Blanton New Grounds: Grand Opening Celebration

2pm-5pm CT (museum open till 8pm), Saturday, May 13, 2023 | Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Austin, TX 78712 | New grounds. New art. New vibe!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Event will now take place 2pm-5pm. Our participatory art experience by the Haas Brothers is rescheduled to June 10 (Second Saturday). DJ sets by DJ Ella Ella and Adrian Quesada are now being rescheduled, date TBD. The museum will remain open through 8 p.m.

Access to Moody Patio & Grounds
– FREE – Blanton Members & All Visitors

ADMISSION / CHECK-IN (Smith Building): 
Access to Museum Galleries & Austin by Ellsworth Kelly
– $15 – Adult
– $12 – Seniors (65+)
– $ 8 – Youth & Non-UT College ID holders
– FREE – UT ID holders, Children 5 & under, and K-12 Teachers with valid ID
– FREE – Blanton Members Not yet a member? Join today!

Go to our Before You Visit page for more details and information when planning your visit. A limited number of lockers are available to use in our Check-in Building (first come, first served). If you have specific accommodation needs, please email us at accessibility@blantonmuseum.org

MUSEUM STORE: Get your art-inspired gifts here, folks (including any last minute Mother’s Day shopping)! Blanton Members get 20% off all purchases!

Remember to share your experience on social using #BlantonNewGrounds & #MoodyPatio and tag us @blantonmuseum!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

WHERE: Outside On The Moody Patio – Free
2-3 p.m. Opening celebration featuring Gina Chavez, followed by remarks by Blanton Director Simone Wicha and special guests
3-4 p.m. Performance by Gina Chavez.
4-5 p.m. Performance by the Peterson Brothers.

WHERE: In The Museum Galleries (Michener Gallery Building) – Included with admission
3-8 p.m. Pop-up exhibition in the museum’s H-E-B Study Room. This one-day exhibition, titled Molded by the Matrix, features examples of collagraph printmaking and is inspired by a print by Cuban artist Belkis Ayón in the Blanton’s collection.
3-7 p.m. 30-minute public tours of highlights from the Blanton’s collection, offered every hour on the hour. Tours will meet in the museum’s Rapoport Atrium. A schedule of tours (including in Spanish) will be made available on our Group Visits & Tours page soon.
4-5 p.m. Torch Literary Arts presents readings by Texas writers in the museum’s Meredith Lounge on the second floor. Limited seating; first come, first served.

BITES & BEVS: Tasty options will be available for purchase between 2-8pm. Card & digital payments only:
Flyrite Chicken
Mama A’s
Tamale Addiction
Amy’s Ice Creams
Haymaker

Please note, the Blanton café is closed until further notice.

PARKING / TRANSPORT: Parking is available in the Brazos Garage. Normal rates can be paid directly at the garage. (Blanton Members get a $4 discounted rate at Check-In, valid all day). Ride-shares can drop off in the new Museum Drop-Off on the east side of the museum. Bicycle racks are available on the south side of Jester Center and on the west side of the museum’s Smith Administration Building. Public transit is encouraged; Cap Metro bus routes 1, 3, 7, 10, 18, 19, 20, 801, and 803 have stops within walking distance. 

The galleries and ’Austin’ are open late till 8 p.m.

Activities subject to change.

Support for the Grand Opening Celebration is provided by H-E-B and Texas Children’s.

Additional support is provided by Rambler Sparkling Water.