Programs and Events
Upcoming Events
Reverie Underarch, Victoria Marquez, 2026, Tempo on the Trail. Photo by David Aguilar.
Public Art Walking Tour
Monday, October 26, 2026
6:30-8:30 p.m.
RSVP for the Public Art Walking Tour on Eventbrite
Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month with a public art walking tour!
You may have seen this artwork along the Hike and Bike trail, but do you know who created it, or the story behind it? This piece is called “Reverie Underarch” by artist Victoria Marquez and was commissioned by the Trail Conservancy’s TEMPO on the Trail in partnership with Austin’s Art in Public Places (AIPP).
Join AIPP staff for a guided walking tour of select public artworks, including “Reverie Underarch”, in the area surrounding the DAC. Participants will meet at the DAC for snacks and refreshments before heading out to explore the artwork and learn more about the artists, ideas, and stories behind them.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Taking Root
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
7-9 p.m.
Celebrate the annual Austin’s Roots & Wings Festival by making art at the Dougherty Arts Center! Build collage trees created from recycled and organic materials. Take home your own sapling and wildflowers to watch grow, while learning about trees and more from guest organizations!
Need to spend some time among the trees? Marcia Beckford of Bug Safari will be hosting Trees in Harmony Walk at 6:30pm before the event. (Meet at the front of the Dougherty Arts Center building.)
This event is free! Registration is encouraged but not required. A limited supply of trees will be available for participants, so arrive early to collect yours!
For more information about this event, email DACInfo@austintexas.gov
Creepy Crawlies @ DAC
Saturday, October 31, 2026
1-4 p.m.
RSVP for Creepy Crawlies at DAC on Eventbrite
It’s Creepy Crawly Time at the DAC! Be inspired by DAC Artist-in-Residence Stefania Garcia’s insect-themed art exhibit and explore 2 different ways of making your own bugs.
Tiptoe through the local world of Austin bugs on a walk through Butler Park and make your own bug using found materials with DAC Staff!
Make a framed insect specimen in the ceramic studio with Artist Stefania Garcia! Spaces are limited for this free clay activity. Sign-ups are now live for the 2-hour workshop at 1pm. This session has a 15-seat limit. Select "Add-Ons" while reserving a spot to claim a seat.
This event is free! Registration is encouraged but not required.
For more information about this event, email DACTheater@austintexas.gov
Image credits left to right: Faith Chonko, Tear her apart, Bella Cheng, Rainbow Galls
Artist Talk: Bella Cheng and Faith Chonko
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
7-9 p.m.
Hear from artists Faith Chonko and Bella Cheng as they discuss the concepts, processes, and inspirations behind their exhibitions currently on view at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery. Faith Chonko will discuss her exploration of obsession, attention, and transformation in Errant Obsession, while Bella Cheng will share how close observation, abstraction, and curiosity shape the drawings in Regular & Precious.
This event is free and open to the public.
Learn more about their exhibits at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery webpage.
Art in Cahoots
Friday, November 6, 2026
10-11 a.m.
Art in Cahoots is a free one-hour event designed for prekindergarten-age students with an accompanying adult caregiver. Each will include sensory, multi-disciplinary, process-based arts activities for children and caregivers to experience together. Children can build social-emotional skills, familiarize themselves with a classroom setting, and learn while still under the wing of a trusted caregiver.
Pop-ups are scheduled on set dates and times. Event dates, times, and capacity are determined by location. Spots are limited. Registration on Eventbrite is recommended in advance to reserve your space. Drop-ins may be accepted at time of the event if vacancies are available. Children must be 2½ years of age (30 months) to attend. Planned activities will change monthly.
It's My Park Day: Garden Clean Out and Wildflower Meadow
Saturday, November 7, 2026
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join your fellow park lovers as we give back at Dougherty Arts Center! Spend the day weeding the flower beds, mulching trees and planting a wildflower meadow. Volunteers get the satisfaction of giving back and of course, an AWESOME It's My Park Day t-shirt designed by local artists! Tools and gloves will be provided but PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLE and wear work appropriate clothing.
This event is free! Register to volunteer on Givepulse.
For more information about this event, email DACinfo@austintexas.gov
Austin Studio Tour
November 14-15 & 21-22, 2026
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Explore three exhibitions on view at the Dougherty Arts Center during Austin Studio Tour.
Errant Obsession by Faith Chonko examines the forces that shape our attention and asks how obsession might be transformed into something more meaningful. Outlet Within showcases the work of Dougherty Arts Center 2026 Ceramic Resident Artists Victoria Zhuk, Stefania Garcia, Gargi Sharma, Nathan Anthony, and Minnie Rogers. Regular & Precious by Bella Cheng reveals the extraordinary hidden within everyday objects through close observation and abstraction.
