Austin has no shortage of activities to encourage your kiddo’s appreciation of the arts. The area’s museums and libraries always have fun activities where the whole family can get creative. Your budding Picassos can also attend a wide variety of camps and classes that teach everything from painting and sculpting to origami and digital arts. There’s something for all ages too, from toddlers to tweens. Here is your ultimate guide to kids’ art activities in Austin.
MUSEUMS
Blanton Museum
200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (UT Austin)
In the summer, kids can drop in to the WorkLAB Studio on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to create art in response to specific exhibitions.
They also have free weekly programs for ages 3-5, 5-7 and 8-10 that let children dive deeper into the Blanton galleries and encourage curiosity, creativity and imagination. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and space is limited.
blantonmuseum.org/university-programs/family-programs
Bob Bullock Museum
1800 Congress Ave. (Downtown)
At the Texas history and culture museum, families can enjoy “Make It Tuesdays” every Tuesday from 10 a.m.-noon from June 12 to Aug. 9. Themes include “Comic Book Art Party” and “Mini Art,” where kids can create colorful mini canvases inspired by one of the museum’s current art exhibitions.
thestoryoftexas.com/education/programs
The Contemporary Austin
Laguna Gloria location: 3809 W. 35th St. (Tarrytown)
At the museum’s Second Saturdays, held at the Laguna Gloria location, kids can check out a free art-making workshop inspired by current exhibitions. Families can also meet local artists and take in performances. Recommended for ages 2-11; reserve spots at the workshops in advance beginning the first of each month.
thecontemporaryaustin.org/explore/for-families/#second-saturdays
The Contemporary Austin’s Art School, also at Laguna Gloria, offers art classes for kids ages 4-14+. Classes include “The World of Dr. Seuss,” “Dynamic Dinosaurs,” “Wonderful Weavers,” “Mosaics,” “Urban Photography,” and “Claymation.”
thecontemporaryaustin.augusoft.net/index.cfm
Mexic-Arte Museum
419 Congress Ave. (Downtown)
The Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art museum hosts free Family Days four times a year where families can enjoy a day of art projects and museum activities based on current exhibitions. Outside of those days admission is only $1 for kids 12 and under.
mexic-artemuseum.org/educationAll#programs
Umlauf Sculpture & Museum
605 Azie Morton Rd. (formerly Robert E. Lee Rd.) (South)
The garden hosts monthly Family Days on the second Sunday of each month where families can create art and enjoy tours, yoga, storytime, music and dance performances, and more.
umlaufsculpture.org/familyday
RELATED READING :: Top 10 Family Friendly Museums and Art Galleries in Austin
MOMMY & ME
Figment Creative Labs
7809 Brodie Ln. (South)
Formerly Wee Warhols, Figment Creative has a beautiful new studio with a large outdoor area, a design lab and discovery lab. They host a weekly toddler art play group, after school classes, and summer camps.
figmentcreativelabs.com
Gymboree
4220 S. Lamar Blvd. (South)
9333 Research Blvd. (Arboretum)
Gymboree art classes are appropriate for children ages 18 months-5 years and the whole family. Kids will paint, sculpt, draw, make collages, and more as they develop their artistic skills and creativity.
gymboreeclasses.com/en/class-descriptions/art
KK’s Art Club
7913 Tusman Drive (Southwest)
Every Tuesday and Friday morning, KK opens her garage as an art studio where kids can get messy and parents don’t have to clean it up! $10 for one child, $5 for siblings, and no RSVP required.
facebook.com/kksartatx
Mess Makers Studios
18700 FM 1431 (Jonestown)
Located 10 minutes from Cedar Park and 20 minutes from North Austin, they host a Messy Art Playgroup on Wednesday and Friday mornings for walking toddlers up to age 5. Kids have a fun, sensory and messy experience! They also have classes for kids over 5.
messmakerstudios.com
Smudge Studios
500 W. 38th St. (Hyde Park)
During the school year they host a Littles Art Playgroup for ages 2-4 on Thursday mornings.
