Totally Cool Totally Arts. A free art program taught and lead by professional artists.

Totally Cool Totally Art (TCTA) has been cultivating creative teens since 1996. TCTA is unique in that the classes are completely free to Austin's youth teen community. Teens will learn various techniques by working directly alongside professional artists. The program reinforces positive choices by offering art appreciation in a mentoring environment. TCTA is built to help give teens new experiences, build respect and trust, keep them out of trouble during high-risk after school hours and improve their skills in creative expression, communication, teamwork and arts appreciation.

 

All PARD youth and teen programs will follow modified safety guidelines. For more information on program guidelines and essential eligibility requirements, visit After School Programs | AustinTexas.govWe'll see you November 1st with a new season of TCTA classes!

Free teen art program for grades 7th12th. Painting: Learn simple yet effective painting techniques from art history and experiment with how to apply them in ways unique to your own story and self expression. Film: Students will pick a film or tv genre that inspires them to tell their own hilarious, spooky, and dramatic stories. They'll write their own scripts, set up shots, roll camera, edit, and presto! An original short film is ready to premiere. Digital Art: Armed with Ipads and Apple pencils, teens will dip into the world of digital painting, graphic design, and illustration. We'll cover a variety of animation techniques like claymation, stop motion, and flip books. You'll even get a t-shirt and temporary tattoo of your own design! Sculpture: Love the process of making things with your hands while experimenting with a variety of materials? Then get ready to explore form and function in this poppy 3D art class. We are talking soft sculpture, mold making, resin, wearable art, and a whole lot more. Calling all teen makers! Session 1 runs from November 1st to December 8th. Painting will be at Delores Duffie Recreation Center 6-8pm on Monday and Wednesday and Virgina L Brown Recreation Center 5-7 on Tuesday and Thursday. Film will be at Gus Garcia Recreation Center 5-7pm on Monday and Wednesday and Mendez Recreation Center 5:30-7:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Sculpture will be at Pan Am. Recreation Center 6-8pm on Monday and Wednesday and North West Recreation Center 5:30-7:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Digital Art will be at Dittmar Recreation Center 6-8pm on Monday and Wednesday and Dove Springs Recreation Center 5:30-7:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Session 2 runs from December 12th to January 26th. Digital Art will be held at Turner Roberts recreation Center 6-8pm on Monday and Wednesday and Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center 5-7pm on Tuesday and Thursday. For the complete flyer alternate text, contact tcta@austintexas.gov

Online Registation

Forms and Documents

Register in person when attending your first class or use the Online Registration link above.

Contact tcta@austintexas.gov with any questions. Late additions are always welcome! 

A map showing the location of the participating recreation centers, including: Gus Garcia, Virginia L. Brown, Northwest, Turner Roberts, Pan Am, Mendez. Dittmar. and Dove Springs. For help locating which participating recreation centers are near you, email tcta@austintexas.gov or call (512)978-2478

A Totally Cool Trailer

A quick look into what goes on at Totally Cool Totally Art.

A Monster Killer Thriller

Check out the stop Stopmotion-tacular action-packed epic film our campers wrote and produced this Summer.

Animations from TCTA's Digital Art Class

Making a 7-Foot-Tall Styrofoam Sculpture

TCTA Film: School Yard Bully

For over a dozen short films created this past season, visit TCTA Film’s YouTube.

Online Art Tutorials

Bored at home check out the Art Tutorials below

TCTA is going Virtual with Videos, DIY Projects and Lessons!

Follow us on Social Media

Click above to keep up to date with the latest information by following us on social media!

Watch us on CityView

Program Staff

TCTA Coordinator - Clint Hofmeister

(512) 978-2476

TCTA Specialist - Kelly Hasandras

(512) 978-2477

TCTA Marketing & Graphics - Rachel Ditzig

(512) 978-2478