Learn more about these exhibit at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery webpage
Image credit left to right: Minnie Rodgers, Nathan Anthony, Gargi Sharma, Stefania Garcia, Victoria Zhuk.
Artist Talk: Dougherty Arts Center Artists in Residence
Sunday, November 15, 2026
2-4 p.m.
Hear from the Dougherty Arts Center’s 2026 Ceramic Resident Artists Victoria Zhuk, Stefania Garcia, Minnie Rogers, Gargi Sharma, and Nathan Anthony as they discuss their artistic practices and the work created during their residency. Learn more about the ideas, materials, and processes behind Outlet Within and the ways each artist approaches ceramic sculpture and making.
This event is free and open to the public.
Learn more about their exhibits at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery webpage.
Cut It Out: Collage Workshop
Sunday, November 15, 2026
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
RSVP for the Cut It Out Collage Workshop on Eventbrite
Explore collage during Austin Studio Tour with artist Faith Chonko, whose exhibition Errant Obsession is on display at the JCB Gallery.
Discover how collage can be a simple and fun tool for self-reflection and self-expression. You’ll be provided with recycled materials, thoughtful prompts, and space to get creative as you experiment with using various combinations of colors, shapes, images, and more to step outside your normal patterns of thinking and find new clarity or perspective. You’ll walk away with your collage as well as a basic understanding of how to continue the craft on your own.
Materials will be provided. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Image: Faith Chonko, collage
Navigating the JCB Gallery Open Call for Exhibits
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
6:30-8 p.m.
RSVP for Navigating the JCB Gallery Open Call
Interested in exhibiting your artwork at the Julia C. Butridge Gallery? Join us for an informative workshop designed to help artists successfully navigate the JCB Gallery Open Call for Exhibits. Learn how to prepare a strong application and present cohesive artwork proposals. Whether you’re applying for the first time or looking to strengthen a future submission, this session will provide practical tips and insight into the gallery’s selection process.
Presented by Morgen Jackson, DAC Gallery and Artist Professional Development Coordinator.
Image: Jamie Spinello & Kristen Van Patten, Morphology & Modularity, 2026
DAC Nights: See Spot Paint
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
7-9 p.m.
RSVP for DAC Nights: See Spot Paint on Eventbrite
November is Senior Pet Adoption Month, and the Dougherty Arts Center is celebrating with a night of portraits and pets! Learn about adopting senior pets in need of a good home, then create a special decorated pet portrait using pictures and DIY frames.
This event is free! Registration is encouraged but not required. DAC Nights recommends participants bring a printed photograph of their pet for the activity.
DAC Movie Night: Strictly Ballroom
November 23, 2026
7-9 p.m.
RSVP for DAC Movie Night: Strictly Ballroom on Eventbrite
DAC Movie Night is excited to welcome you to a monthly film screening series!
Throughout the year, the Dougherty Arts Center will be screening a variety of films - from lost or forgotten favorites, local indies, the arts-focused avant garde, to topical off-the-wall choices.
This month’s selection is Strictly Ballroom! Released in 1992, the film was the directorial debut of Baz Luhrmann, who would go on to direct 1996’s Romeo + Juliet and 2001’s Moulin Rouge.
Runtime: 94 minutes
Rating: PG
Cautions: Rated PG for mild language and sensuality
Have a suggestion for a future screening? Email dactheater@austintexas.gov!
Storytelling for Creatives
Presented by Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
6:30-8 p.m.
This event has been rescheduled from September 29 to December 8, 2026.
How you talk about your work matters just as much as the work itself. Whether you're applying for opportunities, speaking about a project, or introducing yourself to someone new, having a clear sense of your story helps people connect with what you create, and why you create it.
This workshop is about finding the language for your practice. Learn how to shape your artist’s story without forcing it into a brand, and how thoughtful storytelling can become a practical PR tool. Guest Speaker Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz will discuss how to put together a compelling narrative, write an artist bio and statement, build a simple press kit, and share your work in ways that feel authentic rather than performative.
This is less about selling and more about telling the story only you can tell, while giving people a way in.
Digital Programming
The DAC is proud to offer free digital programming for the public.
- Video Art Lessons
Instructor-led video lessons in various different mediums of ceramics, drawing & painting, and digital arts.
- Artist Professional Development
The Artist Resource Center is pleased to host free monthly professional development workshops for artists. Covering a different topic each month, our workshops give artists the tools to develop and advance their careers in the arts.
- Paper Pandemonium