• About

    About

    • Jones Center on Congress Avenue
    • Laguna Gloria
    • Shop at The Contemporary
    • Mission
    • History
    • Board of Trustees
    • Suzanne Deal Booth / FLAG Art Foundation Prize
    • Contact

    Showcasing two renowned and architecturally unique locations, The Contemporary Austin brings multidisciplinary exhibitions, engaging programs, and enticing special events to the city's visual arts landscape.

  • Exhibitions

    Exhibitions

    • Current
      • Deborah Roberts: I'm
      • Torbjørn Rødland: Bible Eye
      • Deborah Roberts, Little man, little man
      • Jim Hodges: With Liberty and Justice for All (A Work in Progress)
      • Museum Without Walls at Pease Park
    • Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria
    • Upcoming
      • Crit Group Reunion
      • Daniel Johnston: I Live My Broken Dreams
    • Past
  • Events

    Events

    • Planning a visit? Click or tap the calendar to view the day's scheduled events.

      Planning your own event? Click here for information and current promotions.
    • View Upcoming Events

    • Art Dinner
  • Visit

    Visit

    • Hours
    • Admission & Ticket Reservations
    • Directions and Parking
    • Visitor Guidelines & Safety Measures
    • The Contemporary from Home: Digital Resources

    The Contemporary Austin is now open in a limited capacity. Click here to learn more.

  • Explore

    Explore

    • For Artists
    • For Schools
    • For Teachers
    • Community Outreach
    • Docents
    • For Families
      • Second Saturdays
      • Action Packs
      • Drop-In Tours
      • Art School
      • Austin Museum Day
    • For Teens

    The Contemporary Austin offers diverse, engaging ways to explore contemporary art and culture, including innovative opportunities and experiences for families, young people, artists, and educators.

  • Join/Support

    Join/Support

    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Give to the Education Fund
    • Planned Giving
    • Get Involved
      • Volunteers
      • Teen Volunteers
      • Docents
      • Internships
      • Careers
  • Art School

    Art School

    The acclaimed Art School at Laguna Gloria offers classes for ages four through adult in painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, photography, sculpture, digital media, and more. Summer 2021 registration now open!

    • About
    • Registration
    • Faculty
    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Class Listings
    Browse available courses
  • Site Rentals

About

  • Jones Center on Congress Avenue
  • Laguna Gloria
  • Mission
  • History
  • Board of Trustees
  • Suzanne Deal Booth / FLAG Art Foundation Prize
  • Contact
  • Mission

    The Contemporary Art Museum for Austin

    Mission: The Contemporary Austin reflects the spectrum of contemporary art through exhibitions, commissions, education, and the collection.

    Vision: The Contemporary Austin aspires to be the contemporary art museum for Austin and an essential part of city life. Through its unique combination of urban and outdoor sites, The Contemporary will embody an eclectic and collaborative spirit.

    History

    The Contemporary Austin comprises two locations: the historic Jones Center on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin, and Laguna Gloria, a unique, fourteen-acre art-in-nature site that includes the landmark Driscoll Villa, the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park, the Art School at Laguna Gloria, and the Moody Pavilions.

    Jones Center on Congress Avenue

    1851
    The first three-story brick building in Austin is constructed on the corner of 7th Street and Congress Avenue.

    1877
    Tobin’s Drug Store opens at 700 Congress Avenue.

    1911
    Texas Fine Arts Association (TFAA) is formed.

    1926
    700 Congress Avenue becomes the Queen Theater, featuring a balcony and proscenium stage.

    1956
    Lerner Shops moves into 700 Congress and renovates by adding storefront windows, a second floor, and a new front elevation on Congress, including an awning over the sidewalk.

    1995
    Texas Fine Arts Association purchases the vacant building at 700 Congress and renovates the first floor.

    1998
    TFAA / The Jones Center for Contemporary Art opens to the public.

    2002
    TFAA changes its name to Arthouse at the Jones Center.

    2008
    Arthouse unveils the renovation and expansion plans for the Jones Center, designed by Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis Architects.

    2010
    Arthouse at the Jones Center reopens.

    2011
    Arthouse at the Jones Center and the Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) celebrate 100 and 50 years, respectively. At the same time, the two institutions formalize a merger under the temporary name AMOA-Arthouse, rejoining the two primary organizations that constituted the Texas Fine Arts Association.

    2013
    AMOA-Arthouse debuts its new name and brand: The Contemporary Austin.

    2015
    The Contemporary Austin was awarded a $1.3 million grant from The Moody Foundation, making possible a major renovation of its downtown location.

    2016
    In December 2016, The Contemporary Austin celebrated the Grand Reopening of the renovated Jones Center and the debut of The Moody Rooftop. The project was led by LTL Architects (later awarded the 2017 Best of Design Awards for Adaptive Reuse by The Architect's Newspaper).

