Art Spark Texas

Call for Art- Community Exhibition Spaces
2024-03-19 10:00 - 10:30, 2024-04-02 10:00 - 10:30, 2024-04-16 10:00 - 10:30, 2024-04-30 10:00 - 10:30, 2024-05-14 10:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Deadline: Ongoing
This call for art is open to all Texas artists with a disability, Texas veteran or current military member artists, and any senior artist 55 and over.
Art Spark Texas curates solo and group exhibitions at a few locations around Austin. These spaces are suitable for framed work with wire across the back for hanging.

Austin Bergstrom International Airport Accessibility Lounge
We can hang around 15-20 pieces (depending on size) at this space on a six-month rotation. Larger works preferred.
Austin Lighthouse for the Blind – Southeast Austin
We can hang around 15-20 pieces (depending on size) at this space on a two-month rotation.

Download the Entry Form
Or contact April at april@artsparktx.org or 512-454-9912

East Austin Arts District's Third Thursday
2024-03-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
We are open every Third Thursday 6-9:00 PM as part of the East Austin Arts District’s monthly self-guided tour of 25+ visual arts and gallery venues. Each month we will feature two of our artists showing and selling their work.
This Thursday we are featuring Matthew Lieber, John Castillo, and Viktor Paul Scot Burke.

Makers Meet-up
2024-03-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Join Art Spark Texas staff April Sullivan and board member/veteran Judith Estrada Garcia, for our monthly Makers Meet-up, a creative in-person gathering. All types of Makers are welcome! We’ll hang out, try a new art method and/or do a creative prompt or two, and share our work. You are always welcome to bring your choice of media, or your latest creative project to share. All supplies provided for the project of the month.

Art Spark TX Radio Hour Show
2024-03-25 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-01 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-15 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-29 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-06 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-13 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-20 14:00 - 15:00 | TX
Tune in every Monday at 2:00 PM CT to the Art Spark TX Radio Hour live on the Austin airwaves at KOOP 91.7 FM or streaming at https://koop.org/program/art-spark-tx-radio-hour/
Bringing inclusive discussion of topics important to the disability community & beyond!

The Lion & Pirate Open Mic IN PERSON
2024-04-06 15:00 - 17:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Enjoy the spring weather and celebrate National Poetry Month with your friends from The Lion & Pirate in Art Spark’s backyard!
At this inclusive open mic, we’re open to work in any genre: music, spoken word, improv, skits, storytelling, dance, poems or prose… Anything you can perform!
Join us to hear work by featured Austin poets Bijan Rahnamai and Sueitko Zamorano-Chavez; then, it will be your time to shine! Sign up at the event. Contact us if you have questions about our sound set up.
What to Expect:

The performer sign-up opens at 2:30 PM.
This is a disability-inclusive open mic, so all performers are welcome, regardless of their abilities. It’s a supportive and welcoming environment where everyone is encouraged to share their gifts.
The Lion & Pirate Open Mic is a great way to showcase your talents and connect with other artists.
We encourage a variety of performers, including musicians, poets, comedians, storytellers, and more to join us.
We will have amplification.
Both the office and the backyard are accessible, please email MsBoye for individual accessibility questions or requirements.
The event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

Image Description: A lion statue wearing an eye patch and a pirate’s skull-and-bones do-rag grips a microphone cable in its jaws. Text reads, “Join us in person! The Lion & The Pirate, an inclusive open mic for writers, performers, and musicians. 3 PM to 5 PM, Saturday, April 6, 2024. Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX.” Logos for Art Spark Texas and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities appear at the bottom.

The Book of Mormon (Audio Described)
2024-04-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, TX, 78205, United States
The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award® -winning Best Musical. Contains explicit language.
View event details and get tickets here.
Call the Majestic Theatre Box Office at 210-226-3333 and indicate you want audio description.

Image Description: “The Book of Mormon,” appears against a white background. An ornate silver doorbell forms the second “o” in “Mormon.”

Live AD of Solar Eclipse-Art Spark TX Radio Hour Show
2024-04-08 13:30 - 14:30 | TX
Tune in early! Art Spark TX Radio Hour is shifting to a 1:30 CT start time on Monday, April 8th so that we can provide a live audio description of the Solar Eclipse. Live on the Austin airwaves at KOOP 91.7 FM or streaming at https://koop.org/program/art-spark-tx-radio-hour/
Celia Hughes, host of the Art Spark TX Radio Hour, and trained audio describer will be describing the action in the sky and its effects on the environment as the moon crosses the path of the sun. Our broadcast is designed to make this rare total solar eclipse accessible and inclusive to people who are blind and visually impaired. We will also be reaching listeners who are unable to get outside for any reason during this event.

