Rummage Sale
A little cleaning, a little decluttering, and a whole lot of good finds.
Join us for the Center for Contemporary Arts Rummage Sale on August 8! Come browse, shop, and see what treasures are waiting for a second chance!
You never know what you might find, but one thing's for sure: it's worth stopping by!
When: Saturday August 8th, 11-5pm
Exhibition Reception
An evening of the arts awaits you!
Join us for our Opening Reception on Friday, August 7th from 5–7 PM as we celebrate the opening of our newest exhibitions.
Dress up for a night at the gallery, explore fresh works of contemporary art, enjoy complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres, and connect with fellow art lovers!
Circling, Spiraling
juried by Faith Archambeau
Texas Sculpture Group
Jane Adams Breed Gallery
Synthesis // Synthesize
Braeden Kuppin
Gallery 4
Creatures of the Clouds, Wildlife of the
Ecuadorian Andes
Thomas Lee
Alice and Bill Wright Photography Gallery
Beyond the Spool: A Transatlantic Wire Dialogue
Wengai Kahuni
Gallery 3
Last Summer Thursday
Stop by after work for our final Summer Thursday! Bring the family, meet local artists and watch and they create live art! Explore our galleries, and make a night of discovering all that Downtown Abilene has to offer!
Summer Thursday
This summer, the Center for Contemporary Arts is joining our downtown cultural partners for Summer Thursdays, a community-wide opportunity to explore Abilene’s incredible cultural destinations during extended evening hours.
While the CCA is always free to visit, several participating museums will also be offering FREE admission during this time!
Join us this Thursday the 16th from 5–8pm
Participating venues include:
- The Center for Contemporary Arts
- Frontier Texas
- The Grace Museum
- The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL)
- The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum
Stop by after work, bring the family, meet local artists, explore our galleries, and make a night of discovering all that Downtown Abilene has to offer!
Dirty Drawers
Grab a friend, and join us on Monday July 27th 7-9pm for Dirty Drawers at the Center for Contemporary Art!
Stop by for a fun and free drawing session where a live model poses and you get the chance to practice your drawing skills, whether you're a seasoned artist or just curious to give it a try.
- FREE to attend
- All supplies provided
- Open to everyone
- Just bring yourself and enjoy a relaxed, creative evening with the community.
Come sketch, learn, and have a great time. We can't wait to see what you create!
Summer Thursday
This summer, the Center for Contemporary Arts is joining our downtown cultural partners for Summer Thursdays, a community-wide opportunity to explore Abilene’s incredible cultural destinations during extended evening hours.
While the CCA is always free to visit, several participating museums will also be offering FREE admission during this time!
Join us this Thursday the 16th from 5–8pm
Participating venues include:
- The Center for Contemporary Arts
- Frontier Texas
- The Grace Museum
- The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL)
- The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum
Stop by after work, bring the family, meet local artists, explore our galleries, and make a night of discovering all that Downtown Abilene has to offer!
Summer Thursday
This summer, the Center for Contemporary Arts is joining our downtown cultural partners for Summer Thursdays, a community-wide opportunity to explore Abilene’s incredible cultural destinations during extended evening hours.
While the CCA is always free to visit, several participating museums will also be offering FREE admission during this time!
Join us this Thursday the 16th from 5–8pm
Participating venues include:
- The Center for Contemporary Arts
- Frontier Texas
- The Grace Museum
- The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL)
- The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum
Stop by after work, bring the family, meet local artists, explore our galleries, and make a night of discovering all that Downtown Abilene has to offer!
Art Brunch + Paint Off
Join us for a Fundraiser for the
Center for Contemporary Arts
Featuring Live Painting + Artful Bites
Saturday, March 21st | 10AM-12PM
Cedar Street Coffee & Venue
Get your seats booked! https://center-arts.networkforgood.com/events/96851-2026-artbrunch-paint-off
ArtWalk Christmas Market
Join us for the December ArtWalk Christmas Market, where downtown will light up with holiday cheer, local art, unique gifts, and festive fun for the whole family!
ArtWalk Artoberfest
Downtown Abilene will come alive on Saturday, October 4, 2025, for ARToberfest—a festive mashup of art, music, and Oktoberfest fun!
ArtSocial - August
Bring your favorite healthy dish + a friend. Tye dye & art critique.
Always open to Artist Members and prospective members.
ArtWalk Carwalk
Artwalk is a quarterly celebration of art in our Downtown Cultural District. We invite you to experience live art demonstrations, handcrafted art vendors, local food & drink, live music, + more.
