3 Ways to Experience Art at the Irving Arts Center

3333 North MacArthur Blvd.
Irving, TX 75062
972-252-2787
www.irvingartscenter.com

The Irving Arts Center can be found in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with six galleries, a sculpture garden, and ten resident performing arts organizations under one roof. Admission to the galleries is free, exhibitions rotate throughout the year, and on any given weekend you might catch a symphony, a ballet, or a jazz concert without leaving the building. To take the stress out of planning your own visit, we've put together a handy guide to fitting in everything the center has to offer.

A gallery hallway inside the Irving Arts Center with framed artwork lining both walls, an arched glass ceiling, white columns, potted plants, and a wooden bench under natural light.

Wander Through Everchanging Gallery Exhibitions

Four of the center's galleries are free and open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 PM—no reservations, no tickets, just walk in. The Focus Gallery, Dupree Lobby Gallery, Carpenter Hall Lobby Gallery, and Main Gallery rotate exhibitions regularly, covering everything from photography and illustration to textile art and painting. National exhibitions sit alongside work by regional and local artists, and the range is broad enough that two visits a few months apart won't feel like the same trip.

The center also hosts "Meet the Artist" events, artist talks, and receptions tied to current exhibitions (worth checking the website before you go). If you'd rather have someone walk you through what's on display, free guided tours run the first Saturday of every month. Just reserve your spot ahead of time.

Exhibitions change frequently, so be sure to check the website often!

The exterior of the Irving Arts Center at night, with its illuminated entrance, arched windows, and rooftop signage glowing against a dark sky.

Stroll Through the Serene Sculpture Garden

The Sculpture Garden is open day and night, set among walkways, flowers, and fountains that make it one of the quieter spots in the DFW metroplex. Three Texas sculptors were commissioned to create permanent installations: Michael Manjarris' Benches (1999), Jesus Moroles' Fountain Columns (1998), and James Surls' Star Flower (2008). Rotating sculpture exhibitions fill the spaces between them, so the garden never looks the same twice.

Surrounding the garden is the Irving Centennial Mural, created by Francisco Mendoza and 40 young Irving artists. It traces significant moments in Irving's history across a sprawling wall, putting into perspective how the domino-effect of seemingly minor events can have historic consequences. In other words, every choice is meaningful.

A historic black-and-white photograph of women's suffrage activists holding banners reading "Mr. President How Long Must Women Wait for Liberty" and "Mr. President What Will You Do for Woman Suffrage," displayed as part of an exhibition at the Irving Arts Center.

Enjoy Cultural Programs by Resident Arts Organizations

Ten Irving-based cultural organizations call the Arts Center home, which means the performance calendar stays full without relying on touring acts. Three symphonies (the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Irving Symphony Orchestra, and New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving) share the space with the Irving Symphonic Band. MainStage Irving-Las Colinas handles theater and musicals. Momentum Dance Company covers ballet. And the Entertainment Series of Irving books concerts across genres throughout the year.

The result is a venue where you can see a full symphony one weekend and a country concert the next, all in the same building. Check Irving Arts Center’s website for upcoming events. Tickets for performances are available online or in-person during gallery hours from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

A gallery hallway inside the Irving Arts Center with framed artwork lining both walls, an arched glass ceiling, white columns, potted plants, and a wooden bench under natural light.