Programs / Events / Services for the Elisabet Ney Museum

Naturalists at the Ney: Foraging for Beginners

Saturday, October 26, 2024 - 10 am to 12 pm

Find, identify, and learn how to prepare edible wild food from our expert guides Eric M.Knight and Stacy M. Coplin, co-authors of Foraging Texas. These native Austinites will take you on a journey to explore the Elisabet Ney Museum native landscape that extends outside our city limits. Plan on taking an edible plant walk, learn how to identify edible plants, and observe how to process foraged acorns into flour. This is a two hour-long workshop, please bring your water bottle and a hat. Children and families are welcome.

RSVP on Facebook 

It’s My Park Day

Saturday, November 2, 2024 - 9 am to 12 pm

Join us for our annual It’s My Park Day from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday, November 2 at the Elisabet Ney Museum. We will spend the morning cleaning up the grounds that surround Elisabet Ney’s beloved historic artist studio.

All projects are led by community members to encourage neighbors to come out, lend a hand and connect with fellow park lovers from all walks of life. This is a day many look forward to all year as we celebrate the people and parks that make Austin special!

This event is part of Austin Parks Foundation’s It’s My Park Day, a biannual, community-led day of service. Through this city-wide initiative, volunteers work to improve parks and green spaces around Austin and build community.

Austin Studio Tours

Saturday, November 9 & 10, 2024 - 12 pm to 5 pm

Celebrating the commonalities between 19th-century art and modern times, the contemporary art programs at the Elisabet Ney Museum activates conversations between artists across the centuries and in collaboration with the historic native Texas landscape. Redefining Ney's iconoclastic life and brilliant art through the lens of three female contemporary visual artists, the museum’s newest exhibition, Breaking the Mold, explores notions of the artist process, life in 19th-century Austin as an immigrant, and an admiration for the natural world.

The exhibition features new and existing artwork inspired by Elisabet Ney by Austin-based artists Beili Liu, Virginia L Montgomery (VLM), as well as Tammie Rubin. In addition to the exhibition, the artists will collaborate with the museum to create a new annual educational initiative, Breaking the Mold: Mobile Hands-On Art Crates. Each unique portable classroom kit will be designed and fabricated by the artists and be deployed into Austin elementary classrooms to engage students in the areas of art, history, science, and math to encourage critical thinking and the creative process. This program will also reinforce Elisabet Ney’s vision for women in the arts while advocating for youth educational initiatives.

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Dorothy C. Radgowski Learning Through Women’s Achievement in the Arts Grant Program, provided through the Where Women Made History and the Historic Artists' Homes and Studios programs of the National Trust for Historic Preservation along with support from the Summerlee Foundation.

The Austin Studio Tours is an annual program produced by Big Medium, featuring hundreds of open artist studios and galleries across the Austin area. 

Fusebox Salon Series Event

Thursday, November 21, 2024 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Together with arts non-profit, Fusebox, The Elisabet Ney Museum welcomes two remarkable artists,  Ahamefula J. Oluo (a brilliant multi-instrumentalist, composer, writer, comedian, and creator of live performance) and Austin’s own Joshua Banbury (an amazing multi-dimensional vocalist and lyricist). Ahamefula will join the Fusebox team in conversation fresh off the premiere of their newest performance The Things Around Us, which beautifully weaves stories and anecdotes together with a live musical score that Ahamefule creates live through electronically looped trumpet, clarinet, and everyday objects. 

Joshua will be performing a set with their trio in advance of next year’s Fusebox Launchpad, a new program designed to help local artists create ambitious live performance projects that premiere locally in Austin, with an eye toward then touring the show around the United States and the world. As Elisabet Ney presented salons throughout her lifetime in her studio, Formosa, the museum welcomes a night of lively conversation and creative expression! 

For a tour of the Elisabet Ney Museum’s main collection, please click here: Main Collection Video Tour

Past Events

Community Art Bash - October 2024

Community Art Bash

Saturday, October 12, 2024, 5:00 to 8:00 pm

 

Breaking the Mold exhibition: October 12, 2024 - December 1, 2024
Super Modeling exhibition: April 6 - November 10, 2024

Experience the Elisabet Ney Museum’s latest contemporary visual art exhibition and enjoy this annual creative event in which the community shares their thoughts and experiences the museum in new dynamic ways through the eyes of Austin-based female artists.