How to Capture a Dragon Art Camp
INSTRUCTOR: Bethany Connell
AGES: Entering Grades 5th - 8th
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non-Members
Welcome to the world of illustration, drawing, and painting dragons. Join Mrs. Connell for an introduction to the world of dragons. Students will learn about the different kinds of dragons, their history, their scale patterns, and their anatomy. Students will use a variety of media to capture multiple dragons. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Japanese Pop Art Power Art Camp
INSTRUCTOR: Emilio Tolentino
AGES: Entering Grades 1st-3rd
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non-Members
Students will create a variety of characters with a variety of media. The history of Japanese pop art and the basic drawing skills of a variety of characters will be covered. Students will create and trade their pop art cards. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Kitchen Creations: Art Recipes Art Camp
INSTRUCTOR: Brittany Bennett
AGES: Entering 4th-6th Grades
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non-Members
Students will use recipes and common kitchen items to create art materials. They will also use baked goods as the subject of a variety of artworks. Students will learn how to create art in the style of Wayne Thiebaud and will create a collection of recipes to take home. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Dudes in Art Camp
INSTRUCTOR: Abbie Brentham Sandoval
AGES: Entering Grades 1st-3rd
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non-Members
Students will learn how different men throughout the ages created and determined the course of art. They will use a variety of mediums to create art that depicts male artists and their art styles. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Theatre Camp: Take Center Stage!
INSTRUCTOR: Victoria Spangler
AGES: Entering Grades 4th - 6th
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non—Members
The Center for Contemporary Arts will provide campers with the experience of devising a performance piece. Using spoken word, music, and visual art, Dr. Victoria Spangler will help campers create original material from the smallest seed of an idea. Campers will also create costume pieces and props and select music and sound for their pieces. On their last day of camp, campers will perform their program to an audience. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Dames In Art Camp
INSTRUCTOR: April Rifenburgh
AGES: Entering Grades 1st - 3rd
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non—Members
Students will learn how different women throughout the ages created and determined the course of art. They will use a variety of mediums to create art that depicts female artists and their art styles. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Gallery Reception
Join us for an evening celebrating the opening of two compelling exhibitions that explore memory, identity, and regional heritage:
Confessions of a Serial Painter, Katy Presswood
Gallery 4
Artist Talk with Katy Presswood @ 6:30 PM
Common Ground: Exploring our Roots,
Linda Stricklin, La Gina Fairbetter, and Tawnee Bland
Jane Adams Breed Gallery
Manga Camp Again Art Camp
INSTRUCTOR: Bethany Connell
AGES: Entering Grades 5th - 8th
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non—Members
Welcome to the world of illustration, drawing, and anime. Join Mrs. Connell for an introduction to the world of comics. Students will study artists from around the world including Studio Ghibli, Christopher Hart, Yamamuro, and more. Students will learn from various animators' styles to create their own unique style! Students’ goal will be to leave at the end of the week with their comic book. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Play in the Clay Art Camp
INSTRUCTOR: TBA
AGES: Entering 1st - 3rd Grades
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non—Members
Students will learn the joy of creating with clay. Several types of clay will be used to teach campers how to create functional and decorative art works. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
BUILDING BONANZA II CAMP
INSTRUCTOR: Emilio Tolentino
AGES: Entering Grades 1st - 3rd
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non—Members
Campers will learn the joy of creating with 3/D. Students will have a variety of projects that deal with building. Students will leave camp with a good understanding of sculpture and 3/D. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Beginning Photography Camp
INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Nichols
AGES: Entering Grades 4th - 6th
$100 CCA Members | $125 Non—Members
Campers will learn basic digital photography skills using digital Kodak cameras owned by the Center. They will also enjoy a downtown excursion, a photo safari at the Abilene Zoo, and editing in the McMurry University Photo Lab. The location of the camp will vary during the week—those who have signed up will get the schedule two weeks before the ArtCamp date. *Fee includes all supplies and snacks.
Gallery Reception: WTPS and Under Construction
Join us for an opening reception celebrating two new group exhibitions!
May 16, 5-7PM
Get to know our talented artist studio residents in Gallery 3, and get a glimpse into their personal creative processes. Then, be sure to visit the Wright Photography Gallery to view the latest works showcased by the West Texas Photographic Society in their Annual Group Exhibition.
With inspiring art in all four galleries, music, refreshments, and engaging conversation, it’s sure to be a night to remember.
Meet artists at every stage of their careers; you might just find the perfect piece to take home with you!
ArtSocial
We are having a Luau! Bring your favorite tropical dish and join your fellow artists in making a unique Hawaiian Print.
Opening Reception: Echoes of the Future, Heirloom
Join Us for an Opening Reception!
Celebrate the opening of Echoes of the Future, our Artist Member Spring Showcase, and Heirloom by UT Tyler graduate student Makenzie Bierma-Wheeler.
Enjoy an evening of art, refreshments, and insight with a gallery talk and open Q&A.
We look forward to seeing you there!
ArtSocial
Celebrate Earth Day! Bring nature inspired food and some cards or dominoes, and be prepared to discuss what YOU have done for the Earth this month!
All Gallery Reception
Join us during our first ArtWalk of the year for a joint reception and artist talks for all of our new exhibitions!
April 5, 5 - 7 PM