Texas Veterans Strong Creative Network
2024-04-11 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-05-09 10:30 - 11:30 | Virtual
Join us for this monthly virtual creative network that connects Arts Organization, Veteran Organizations, and Creative Veterans to share ideas, network, and collaborate to elevate and support or creative Texas Veterans. Together, we are strong!
Register to receive the meeting link: tps://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdOmgpzMsHNYYU-Wv-UyUGYxf7d6OvDrU

Women Veterans Strong
2024-04-11 12:30 - 13:30, 2024-05-09 12:30 - 13:30 | TX
A virtual group for women vets to connect, create, and converse. Register in advance for this meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsceGurDstGdGUBQk_1QdFZoHxuchPLwZs
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

East Austin Arts District's Third Thursday
2024-04-18 18:00 - 21:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
We are open every Third Thursday 6-9:00 PM as part of the East Austin Arts District’s monthly self-guided tour of 25+ visual arts and gallery venues. Each month we will feature two of our artists showing and selling their work.
This month we feature: Lenny, Yadira Uranga, and Yleana Martinez.

Nature-Inspired Group Mandala Workshop
2024-04-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Government Canyon State Natural Area, 12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, 78254, United States
Connect and Reflect in Nature
Participate in the creation of a collective mandala by utilizing natural elements found in the park’s environment. Employing biodegradable materials ensures seamless integration of the artwork with the surrounding landscape. Participants are encouraged to bring short sticks, rocks, and flower petals (excluding seeds).
Veterans and current and prior military and their family members are invited to attend this nature based visual art workshop.
The day will start with a nature hike, then attendees will create mandalas.
This creative workshop is free and will be held at Government Canyon Natural State Natural Area, 12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, TX 78254 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and includes entry fee and snacks.
**Notes: Plan for April weather conditions. We will be under a covered pavilion. The event will include a nature walk. ADA accessible trails are available and there will be options for hikes based on your personal activity level. Service animals are allowed on leash. Children with supervision allowed in workshop with a parent or plan to bring your family to enjoy the park for the day as you participate in the workshop.
The workshop will be led by Salina Loriaux, LPC-AT/S, ATR-BC, CCST
Salina holds a master’s degree in creative arts therapy from Pratt Institute. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor/Supervisor in the state of Texas, a Board-Certified Art Therapist, and a Certified Clinical Sandtray Therapist-Trainer. Salina specializes in mindfulness, addressing trauma, managing depression, anxiety, and grief, with a particular focus on working with military personnel. As a Military Veteran and spouse, Salina brings a distinctive perspective to her therapeutic practice, combining her roles as an artist and nature enthusiast. She is an active member of professional associations, including the American Art Therapy Association, South Texas Art Therapy Association, and the Texas Sandtray Association.
Limited spots available. Register!
This workshop is made possible with funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts. If you have questions, please contact April Sullivan at april@artsparktx.org or 512-454-9912 ext 103.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/824642125797?aff=oddtdtcreator

Girl From the North Country (Audio Described)
2024-04-25 19:30 - 22:30 | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
It’s 1934 in Duluth, Minnesota. We meet a group of wayward travelers whose lives intersect in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope. Experience this ‘profoundly beautiful’ production (The New York Times) brought to vivid life by an extraordinary company of actors and musicians.
View event details and get tickets here.
Ticket Office:
email: tickets@texasperformingarts.org or call: 512.471.1444
Monday–Friday: 10 am–5 pm
Accessibility Information for Texas Performing Arts

Image Description: A young woman in a pink 1930s-era dress and wearing bright red lipstick and white sunglasses sings while tilting a vintage microphone stand in her hands. Fading brown text reads, “Girl from the North Country, Duluth, Minnesota, 1934, Written and Directed by Conor McPherson, Music and Lyrics by Bob Dylan.”

