until 1961 when the Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Inc. assumed that responsibility. Until the fall of 1998, TFAA maintained its state headquarters in the carriage house on the property, and annually held three exhibitions in the main building.

In 1995 TFAA's Board of Directors took a bold step to assure the organization's future by purchasing the property at 700 Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin. Three years after the building's purchase, TFAA opened its new headquarters, the Jones Center for Contemporary Art, in November of 1998.

The opening of the Jones Center marked the beginning of a new phase in TFAA's already long and impressive history. The Jones Center is a sophisticated urban space unlike any other in Austin, where a year-round schedule of exciting contemporary art exhibitions and creative, innovative programming is presented free to all visitors. The Jones Center has achieved a reputation as a place to gain insight into current trends in contemporary art and be inspired by the art of our time. In November of 2002, the name of the organization was officially changed from the Texas Fine Arts Association to Arthouse.

Arthouse not only plays a vital role in the cultural landscape of the community, but also functions as a resource for Texas-based artists. In addition to exhibitions and programming, Arthouse offers access to an Emergency Relief Fund, affordable health insurance, membership banking and credit union opportunities, discounts on art materials and art publications, and its own newsletter, Arthouse News.

Arthouse's community includes artists, students, the general public and patrons, and the organization currently serves an average of 50,000 people annually. Arthouse's exhibitions are conceived to give audiences greater access to and understanding of contemporary art. Programming is designed to provide a context in which that art can be experienced in a meaningful way. Arthouse's structured educational programs focus on high school-aged students, while informal learning opportunities are geared to adults of all ages, including Austin's large university student population. Special efforts are made to collaborate with other arts and community organizations in order to foster a more active and vibrant cultural climate throughout the state. Arthouse is proud to continue to promote the growth and appreciation of contemporary art and artists in Texas.