    Laguna Gloria

    1911
    Texas Fine Arts Association (TFAA) is formed.

    1943
    Texas legend Clara Driscoll donates her lakeside, 1916 estate in west Austin to be used “as a Museum to bring pleasure in the appreciation of art to the people of Texas.”

    1961
    TFAA splits into two separate entities. Laguna Gloria Art Museum is created with the purpose of owning and operating the museum and grounds, and presenting exhibitions and educational programs in the Driscoll Villa.

    1983
    The Art School’s 4,100-square foot facility is constructed on the grounds of Laguna Gloria.

    1996
    Laguna Gloria Art Museum changes its name to Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) and moves its primary exhibition space to 823 Congress Avenue.

    2003
    The Driscoll Villa and gardens and key features of The Art School complex are refurbished and restored through a successful $3.6 million Laguna Gloria Renewal Project.

    2008
    The historic Gatehouse is restored and the Art School studios expanded by 2,500-square feet of new ceramics and painting space.

    2011
    Arthouse at the Jones Center and the Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) celebrate 100 and 50 years, respectively. At the same time, the two institutions formalize a merger under the temporary name AMOA-Arthouse, rejoining the two primary organizations that constituted the Texas Fine Arts Association.

    2013
    AMOA-Arthouse debuts its new name and brand: The Contemporary Austin.

    The Edward and Betty Marcus Foundation awards The Contemporary Austin a $9 million grant to support the creation of the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria.

    2014
    The landscape architecture firm Reed Hilderbrand is engaged in a Master Plan that will transform Laguna Gloria into an exceptional space for the public to experience art in a vibrant natural setting.

    2017
    The Contemporary Austin embarks on Phase I of the Master Plan, including Invasive Species Removal and Heritage Tree Preservation at Laguna Gloria. Learn more here.

    Reed Hilderbrand is recognized with the 2017 Excellence Award in Analysis and Planning from the Boston Society of Landscape Architects for its ongoing work at the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria.

    Read more about the history of Laguna Gloria in "Glorious Renewal," published in the Austin Chronicle, March 25, 2015, or here in the Austin-American Statesman, May 6, 2016.

    2019
    The Contemporary Austin unveils the new Moody Pavilions at Laguna Gloria, featuring a new visitor center, museum café, and artist-designed museum shop.

    Board of Trustees

    Kathleen Irvin Loughlin, Chair
    Valerie Armstrong, President
    Rachel Arnold, Treasurer
    Milam Newby, Secretary

    Wilson Allen
    Charles Attal
    Alexander Birchler
    Suzanne Deal Booth
    Annette Dimeo Carlozzi
    Deborah Dupré
    James Dyess
    Kristin Gish
    Deborah Green
    Danny Hamilton
    Jannette Keating
    Jeanne Klein
    Mickey Klein
    Richard Marcus
    Tracey Marshall
    Chris Mattsson
    Kelley Cooper McClure
    Fredericka Middleton
    Don Mullins
    Ryann Rangel
    Elizabeth Stanley
    Rodney Susholtz
    Margo Tate
    Jill Turner
    Zarmeena Vendal
    Leslie Ward
    Melba Whatley
    Teresa Windham
    Matty Wishnow

    Contact

    LAGUNA GLORIA
    3809 West 35th Street
    Austin, Texas 78703
    512 458 8191
    Art School: 512 323 6380

    JONES CENTER ON CONGRESS AVENUE
    700 Congress Avenue
    Austin, Texas 78701
    512 453 5312

    The Contemporary Austin does not accept unsolicited submissions of art.

    Email:

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    Jones Center
    700 Congress Avenue
    Austin, Texas 78701
    512 453 5312
    Laguna Gloria
    3809 West 35th Street
    Austin, Texas 78703
    512 458 8191
    The Art School
    3809 West 35th Street
    Austin, Texas 78703
    512 323 6380
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    • About
      • Jones Center on Congress Avenue
      • Laguna Gloria
      • Shop at The Contemporary
      • Mission
      • History
      • Board of Trustees
      • Suzanne Deal Booth / FLAG Art Foundation Prize
      • Contact
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Past
      • Upcoming
      • Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park
    • Events
      • Upcoming Events
      • Past
      • Special Events
      • Site Rentals
    • Visit
      • Hours
      • Past Events
      • Directions and Parking
      • Accommodations
      • Tours
    • Explore
      • For Artists
      • For Schools
      • For Teachers
      • Community Outreach
      • Docents
      • For Families
      • For Teens
    • Join/Support
      • Membership
      • Donate
      • Get Involved
      • Careers
      • 2021 Support
      • Corporate Support
    • Art School
      • About
      • Faculty
      • Registration
      • FAQ
    • Site Rentals