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    The Art School is part of The Contemporary Austin and can be found at the historic Laguna Gloria site, located at 3809 West 35th Street. The downtown exhibition space for The Contemporary is the Jones Center, located at 700 Congress Ave.

    Q. How do I register for classes?

    A: You may register Online, Phone, or in person at Laguna Gloria.

    Online: Click here to view Art School course offerings. Click the "Register Now" button within the listing of the course you wish to take. Create a new Active student profile, complete the checkout and all necessary forms and Submit.

    By Phone: Call (512) 323-6380, Monday through Sunday, between 9 am and 4 pm.

    In person: Stop by The Art School registration office at Laguna Gloria (3809 W. 35th St., First building on the left once you enter the grounds)

    Q: What are The Art School's Office Hours?

    A: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Sunday.

    Q: Who can attend classes at The Art School?

    A: Anyone! Adult classes are available for ages 18+. Children's classes are available by age group starting as young as 4 years old. Teen classes and Parent/Child workshops are also available.

    Q: When can I register for classes?

    A. Registrations are accepted all throughout the semester. Register early to secure your place in a high demand class!

    Q: When is tuition due?

    A: Tuition is due in full at the time of registration.

    Q: Is college credit available at The Art School?

    A: The Art School is not an accredited institution.

    Q: Do you have classes throughout the year?

    A: The Art School has three semesters annually:
    Spring: late January through mid-May
    Summer: late May through August
    Fall: mid-September through mid-December

    Q: Are there prerequisites for any courses?

    A: Check course descriptions as prerequisites may apply for certain courses.

    Q: Where do classes meet?

    A: Most classes meet at the Laguna Gloria location; however a few classes are offsite. Click below for directions.

    The Contemporary Austin at the Jones Center
    Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

    Map to Laguna Gloria
    Map of Laguna Gloria studio locations

    Q: Are your classrooms wheelchair accessible?

    A: Yes, Laguna Gloria Studios 1 through 8 have ground floor entrances.

    Q: Do you offer any financial assistance?

    A: Need-based scholarships are available. For online applications for students ages 4-14 click here, for students ages 14-18 click here, and for students ages 18+ click here Printable applications for youths ages 4-14 click here, for students 14-18 click here and for students 18+ click here. Mail scholarship requests to The Art School, 3809 W. 35th St. Austin, TX 78703. Please allow up to 4 weeks for processing. We award up to two scholarships per calendar year per individual and a maximum of two scholarships per semester per household.

    Q: What if I can't attend a class I am registered for?

    A: If you withdraw from a class before it begins with a minimum of 7 days notice, you will be refunded your tuition minus a $30 cancellation fee. Due to instructor/school preparation costs, no refunds will be granted 6 days or fewer prior to the class start date.

    Q: Can I switch to another class?

    A: Due to the large volume of students, there will be a $30 transfer fee each time you switch a class. Due to instructor/school preparation costs, no transfers will be granted 7 days or fewer prior to the class start date.

    Q: What about parking?

    A: Students in adult classes can park on the grounds of Laguna Gloria but parking is limited. Please let the front gate attendant know you are here for adult art class. If there are no spots available onsite, please park on West 35th street. When parking on West 35th street, do not leave any valuables in your car. For downtown classes at the Jones Center, metered street parking and paid garages are available at various locations downtown.

    Q: Can I buy food onsite?

    A: Yes. Breakfast and lunch are served during museum open hours Wednesday-Sunday from 8:30A-3P at Spread & Co, located next to the Visitor Information building. Please feel free to bring your own food or snacks, but keep in mind that no refrigeration is available. The Casis Village Shopping Center, which is just a few minutes down Exposition Blvd., has a few options, including Starbucks, Randall's, and Food Food.

    Q: What about cancelled classes?

    A: If a class is canceled by The Art School, participants in the class will be notified and offered a full refund.

    Q: I know I have a profile but I have forgotten my login.

    A: First try your email address. Otherwise please, call the office at (512) 323-6380 and we will send your profile information and help you register.

    Q: If I sign up my child for a morning and afternoon class in the Summer, will supervision be provided during the lunch hour?

    A: There is no adult supervision for children during the lunch hour. A parent or guardian MUST pick them up from the morning class and drop them off at their afternoon class.

    About

    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 out-of-doors, 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 two locations.

    Museum membership at certain levels gives you tuition discounts, preferential registration, invitations to openings, and other benefits. 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 Week-long Camps in the Summer
    Classes in painting, drawing, wheel throwing (pottery), photography, Photoshop, collage, mosaics, watercolor, pastels, glass, metal, and more!
    Classes start at various dates during the semester and registration is ongoing.

    For more information about registering, Click here.

    Volunteering

    The Contemporary Austin Art School accepts applications seasonally 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
    -Willingness 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 these attributes resonate with you, please follow the links below to our application forms.

    We are not currently accepting or reviewing volunteer applications - please check back in early August.

    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 volunteering!

    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, with a lifetime limit of 5 scholarships per individual. Applicants can expect to hear back in up to 4 weeks.

    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

    If you want to make a difference in the lives of students in need by supporting Art School scholarships—make your gift to the Education Fund today!

    Contact

    To reach The Art School staff:
    Phone: 512-323-6380
    E-mail: artschool@thecontemporaryaustin.org

    Art School Staff
    Manager of Registration and Student Affairs: Ariel Spiegelman

    Administrative Coordinator: Katherine Vaughn

    Studio Coordinator: Alissa Neal

    Ceramics Coordinator: James Tisdale

    Registration Assistant: Ruby Bronaugh

    Mailing Address
    The Art School
    3809 W. 35th St.
    Austin, TX 78703

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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
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