FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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. Please note that most of our classes require a museum membership.
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: Parking on-campus at Laguna Gloria is reserved for TCA staff, Art School Faculty, visitors/students who are pregnant or have ADA certification, and event vendors. Students are invited to park along West 35th St. both in the laneway leading to the lake and along the street-parking spaces extending from Laguna Gloria towards Camp Mabry and beyond. Please be aware that parking for Laguna Gloria is not permitted at the neighboring Mayfield Nature Preserve. And remember to take any valuables in your car with you.
ART SCHOOL PARKING EXCEPTIONS
-Art School Students may park on-site for evening classes from 5:30 pm on if there are no other TCA Events taking priority.
-TCA events or partnerships may require special parking plans to be implemented by the Operations Department. Any changes to the standard parking policy in light of events will be relayed to students via email.
-TCA Leadership can change or alter this policy at any time.
*If you require any parking accommodation, please feel free to reach out to the Art School office via phone call or email for assistance.
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.
Volunteering
The Contemporary Austin Art School accepts applications seasonally from volunteers ages 13 and up to assist in Spring and Fall 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.
The Art School will begin accepting volunteer applications August 1st. Our Fall children's classes will take place on Saturdays in the morning (9am-12pm) and afternoon (1pm-4pm) September through December 2023!
Here are the dates for our fall kids' class sessions:
September 9 - September 30
October 7 - November 4
*Please make sure you can attend every Saturday before signing up to volunteer.
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
Accounts and Administrative Manager: Rigo Guerrero
Studio Coordinator: Alissa Neal
Ceramics Coordinator: James Tisdale
Registration Assistant: Ruby Bronaugh
Mailing Address
The Art School
3809 W. 35th St.
Austin, TX 78703