Makers Meet-up
2024-04-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Join Art Spark Texas staff April Sullivan for our monthly Makers Meet-up, a creative in-person gathering, taking place the last Sunday of the month 1-4:00 PM CT. All types of Makers are welcome! We’ll hang out, try a new art method and/or do a creative prompt or two, and share our work. You are always welcome to bring your choice of media, or your latest creative project to share. All supplies provided for the project of the month.
This month we have two projects that have the opportunity for your art to be displayed!
The first half of the meetup we will be creating art to submit to the Quickest Flip Laboratory Art Challenge #7.
Create something that includes the color PINK and PETS!
Quickest Flip hosts a series of themed art challenges that are open to anyone and everyone to participate – we call this the QF Laboratory. These challenges will prompt participants to incorporate a set of common ingredients into an art piece while encouraging different interpretations and outcomes. Deadline to submit is May 10th. To submit: Email an image of your art to hello@quickestflip.org along with your name, the title, and medium. All submitted works will be featured in a virtual exhibition on our website and a selection will be shared on social media.
The second half of the meetup we will be partnering with local artist Jieun Beth Kim for a project called “Community.” Participants will have an opportunity to create portraits using stamps that Jieun carved. Next, these portraits will be reproduced and be part of an upcoming installation project at the Austin Central Library in June.
Come for one or both!

VIRTUAL OPEN MIC: THE LION & PIRATE
2024-05-05 13:00 - 14:30 | TX
The Lion & Pirate invites you to our virtual inclusive open mic for writers, performers, and musicians! As always, we’re open to work in any genre: music, spoken word, improv, skits, storytelling, dance, poems or prose… Anything you can perform!
Featured performers to be announced; then, it will be your time to shine! There will be 10 sign-up slots. We ask that you sign up ahead of time. Any sign-ups after 10 will be held on a backup list.
Join us on Zoom:
Use this Link to attend our virtual open mic.
Stay tuned to our Facebook Group for event updates, signup sheets, and links, and invite your friends, too. You can tune in just to connect with your community and give us those “clap” reactions.
Questions? Please email MsBoye.

Nature as Muse
2024-05-19 12:30 - 16:30 | Woodlawn Island House, 501 S. Josephine Tobin, San Antonio, 78201, United States
Join female veterans for a nature walk and writing workshop at Woodlawn Island House in Woodlawn Park from 12:30-4:30 pm on May 19th.
During our four hours together we will spend some quiet, mindful time outdoors to connect to Nature in order to generate both wonder and words to craft into poems or short prose pieces. Time indoors will include reading poems and prose passages by women eco-writers such as Camille Dungy, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Danusha Laméris (lots of inspiration to gather there!). Writing prompts will be provided for participants to generate original work, and sharing will be encouraged for those who would like supportive feedback. Mobi aims to create a workshop atmosphere that is spacious, restful, affirming of individual needs, and that sparks the creative process. Participants can expect to leave the workshop having created new work (poems or short prose pieces), as well as having generated plenty of raw material for further writing.
What to bring: All you’ll need is something to write on and with; and your own water bottle is always a good idea.
** Please wear appropriate clothing and walking shoes for the nature walk. This event is specifically for Women Veterans, current, and prior military.
Limited spots available.
Mobi Warren is a poet and naturalist who has led poetry walks and given nature-based writing workshops for over 20 years. She has taught writing workshops through Bihl Haus Arts and Gemini Ink, among other venues, and is the author of a poetry chapbook, Thread and Nectar, and a young adult novel The Bee Maker. Mobi is co-founder of Stone in the Stream/Roca en el Rio, a regional collective of environmental writers and artists, and is the translator of several works by Thich Nhat Hanh including The Miracle of Mindfulness. She also enjoys exploring prose forms. Her essay “Cicadas Still Sing,” is included in the anthology The Book of Bugs: The best writing about insects, arachnids, and other arthropods from Orion magazine.
This workshop is provided with funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts. If you have questions, please contact April Sullivan at april@artsparktx.org or 512-454-9912 ext 103.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-as-muse-women-veteran-writing-workshop-tickets-838984193307?aff=oddtdtcreator

Makers Meet-up
2024-05-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Art Spark Texas, 1152 San Bernard St., Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Join Art Spark Texas staff April Sullivan and board member/veteran Judith Estrada Garcia, for our monthly Makers Meet-up, a creative in-person gathering, taking place the last Sunday of the month 1-4:00 PM CT. All types of Makers are welcome! We’ll hang out, try a new art method and/or do a creative prompt or two, and share our work. You are always welcome to bring your choice of media, or your latest creative project to share. All supplies provided for the project of the month.