smudgestudiosaustin.com
CLASSES AND CAMPS
Art+ Academy
Multiple locations (Northwest, Cedar Park, Southwest)
Drawing and painting classes for ages 4-12 and half-day camps for ages 5-17 with themes like “Colorful Collaging,” “Artsy Bug’s Life,” and “The Enchanting Fairy Garden.”
artclassesaustin.com
Art Amore
6507 Jester Blvd. (Northwest)
Offers classes for “Picasso Tots” as young as age 3 and “Push the Limits” classes for intermediate and advanced students ages 12+. Camps for ages 4-7+ include “Get Messy,” “Animation,” and excursion camps where students travel to local museums, graffiti walls, and art studios.
artamoreaustin.com
Austin Creative Art Center
1207 W. 6th St. (Downtown)
Located in a charming house on West 6th Street, this longstanding studio has parties, classes, and summer camps in painting, drawing, and sculpting for ages 5-99.
austincreativeartcenter.org
Austin Tinkering School
1122 Airport Blvd. (East)
This inspiring makerspace offers classes, camps, workshops, and birthday parties for kids and adults. Their classes include “Art and Tinkering” for preschoolers ages 3-5 and “TinkerCraft” for ages 6-10.
austintinkeringschool.com
Cordovan Art School
Multiple locations (Northwest Austin, Southwest Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Lago Vista)
Classes for ages 4-12 and full- and half-day summer camps for ages 5-16. Camps include “Emoji Art,” “Pokemon Passion,” “Art of the Jedi,” and “Enchanted Forest” (where kids get to meet live animals).
cordovanartschool.com
Dougherty Arts Center
1110 Barton Springs Rd. (South)
During the school year, the Dougherty Arts Centers offers early childhood art education for ages 3.5-5, youth ceramics and youth digital arts for ages 5-14, and elementary school programs with participating AISD schools.
austintexas.gov/dac
Monet and Me
2204 Hopi Trail (Tarrytown)
Classes and half-day camps for ages 3-10 include an art history component and are held in founder and owner Dora Lee Little’s lovely Tarrytown studio.
monetandme.com
Sacred Arts Studio
6001 W. William Cannon Dr. (Southwest)
Parties, homeschool, and afterschool art classes in a cozy setting, and half-day camps for ages 5-14 with themes like “Rockstar Artist,” “Wild Things,” and “Harry Pottery Art Magic.”
sacredartsstudioandgallery.com
Smudge Studios
500 W. 38th St. (Hyde Park)
Camps for ages 5-11, homeschool/after school classes for ages 5+, teen classes, and birthday parties. You can also book a private or family session where you can go crazy in their splatter room or come up with your own project.
smudgestudiosaustin.com
WALK-IN AND CREATE
The Art Garage
11190 Circle Drive (Southwest)
You can walk in and create a variety of art projects at any time: painting pottery, mosaics, sculpting with clay, or fusing glass. They also have camps for ages 4-13 with unique themes such as “Mermaids and Friends,” “Down Under Art,” and “Aloha Art Camp.” Classes for ages 6-12 in drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media.
theartgarageaustin.com
Cafe Monet
4477 S. Lamar Blvd. (South)
4700 W. Guadalupe St. (Triangle)
Walk-in pottery painting, parties, and events such as a monthly Kids’ Night Out.
cafemonet.org
Ceramic Lodge
18 Chisholm Trail (Round Rock)
Walk-in projects include ceramic painting, glass fusing, and canvas painting. They also offer kids’ classes in canvas painting and clay, and summer camps for ages 6+ with themes such as “Princesses and Dragons,” “Trolls,” and “Splitter Splatter Glitter and Slime.”
ceramiclodge.com
Color Me Mine
13500 Galleria Circle (Bee Cave)
Paint-your-own pottery studio offering parties, events such as Kids’ Night Out and Tween Night Out, and summer workshops for ages 7+.
beecave.colormemine.com
