Kerr Arts & Cultural Center is located in Kerrville, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, a short drive from Austin and San Antonio. Three large galleries exhibit art in many mediums.

The Center is located in the former Kerrville post office. It was originally built in 1935 in an art deco architectural style by well-known San Antonio architects Atlee B. & Robert M. Ayres. In 2005, the galleries were completely renovated with state-of-the-art lighting, acoustic ceilings, and new flooring to create an inviting environment for viewing art. An extensive sound system enhances meetings, receptions, and exhibitions.

The mission of Kerr Arts & Cultural Center is to promote art and culture in the Texas Hill Country. Over 900 members of the Center display their work in themed monthly shows. Cultural shows are also presented. The eclectic membership includes photographers, wood-carvers, geoscientists, wood turners, painters, quilters, flower arrangers, and others who exhibit their work and educate the public in the arts.

The gift shop displays a wide variety of original works of art. Wood turnings and wood sculptures, fiber creations, quilted pieces, and unique jewelry are available for purchase. Local artists exhibit watercolors, oils, and acrylics in varied and attractive themes. Hand-painted stationery and porcelain are popular with visitors looking for that exceptional gift.

The geoscientists have created a Fluorescent Mineral Display. Long and short ultraviolet rays illuminate the fluorescent qualities in a variety of rocks in this permanent exhibit. This unusual display is not to be missed.

Art classes and workshops for adults and children are held at the Center on a regular basis. Scholarships are available for those qualifying. The Summer Youth program, held in July, is very popular. More than 120 children sign up for exciting classes that are not usually available in the regular school curriculums. New classes are added annually, and this year’s additions include sumi (Japanese ink painting), fabric molas, origami, embellished baskets, and ostrich egg painting. The Center’s teachers are well-trained, talented, and always inventing original and challenging ideas for classes.

In addition to the many themed shows featuring Hill Country artists, each fall the Center co-sponsors the Texas Furniture Makers Show with Woodcraft™, the national retail chain of specialty woodworking supplies and equipment. This year’s show marks the sixth anniversary of this spectacular event.

Furniture makers from across the state compete for prizes in this juried show that includes traditional, art, and studio designs of custom-made, one-of-a-kind furniture. The pieces are created from pine, mesquite, walnut, oak, cedar, metal, or specialty woods with inlays and laminations that produce artistic expressions ranging from antique reproductions to western, Asian, and modern designs. Pieces include rocking chairs, chests, desks, vanities, beds, cradles, dining room suites, entertainment centers, tables of all sorts, and whimsical artifacts. Wood turnings, quilts, hooked rugs, and paintings accessorize the show. More than 3,500 visitors attend the event and many find exceptional designs they can’t resist buying.

Kerr Arts & Cultural Center is open Tuesday–Saturday 10–4 and Sunday 1–4. Admission is free but donations are always welcome. The Center is located at 228 Earl Garrett (across from the courthouse) in downtown Kerrville, Texas. For more information, please call 830-895-2911 or visit www.kacckerrville.com.

Thanks to the Kerr Arts & Cultural Center for the article and photo (Photo by: Partain Photographs).