Irving Arts Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1980 |
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| Location | 3333 North MacArthur Blvd Irving, Texas, United States |
| Type | Art Center |
The Irving Arts Center is a super cool place in Irving, Texas, where everyone can enjoy art! It's a huge 10-acre space, like a big park for creativity. Inside, there are over 91,500 square feet dedicated to performing arts (like plays and concerts) and visual arts (like paintings and sculptures).
One of the main spots is the 3,800 square-foot Main Gallery. This gallery shows more than 20 different art exhibits every year. In 2007, the Irving Arts Center became a special partner with the Smithsonian Institution. This means it's one of only about 160 places across the whole country that works with the famous Smithsonian museums!
The center has lots of different areas for fun and learning. You can find theaters for shows, classrooms for art lessons, and even a beautiful sculpture garden. There are also four art galleries that you can visit for free. These galleries show amazing art from local artists, and sometimes even special exhibits from the Smithsonian and other museums.
How the Arts Center Began
The idea for the Irving Arts Center started way back in the 1980s. The city council in Irving wanted to create more fun and creative things for the community. So, they set up a special art board to come up with ideas. The Arts Center was finally finished and opened its doors sometime in the 1990s. It has been a hub for art and culture ever since!
Meet the Resident Arts Groups
The Irving Arts Center is home to eleven amazing cultural groups. Think of them like special clubs that use the center's awesome facilities. These groups plan their own activities and events, but they all share the space at the Arts Center.
These groups include:
- New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving
- Irving Symphony Orchestra
- Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra
- Lyric Stage
- Irving Symphonic Band
- ICT MainStage
- Momentum Dance Company
- Entertainment Series of Irving
- Irving Chorale
- Irving Black Arts Council
- Irving Art Association
These groups get help from something called the Residential Arts Fund. This fund helps them put on their shows and events. It's a way to support the groups that helped make the Irving Arts Center what it is today!
