Arts in Context

Local artists with disabilities create, craft and sell work at Arc of the Arts

Arc of the Arts bridges local artists with disabilities and the greater art community.

Photo by KLRU Arts in Context Shorts

Editor's note: CultureMap is proud to present the latest installment in our partnership with KLRU's documentary series Arts in Context Shorts. This unique series celebrates stories about the arts in Austin and the people who make this such a vibrant and creative city.

This month, Arts in Context Shorts takes a look at an art education program that gives real career opportunities for people with disabilities. Arc of the Arts Studio & Gallery, located at 4902 Grover Ave., teaches artists to refine their craft and provides a retail outlet to sell their works, thus providing an artistic bridge between artists with developmental challenges and the community.

The mission of Arc of the Arts is to highlight the capabilities and creativity of our disabled neighbors. With a boost in confidence, these Austinites are able to redefine their label from “disabled” to “artist." In addition to a dynamic identity, artists are given an opportunity to talk about their work while developing stronger social and interpersonal skills.

On October 22, Arc of the Arts is holding the 15th Annual Building Bridges Art Celebration and Auction. This gala highlights the talent of the Arc of the Arts artists and features more than 150 original artworks from both Arc of the Arts artists and local artists.

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS is dedicated to telling stories that entertain, inspire and change our lives. KLRU highlights what makes Austin unique — whether music, arts or public issues — by creating and distributing award-winning original content. KLRU produces several series including Austin City Limits, Arts In Context, Central Texas Gardener, Civic Summit and Overheard with Evan Smith. As a nonprofit educational organization, KLRU also prepares children to succeed in school and creates lifelong learning opportunities for all.

New

Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Elisabet Ney Museum Austin

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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