Artpace facts for kids
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Established | 1995 |
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Location | San Antonio, Texas, United States |
Type | Non-profit contemporary art gallery |
Founder | Linda Pace |
Artpace is a special place in downtown San Antonio, Texas. It is a non-profit art center, which means it's not trying to make money. Instead, it focuses on helping artists and sharing art with everyone. Artpace is free and open to the public.
It was started in 1995 by Linda Pace, who was an artist and also loved collecting art. Artpace helps both new and well-known artists create amazing new works. It also helps artists and people from the community connect and share ideas.
The building used to be a car dealership back in the 1920s. Now, this large space is used to show off modern art. It has five different areas for art shows. There are also three apartments for artists and art experts to stay in. Plus, there's a library, a workshop, and spaces for events and talks.
Helping Artists Create: The International Artist-in-Residence Program
Artpace is famous for its International Artist-in-Residence (IAIR) program. This program invites nine artists each year to live and work at Artpace. These artists are chosen by a special guest curator. A curator is someone who picks and organizes art for shows.
The program runs in three cycles, each lasting four months. For each cycle, the guest curator chooses three artists:
- One artist from Texas.
- One artist from other parts of the United States.
- One artist from somewhere else in the world.
These artists come to Artpace to create brand new artworks. Artpace gives them a lot of support. They get a place to live, a studio to work in 24/7, money for living costs, and funds to buy art supplies. They also get help with travel costs. This program lets artists create art freely, without many limits.
Each residency starts with a friendly dinner. This helps the artists meet people from the local community. At the end of their stay, there's a talk between the artist and the curator. This talk helps visitors understand the art better when the exhibitions open.
Since 1995, over 250 artists from all over the world have been part of this program. More than 80 curators have helped choose these artists. Many artists who have been to Artpace have gone on to win big art awards. Some have won the Turner Prize or the MacArthur Fellows. Others have shown their art at famous events like the Venice Biennale.
Fun Learning: Educational Programs
Artpace has many educational programs for different ages. These include programs for kids in school (K-12) and for university students. They also have special days for families and programs for adults.
One popular community event is Chalk It Up. This event celebrates public art that is made together. Every year, a street in downtown San Antonio is filled with amazing chalk murals. Artists of all ages and skill levels create these temporary artworks. This event helps people learn about art in a fun, hands-on way. It also helps the community connect with modern artists.
See Also
- Ruby City (San Antonio)