Celebrating the through line between 19th-century art and modern times, the contemporary art programs at the museum activates conversations between artists across the centuries and in collaboration with the historic native Texas landscape.

Community Art Bash attendees will experience a culmination of events inspired by Elisabet Ney including the opening of the exhibition Breaking the Mold (featuring the artwork of artists Beili Liu, Virginia L Montgomery (VLM), and Tammie Rubin), a new one-night project by artist Erica Nix, guided tours, and musical performance by Lou Priest (new solo artist persona of Kate Priestley). Be a part of the museum's evolving programs, exhibits, and educational initiatives on this night of exchange and creativity.

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Dorothy C. Radgowski Learning Through Women’s Achievement in the Arts Grant Program, provided through the Where Women Made History and the Historic Artists' Homes and Studios programs of the National Trust for Historic Preservation along with support from the Summerlee Foundation.

Breaking the Mold is a group exhibition consisting of art that engages with the life, art, home, and story of Elisabet Ney by Austin contemporary visual artists Beili Liu, Virginia L Montgomery (VLM), and Tammie Rubin. These artists will also kick off a museum educational initiative Breaking the Mold: Mobile Hands-On Art Crates to be deployed in 2025 into Austin elementary schools to share Elisabet’s story with a new generation and with a focus on female empowered artists. These portable classroom kits designed and fabricated by the artists will bring each artist created crates into Austin 4th grade classrooms and engage students with art, history, science and math-based lessons that encourage critical thinking and the creative process.

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Austin Museum Day 2024

Austin Museum Day

Sunday, September 22, 2024 - 12 pm to 5 pm

 

 

Celebrate our current exhibit, Super Modeling, by exploring the many processes that Elisabet Ney used to execute her own neoclassical sculptures. This year for Austin Museum Day, the Elisabet Ney Museum will present a portrait sculpting demo by local artist, Dana Younger. There will also be a ton of interactive sculpting activities, portraiture lessons and edible sculptures that participants can take home. This will be the last time to enjoy the Super Modeling exhibit before the exhibition closes to make way for a brand new contemporary art exhibit.

Austin Museum Day is a community initiative funded by the Austin Museum Partnership. This annual event includes special programs and activities at dozens of local museums and cultural institutions across the area.

RSVP on Facebook 

Naturalists at the Ney: Botanical Block Printing

Naturalists at the Ney: Botanical Block Printing

Saturday, September 7, 2024 - 10 am to 12 pm

 

 

Returning this fall with new explorations of the historical native landscape at the Elisabet Ney Museum, Naturalists at the Ney will feature botanical block print lessons with the team from the Refugee Collective. Take inspiration from our natural surroundings at the museum during this creatively focused workshop led by fabric artists Dez Dalton and Maria Vung. Be ready to use your hands to create a piece of fabric art that you can use in your home or share with others. This is a one hour-long outdoor workshop, please bring your water bottle and a hat. Children and families are welcome.

This event is generously funded in part by a grant from the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. The ICSOC is the only worldwide network of Sites of Conscience with over 370 members in more than 65 countries. Their goal is to support these vital institutions through grants, networking, training, transitional justice mechanisms, and advocacy.

 

Saturday Studio Sessions

Saturday Studio Sessions: Sculpting Society

Saturday, July 13th at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Discover the connection between sculptures and our society. How do buildings and statues reflect the world around us? Through this session, participants will delve into this topic by using found materials to create a three-dimensional public art piece. Our education staff will lead the demonstrations and all of the materials will be provided. This program is free and open to all ages!

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Saturday Studio Sessions: Photographing Identity

Saturday, July 27th at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Learn how to create a silhouette collage using our temporary portrait booth. Through this session, participants will use magazine cut outs to create their own photographic representation. Attendees are welcome to bring their own digital photocopies. Our education staff will lead the demonstrations and all of the materials will be provided. This program is free and open to all ages!

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Saturday Studio Sessions: Painting History

Saturday Studio Sessions: Painting History

Saturday, June 29th at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 

 

Examine history through the art of painting! Through this session, participants will learn how to use acrylic and watercolor mediums to recreate a narrative from their own life. In addition to developing technical skills, this is a great way to expand your understanding of visual storytelling and the use of symbolism in art. Our education staff will lead the demonstrations and all of the materials will be provided. This program is free and open to all ages!

