Arthouse at the Jones Center

Arthouse at the Jones Center is a 501(c)3 conforming non-profit visual arts organization based in Austin, TX. It is the oldest statewide visual arts organization in Texas, [cite book |title=Art Guide Texas: Museums, Art Centers, Alternative Spaces, and Nonprofit Galleries |last=Cohen |first=Rebecca S. |year=2004 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=0292712308 |pages=p. 299 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SB14CfTSud0C&pg=PT307&vq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&dq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&num=100&as_brr=3&source=gbs_search_s&sig=PjgWgD8HYI3avNWz_3xql6ETJrI |accessdate=2008-06-24] and the only statewide visual arts organization dedicated entirely to contemporary art. [cite news |title=Texas Fine Arts Association seeks statewide contributions |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3DB1BC5355CC9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=1998-12-16 |accessdate=2008-06-24 ]

History

Founded as the Texas Fine Arts Association (TFAA) in 1911, the organization's initial purpose was to maintain the studio and collection of sculptor Elisabet Ney. [cite book |title=Texas, A Guide to the Lone Star State |author=Federal Writers' Project |publisher=US History Publishers |isbn=1603540423 |pages=p. 146 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zUI26u0B_VEC&pg=PA146&vq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&dq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&num=100&as_brr=3&source=gbs_search_s&sig=QBE61xvvlF8hZ0uiXFiFProch9c |accessdate=2008-06-24] The Association's early leadership helped to establish the studio art department at The University of Texas at Austin, promote the formation of a state arts commission, and found some of the state's major art museums. [cite book |title=Free Tours, Museums and Sites in America: The Southern States Series |last=Ellis |first=Lee |year=2003 |publisher=Americana Group Publishing |isbn=0966796195 |pages=p. 231 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4wTVH46NXjkC&pg=PA231&dq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&num=100&as_brr=3&sig=gFS7mp7wG2XrIaly0SuomGAcO7M |accessdate=2008-06-24]

In 1927 TFAA began a visual arts touring program that brought selected works of art to communities throughout the state. [cite book |title=Texas: 150 Works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston |last=Greene |first=Alison deLima |coauthors=Jimenez, Alejandra |year=2000 |publisher=Museum of Fine Arts, Houston |isbn= |pages=p. 17 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?num=100&id=a0xQAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22+%2B1927&q=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&pgis=1#search |accessdate=2008-06-24] In 1943, Clara Driscoll deeded her Austin estate, Laguna Gloria, to TFAA [cite book |title=Women and Museums: A Comprehensive Guide |last=Danilov |first=Victor J. |year=2005 |publisher=Rowman Altamira |isbn=0759108552 |pages=p. 96 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4AWmyJvZwkwC&pg=PA96&dq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&num=100&as_brr=3&sig=sK3vwDfQzRB0dh5ND62FF_P4Fp4 |accessdate=2008-06-24] who operated the facility as an art museum until 1961 when the Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Inc. assumed that responsibility. [cite book |title=A comprehensive guide to outdoor sculpture in Texas |last=Little |first=Carol Morris |year=1996 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=0292760361 |pages=p. 85 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NgEAMI9BjkYC&pg=PA6&dq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&num=100&as_brr=3&sig=EMsvTp_uLj-fJndf-QNprJS71VE#PPA85,M1 |accessdate=2008-06-24] Until the fall of 1998, TFAA maintained its state headquarters in the carriage house on the property,cite news |title=A Big Word With a Small "A" |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A75794 |work=The Austin Chronicle |date=2000-02-11 |accessdate=2008-06-24 ] and annually held three exhibitions in the main building. [cite news |title=CALL IT FESTIVAL FEVER. |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-10636951_ITM |work=Austin Business Journal |date=2001-05-18 |accessdate=2008-06-24 ]

In 1995 TFAA's Board of Directors purchased the property at 700 Congress Avenue in Austin, TX. Three years after the building's purchase, TFAA opened its new headquarters, the Jones Center for Contemporary Art, in November 1998.

In November 2002, the name of the organization was officially changed from the Texas Fine Arts Association to Arthouse. [cite book |title=Art Guide Texas: Museums, Art Centers, Alternative Spaces, and Nonprofit Galleries |last=Cohen |first=Rebecca S. |year=2004 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=0292712308 |pages=p. 15 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SB14CfTSud0C&pg=PT31&dq=%22Texas+Fine+Arts+Association%22&num=100&as_brr=3&sig=HGsVzclwPArhStQqK0vRhsZ5XNc |accessdate=2008-06-24]

Current activities

Arthouse now functions as a resource for Texas-based artists as well. In addition to exhibitions and programming, Arthouse offers access to an Emergency Relief Fund, affordable health insurance, membership banking and credit union opportunities, discounts on art materials and art publications, and its own newsletter, Arthouse News.

Arthouse serves an average of 50,000 people annually. [ [http://www.arthousetexas.org/index.php?_page=load_page&_action=load&_id=69 www.arthousetexas.org-History] ]

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.arthousetexas.org Official Website]