Dallas Contemporary

dallas contemporary is a non-collecting art museum presenting new and challenging ideas from regional national and international artists. The institution is committed to engaging the public through exhibitions, lectures, educational programs and events.

Founded by Patricia Meadows in 1978, dallas contemporary hosted annual exhibitions of artwork created by its members and offered rental exhibition space to emerging artists. It later expanded its mission to include exhibitions by nonmember artists from Texas. Seven years ago, dc’s donors raised the stakes for contemporary art in Dallas by purchasing a 37,000 square foot building in the Design District, an emerging neighborhood 1.5 miles north of downtown. In recent years, dc has expanded its scope to embrace the entire spectrum of contemporary art, placing Texas artists in a worldwide context. In doing so, it follows the European model of the kunstalle, or art hall, a welcoming exhibition site for art of the moment.

dallas contemporary presents learning programs for visitors of all ages, with special emphasis on its K-12 outreach. Though its subsidized bussing program, the museum provides free tours and educational experiences for thousands of children per year. Other programs include The Summer Institute for Young Artists, an immersive internship program, public and stroller tours, figure drawing classes in the galleries and an annual College Night. The museum’s main lecture series, Chit Chat, invites exhibiting artists to speak about their work in dialogue with the community.