Join the Facebook Event!

Saturday Studio Sessions: Printing Nature

Saturday Studio Sessions: Printing Nature

Saturday, June 15th at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 

Explore various printmaking techniques by integrating natural resources into your art-making process! Through this session, participants will learn how to create collagraphs and cyanotypes using objects found in the native landscape surrounding the Elisabet Ney Museum. Our education staff will lead the demonstrations and all of the materials will be provided. This program is free and open to all ages!

Join the Facebook Event!

 

Flower Power Botanicals Workshop

Flower Power: Botanicals Workshop

Saturday, June 1st, 10am - 1pm

 

 

Power-up our pollinator friends through this exciting workshop.

10th Annual Ney Day 

10th Annual Ney Day

Saturday, May 25th

 

 

Celebrate Elisabet Ney and her legacy by joining us for our tenth annual NEY DAY!

 

To commemorate this iconic artist and anyone who identifies with her fiercely independent spirit, the Elisabet Ney Museum is hosting a free afternoon event dedicated to women in the arts, sciences, and civic culture.

 

This outdoor community celebration will feature artist-led activities, interactive demonstrations, games and food by mmmpanadas and Amy’s Ice Cream. Gina Chavez is going to headline the event with sets by DJ Suspiros and DJ ConSafos. Ten Eyck Landscape Architects and Co’Design will also be offering a first look at the brand-new landscape plan for the Ney’s grounds, and there will be booths organized by KUTX, ATX Gals, Refugee Collective, Austin Book Arts Center, Lady Cans, Girls Empowerment Network, Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center and Austin History Center.

 

Ney Day is free and open to all ages!

Hidden Partnerships: Fungi and Friends Workshop

Hidden Partnerships: Fungi and Friends Workshop

Saturday, May 4th 10am - 1pm

 

 

Search under your feet for the hidden partnership of mycelium and our prairie plants in the Elisabet Ney Museum’s landscape.

 

Nature's Color: Natural Dye Workshop

Nature's Color: Natural Dye Workshop

Saturday, April 6th 10am - 1pm

 

 

Explore the rainbow of colors extracted from the plants around us as well as from the food waste we produce.

Re-Imagining the Ney: A Community Art Bash

 

Re-Imagining the Ney: A Community Art Bash

Saturday, October 21, 2023, 3:00 to 8:00 pm

Re-imagine Elisabet Ney's iconoclastic life and brilliant art through the lens of Austin's contemporary artists, who were selected as a result of the Artist Salon held on May 11th, creating site-specific art experiences in the Museum and across the entire historic grounds. Come celebrate the museum's evolving programs and exhibits through this afternoon community engagement event. Attendees will experience artist interventions, theatrical performances, and musical expressions immersed throughout the Museum's expansive grounds, along with curated food and drinks from local vendors and specialized museum tours crafted by interpretive actors. As the evening approaches, it will transition into an after-hours event, featuring interactive projects and performances. This event is free and open to the public. 

Re-Imagining the Ney: A Night in the Landscape

 

 

Re-Imagining the Ney: A Night in the Landscape

Thursday, October 12, 2023, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Explore Elisabet Ney's rugged but majestic limestone homestead and art studio, Formosa, and unique 2.5 acre landscape through a variety of hands-on horticulture activities and demonstrations. Attendees will learn about the museums surrounding native landscape restored to a 19th century Austin through specialized evening walks. Come watch the sunset with landscape architects and local ecologists as we discuss Ney's unique landscape and historical significance to Austin. This is a great opportunity to meet up with friends and enjoy curated food and drink pairing.

Re-Imagining the Ney: A Night of Process

 

Re-Imagining the Ney: A Night of Process

Thursday, October 5, 2023, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Experience Elisabet Ney's body of art and creative process in her very own historic art studio and home, Formosa. During this special after-hours event, attendees will learn how Ney executed her marble sculptures through live sculpting demos, hands-on activities and interactive projects. Guest community members will be invited to lead drop-in tours of Formosa through their unique points of view. The Ney's education staff will also be on hand to answer additional questions regarding Elisabet Ney's studio practices. This is a great opportunity to meet up with friends and enjoy curated food and drink pairings. This event is free and open to the public. 

