Thanks to our dedicated faculty, staff, and students, we are thrilled to be able to continue offering your favorite Art School courses during this time of social distancing.
At this time, most course offerings remain online, with a small selection of in-studio courses with limited capacity restrictions and stringent social distancing measures.
BROWSE SPRING & SUMMER 2021 CLASSES
SUMMER 2021 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
We are excited to offer a broad selection of indoor and outdoor on-site classes for children and adults this summer; there's something for everyone's level of comfort! We will continue to follow the guidelines suggested by health authorities, including reduced capacity to allow for social distancing and a requirement that students wear masks while on-site.
If you are not quite ready to head back to Laguna Gloria or are interested in taking classes from afar, we'll continue to offer a wide variety of online classes for all ages!
Visit this page for updates on when the full course listing will be available to view.
Please reach out to artschool@thecontemporaryaustin.org with any questions.
About
To better serve our students and our mission, most of our Art School classes require a museum membership. JOIN AS A MEMBER TODAY to get started! Full details on Art School membership can be found here.
The Art School is located on the fourteen-acre Lake Austin site of historic Laguna Gloria, a natural setting conducive to the creation of art. Our studios have direct access to the outdoors, and we encourage you to explore the grounds while working on class projects. Our goal is to foster your creativity, enhance your visual awareness, and improve your technical skills in your chosen medium. Our small classes increase your interactions with our credentialed and talented faculty members.
Having recently celebrated our 50th anniversary, the Art School continues to strive to maintain the highest standards of educational excellence, offering you the added bonus of experiencing changing exhibitions at The Contemporary Austin's two locations.
There are so many ways to enjoy the Art School and our campus at the beautiful Laguna Gloria, so whether you are a beginning student, a serious amateur, or a returning artist, we invite you to enroll.
We have classes for ages four through adult.
Adult Classes: Weekdays, Evenings, and Weekends
Kids' Classes: Saturdays and Sundays, and Weeklong Camps in the Summer
Classes are offered in mediums including painting, drawing, wheel throwing (pottery), photography, Photoshop, collage, mosaics, watercolor, pastels, jewelry, glass, metal, and more! Classes start at various dates during the semester and registration is ongoing.
For more information about registering, click here.
Volunteering & Internships
The Contemporary Austin Art School accepts applications year round from volunteers ages 13 and up to assist in all classes, with a particular emphasis on children’s classes.
The Art School seeks volunteers who:
- Enjoy working with children—experience is preferred, but not required.
- Enjoy art! Again, an arts background is a plus, but not necessary.
- Are willing to make a commitment to attend all classes, arriving 15 minutes early to help with setup and staying 15 minutes late to help with cleanup.
If this sounds like you, please follow the links below to our application forms:
Teen Volunteer Application Form
Adult Volunteer Application Form
If the Art School has a volunteer opportunity that suits your stated availability and experience level, we will contact you to confirm schedules. Thank you for your interest!
Scholarships
Students and families demonstrating financial need are eligible to apply for scholarships to the Art School. We award up to two scholarships per year per individual and a maximum of two scholarships per semester per household. Download the appropriate application at the link below. For additional assistance or inquiries, please contact the Art School office at 512 323 6380 or email us at artschool@thecontemporaryaustin.org.
Printable: YOUTH (ages 4-13) Scholarship Application
Online: YOUTH (ages 4-13) Scholarship Application
Printable: TEEN (ages14-18) Scholarship Application
Online: TEEN (ages14-18) Scholarship Application
Printable: ADULT (ages 19+) Scholarship Application
Online: ADULT (ages 19+) Scholarship Application
Art School scholarships for underserved youth ages 4 through 18 and senior citizens over the age of 65 are supported by a generous $25,000 gift to the Education Fund from the Estate of Maxie G. Templeton. As the largest gift toward the scholarship program in the history of the Art School, this gift from the Templeton Estate will expand access to classes for students in need, planting the seed for lifelong participation in the arts in young learners and enriching the lives of seniors.
You, too, can make a difference in the lives of students in need by supporting Art School scholarships—make your gift to the Education Fund today!
Art School Scholarships sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Teaching
The Art School is always looking for excellent teachers with exciting new course ideas. We take pride in the high quality of our instruction and the student-centered learning environment offered here at the Art School. Please review our website to become familiar with the subjects we currently offer.
Faculty Requirements:
- BA or MFA in studio art, art education, or relevant teaching subject
- Minimum of 2 years' teaching experience
- Teaching certification preferred for children and teen instructors (but relevant experience may be substituted)
- Demonstrated expertise in teaching field
- High level of quality in personal artwork
- High level of personal motivation and dependability
- Ability to work independently
- Punctuality
- Skilled in organizing subject material in incremental steps designed for beginners, or whatever skill level the class encompasses
- Ability to nurture, encourage, and support the creativity of children and/or adult students
You may apply to teach existing classes or include a proposal for a new class. Please complete the application at this link: Class Submission and Instructor Application
Contact
To reach the Art School staff:
Phone: 512 323 6380
E-mail: artschool@thecontemporaryaustin.org
Art School Staff
Director: Matt Hoggle
Registration Coordinator: Ariel Spiegelman
Studio Coordinator: Samantha Kalson
Ceramics Coordinator: James Tisdale
Mailing Address:
The Art School at Laguna Gloria
3809 West 35th Street
Austin, TX 78703