Open Art House

Here's how to explore all of Austin's best museums for free

Sunday, September 18, is the 19th annual Austin Museum Day.

Had enough Netflix? Bored with brunch? Devote this Sunday to discovering arts and culture with Austin Museum Day. A cultural city-wide open house in its 19th year, the Austin Museum Partnership’s event offers access local cultural gems — for free.

There are 36 museums and organizations participating, so this event has something for everyone. See the full list of participants here, and check out our picks for the best of Austin Museum Day.

Asian American Resource Center
Mad about fabrics? Drop in for a workshop on traditional Asian fabrics. At 1 pm, a Batik workshop will showcase Indonesian tradition using wax and dye. The Japanese Shibori technique will on the agenda at 3 pm. It may be a little advanced for the kiddos, who will have a ball in the meantime making Shibori snowflakes and more. Check out compelling Asian artwork, including an outdoor installation of origami lanterns.

Austin Toy Museum
Head east for big fun. With toys spanning from the early 1900s to modern amusements, this new museum features a carefully curated collection of over 40,000 items. The bulk of these toys come from Autism specialist Caleb Zammit's staggering 20,000 piece collection, mostly of toys from the '80s, comic books, and video games. The hands-on wonderland rotates its displays to keep things interesting. Stop in to play classic video games or check out a diorama.

The Contemporary Austin
While we await the opening of the Jones Center, check out the awe inspiring outdoor art installations at the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria. In addition to the permanent large-scale collection on Lake Austin, Laguna Gloria will feature aerial performers Sky Candy at 1 pm and 2 pm, as well as a mobile planetarium. Make your mark on the graffiti wall or chow down on food from Wholly Cow, Rosarito, The Great Y'all, and Cold Ones Pops, who will set up shop for the day. This event is family-friendly and sure to be memorable.

French Legation Museum
Play French lawn games and enjoy a picnic to celebrate the oldest building in Austin. Tucked away on the east side, this historical building used to belong to a diplomat. Put your pinkies up and take a tour through this architectural gem. Bring a blanket and picnic basket and spend an afternoon partying like it's 1841.

Mexic-Arte Museum
Get ready for Dia de los Muertos with a hands-on art activity. Make a mini mojiganga to honor the legacy of recently deceased icon Juan Gabriel. Learn about the history of the holiday and contribute your creation to be used in Viva La Vida, Mexic-Arte's annual Day of the Dead celebration. While you're there, check out the new exhibit in the main gallery. Icons & Symbols of the Borderland highlights popular images and artifacts of the Mexico/United States border.

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New

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

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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