Re-Imagining the Ney: A Night in 19th Century Austin

 

 

Re-Imagining the Ney: A Night in 19th Century Austin

Thursday, September 21, 2023, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Discover Austin's unique history by stepping back in time with Elisabet Ney! Attendees will experience life in 19th century Texas from local historians and artisans. Join us in dressing the part in 19th century frontier garments. Museum Educators will also lead specialized museum tours of the buildings hidden basement and guest community members will be invited to lead drop-in tours of Formosa using their unique points of view. This is a great opportunity to meet up with friends and enjoy curated food and drink pairings. This event is free and open to the public. 

Re-Imagining the Ney: Draw your Own Path - Museum Day 2023 

 

Re-Imagining the Ney: Draw your Own Path

Sunday, September 17, 2023, 12 to 5 pm

Join us in learning the many facets of drawing inside out through this family friendly event acress the grounds of the beloved Elisabet Ney Museum. In keeping with the unique spirit of Ney, the day will host hands-on art projects led by local artists and educators that will inspire you to "draw your own path". Local artist collective, Atelier Dojo, will be on site to give live sketching demonstrations using Elisabet Ney's sculptures as models. As part of Austin Museum day, this event is free to and open to all ages. 

Drawing Salons - August 2023

 

 

Drawing Salons - Every Saturday in August

August 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th from 10am to Noon

Come out to the Elisabet Ney Museum for our beloved weekly Drawing Salons every Saturday morning in August from 10 am to noon! Sketch Elisabet's realistic sculptures in her own Formosa studio!

Each session is hosted by our Museum Educators, and all of the required materials will be provided. Participation is free and open to everyone, regardless of age or level of experience! No RSVP is required

Learn more on Facebook

Family Day

 

Family Day

Saturday, June 3rd 10 am - Noon

Get creative with Family Days at the Ney all summer long! This family-friendly program is the perfect opportunity for kids of all ages to experiment with a variety of art practices. To celebrate our current exhibition, De Tierra, by artist Alejandra Almuelle, each session will be focused on a different sculpting process.

For our first activity on June 3, participants are going to make vibrant-painted cardboard cutouts. These 3D structures can be made to resemble a self portrait or an abstract geometric sculpture!
The Ney’s education staff will be here to provide instructions and hand out all of the materials. After completing the activity, visitors can explore the museum or walk across the street to Shipe Park.

This activity is free and open to the public. The other Family Days at the Ney will take place throughout the summer on June 17, July 8, July 22 from 10 am to noon

Click Here to RSVP on Facebook

Alejandra Almuelle: "De Tierra" Opening Reception

 

Alejandra Almuelle: "De Tierra" Opening Reception

Thursday, May 25th, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Explore the Ney's latest exhibit by local artist, Alejandra Almuelle. Originally from Peru, Almuelle's ceramic figurative sculptures exemplify the biological archive of experience through the human form. Working in clay is an important component to her work because of the medium's historical significance and its connection to the earth.

Throughout the museum, Almuelle's works are going to be re-contextualized amongst Elisabet Ney's own classically-inspired sculptures. The exhibit will be on view from May 25 to July 30, 2023.

Click Here to RSVP on Facebook

Deborah Mersky: “The Path I Took” Closing Reception

 

Deborah Mersky: “The Path I Took” Closing Reception

Thursday, May 4th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Join us for the closing reception for artist, Deborah Mersky’s latest exhibit, “The Path I Took” at the Elisabet Ney Museum.

Through painted and stitched works, Mersky retraces memories of a childhood in Austin spent wandering along creeks and railroad tracks. She combines these abstracted sensory memories with versions of her current daily walking routes; leading to visual/tactile translations of an untamed world close at hand.

Mersky describes these paper and textile artifacts as direct evidence of her days, past and present

Click Here to RSVP on Facebook

Ney Day 2023

 

Ney Day

Saturday, April 22nd, 1 - 4 pm

Celebrate Elisabet Ney and her legacy by joining us for our ninth annual NEY DAY! To commemorate this iconic artist, we will host an afternoon event dedicated to women in the arts, sciences and civic culture.

