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Explore Austin museums for free with Bank of America's Museums on Us program

A popular museum promotion by Bank of America has come to Austin, giving BofA cardholders free admission to some of the city’s favorite museums on the first weekend of every month.

The Austin Children’s Museum and the AMOA-Arthouse museums have joined BofA’s Museums on Us program, which includes more than 150 cultural centers and museums in 31 states across the nation. The program is in its 16th season.

“AMOA-Arthouse is delighted to join Bank of America in this exciting program,” said executive director Louis Grachos. “We look forward to reaching a larger population and welcome them to see engaging exhibitions at our two locations, the Jones Center and Laguna Gloria.”

The next weekend available for free admission is the weekend of February 2-3.

Current exhibitions at the Jones Center through February 24 include Nick Cave: Hiding in Plain Sight, and Andy Coolquitt: Attainable Excellence. At Laguna Gloria through February 17, casts of cartoon animals offer a unique view of U.S./Mexico border relations in Michael Menchaca’s New Works, while Bethany Johnson and Ann Tarantino take new risks in SHAPESHIFTING: New Methods of Drawing.

The next Museums on Us weekend also coincides with the opening of a new exhibit at the children’s museum. “ThinkMakeDo” blends science, engineering and art in an innovative and creative setting. Austin Children's Museum visitors can also enjoy the permanent exhibits such as Global City and Tinkerer’s Workshop.

“In a city full of culture and ingenuity, the Museums on Us program is a fantastic opportunity for Austin area families to gain increased access to the arts. We welcome this partnership and look forward to inspiring more young minds through the program,” said Mike Nellis, Austin Children’s Museum executive director.

Bank of America's Museums on Us promotion continues through December.

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Interactive art space Meow Wolf broadcasts Texas opening, radio theme

Photo by Tarick Foteh

Travel to another dimension at Meow Wolf.

Art-loving Texans will soon have a new venue to explore. Houston’s Meow Wolf has set its opening date and revealed the theme that governs its interactive installations.

Set to open on October 31, Houston’s Meow Wolf will be called Radio Tave — a riff on “radio wave.” Described in press materials as a radio station that’s been transported to another dimension, Meow Wolf visitors will be able to explore dozens of rooms filled with interactive elements such as hidden doors, paths, and portals.

For those unfamiliar, Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based art collective that’s opening its fifth installation in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Think of it as a choose your own adventure contemporary art museum loaded with sculptures, murals, video, and light and sound artworks that each contribute a small piece of the overall theme.

Towards that end, Radio Tave will be stocked with a mix of characters — some created for the venue and others that nod to Meow Wolf’s installations in four other U.S. cities, including the Dallas suburb of Grapevine. That includes a radio station with the call letters ETNL and its own slogan, “Big Sounds From Little Thicket.” As seen in the photos above, the radio station already has a website with a placeholder page.

“Houston is a powerhouse of creativity, and our artists and collaborators have been channeling that electric energy into this exhibition for years,” Meow Wolf CEO Jose Tolosa said in a statement. “They've taken it to the next level, capturing the city's vibrancy in every corner of the experience. We can't wait for you to step inside and explore it for yourself.”

As CultureMap has previously reported, a diverse ensemble of more than 50 contributing artists from Texas has collaborated with Meow Wolf’s in-house artist team to bring the facility to life. The list of local creative superstars included such well know artists as innovative theatrical set and puppet designer Afsaneh Aayani, art activist Kill Joy, and two longtime pillars of Houston’s installation and immersive art community in Dan Havel and Dean Ruck of Havel Ruck Projects.

"The visuals and soundscapes of Radio Tave are on another level,” senior creative producer Susie Cowan added. “Visitors will be immersed in a rich, multi-sensory experience that invites them to explore a world that feels both vast and deeply personal."

Meow Wolf Cowboix Hevvven jukebox Cowboix Hevvven's jukebox will feature 30 tracks recorded by Texas artists. Photo by Kate Russell

Meow Wolf will feature a venue space, a gift shop, and Cowboix Hevvven, a dive bar-inspired bar and restaurant that will offer “otherworldly Texan hospitality and comfort food.” Cole Bee Wilson, a fifth generation Texan and Meow Wolf’s lead artist, took the lead in creating Cowboix Hevvven. True to the venue’s theme, it will feature a jukebox with 30 songs created by Texas artists for Meow Wolf.

Annual season passes are currently on sale for $84. They include unlimited visits to the venue and perks such as a 10-percent discount at both the gift shop and Cowboix Hevvven.

Subscribers to Meow Wolf’s email list may purchase single-day passes beginning September 24. General tickets will go on sale October 1.

Photo by Tarick Foteh

Travel to another dimension at Meow Wolf.

meow wolf openings visual-art