Like in years past, there will be a ton of artist-led projects, demonstrations, games, music and food! We will have booths set up by Latinitas Magazine, Typewriter Tarot, Batik by Design, Girlstart, Girls Empowerment Network

Click Here to RSVP on Facebook

Landscape Learning Day

 

Landscape Learning Day

Saturday, April 1st, 9 - 11 am

Join the Elisabet Ney Museum for our monthly Landscape Learning Day! The Ney's surrounding landscape is a holistic unit, one that relies on many different environmental systems, ranging from bacteria to bees. We will spend the morning learning about the local flora and fauna, then volunteers will have an opportunity to work in the landscape.

This is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience with planting native seeds and removing invasive plants! If you have gardening snips and gloves, please bring them.

We also recommend that volunteers wear pants, closed toe shoes, sunscreen and a hat.

Click Here to RSVP on Facebook

Elisabet Ney's Nature Day

 

Elisabet Ney's Nature Day

Saturday, March 25th 1 - 4 pm

Celebrate Austin’s diverse flora and fauna at Elisabet Ney’s Nature Day on Saturday, March 25, from 1 to 4 pm. This outdoor family event will feature gardening projects, bird counts, block printmaking activities, interactive demonstrations, and much more!

You'll also discover local environmental outreach programs, wildlife rescue organizations, and science education opportunities. There will be fun nature and art activities presented by Travis Audubon, UT’s Children’s Research Institute, the City of Austin Park Rangers, Earth Native School, Horned Lizard Conservation Society, and the Yarborough Library.

We will also have an indoor animal conservation classroom installed inside the museum by local artist, Juliet Whitsett. She will be onsite all afternoon leading creative, educational hands-on workshops!

Elisabet Ney was considered a devout naturalist and often drew artistic inspiration from her central Texas environment. Therefore, this will be a great opportunity to learn more about Ney’s creative process while engaging in nature and science programming. Elisabet Ney's Nature Day will be free and open to all ages!

Click Here to RSVP on Facebook

More Information

• For a tour of the museum’s second floor and the tower, provided by museum guide Amy Andrews, please click here: Museum Second Floor Video Tour
• For a text-based tour of Elisabet Ney’s work in English, please click here: Ney Collection (pdf)
• Para un recorrido por texto de las esculturas de Elisabet Ney en español, haga clic aquí: Ney Collection(pdf)

Landscape Tour and Information

Learn more about the Elisabet Ney Museum's historic landscape.

For a video tour of the Museum’s Native Prairie Historic Landscape restoration, given by Mino Giunta, the Museum’s landscape specialist, please click here: Landscape Restoration.

Watch the Sixth First Annual Polkapocalypse 2020!

This super favorite of visitors from all over the globe was held online in 2020, and featured Brave Combo, Piñata Protest, and many, many more in a three-hour Polkaxtravaganza! Check it out, recorded, by clicking here: Polkapocalypse 2020!

About our past contemporary art Special Exhibition “Barbara Attwell: Rewylding”

• For a video tour of the current Special Exhibition “Barbara Attwell: Rewylding”, please click here: Video Tour
• To read more about the Elisabet Ney Museum’s current Special Exhibition “Barbara Attwell: Rewylding”, please click here: Exhibit Information 
• For an activity video about making toilet paper roll animals at home, taught by Barbara Attwell and shared courtesy of the Westbank Public Library, please click here: Toilet Paper Roll Animals

Plein Aire Painting Demonstration

To celebrate wildflower season, for a video demonstration of Plein Aire painting created by Baron Wilson of Austin Plein Aire Society using the Elisabet Ney Museum as a model, please click here: Plein Aire Painting Demonstration

Fun Activity Demonstration Videos!

• To learn how to make your own book, taught by museum educator Sarah Porter, please click here: Make your own Book
• To learn how to make a digital Canva presentation poster about Elisabet Ney, taught by museum educator Renee Robinson, please click here: Elisabet Ney Canva Presentation Poster
• More videos are coming so check back soon!

Who is Elisabet Ney?

For a biography of Elisabet Ney, please click here: Elisabet Ney Biography

Women in Texas History

For great lessons/activities and curriculum about Women in Texas History, especially pertinent in this, the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage, please click here: Women in Texas History (pdf)

Clay Activities

For a guide to activities using clay, click here: The Importance of Clay (pdf)

Museum Education

For more curriculum and museum education opportunities, visit this page: Museum Education