Dougherty Arts Center

Austin, United States

4.3

Closed now

19 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 512-974-4000
Website:
www.austintexas.gov
Address:
1110 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX, 78704
78704 (South Austin), Bouldin Creek
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.6 miAustin Amtrak Station
0.6 miCongress and Riverside
0.7 mi#10 South Bound
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Austin) 04:24 Monday, 23 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Dougherty Arts Center Theater

The DAC Theater is an attractive, comfortable 150-​seat proscenium theater complete with lighting and sound systems, box office and concession areas, dressing rooms with shower, gallery entrance and outdoor marquee. Contact us for rental details.

Julia C. Buttridge Gallery

The Julia C. Butridge Gallery features Austin-​area artists and arts organizations in exhibitions that include all mediums and address diverse subject matters. Contact us for information on our selection process or

Dougherty Arts School

The Dougherty Arts School provides a variety of adult classes in ceramics, visual and mixed media, digital design, photography and more. Youth programs immerse children across multiple art genres through our Explore Arts Pre-​k education and after school Creativity Club for ages 5 – 12.

Arts Incubation Program

Need somewhere to express yourself? reserve our free public rehearsal rooms for your auditions, practices or creative meetings. Availability subject to change for Theater Rentals.

Zilker Hillside Theater

The Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater is located across from another of Austin’s celebrated wonders — Barton Springs Pool. See our calendar of 2015 events, free to the public.

History

Established in 1878.

The DAC is just on the 78 704 side of Lady Bird Lake, on Barton Springs road between the old Union Pacific railroad tracks and the new Palmer Events Center. Originally built as a U.S. Marine Corps and Navy Reserve facility back in the 1940s.

In 1978, the surrounding community made the most of the space, naming it for philanthropist and former Junior League of Austin president Mary Ireland Graves Dougherty and augmenting the old training center with studio and gallery space.

Just a few years after the abandoned National Guard armory down the street was reborn as the Armadillo World Headquarters, the postwar Naval Reserve building became a 26,200 square-​foot community arts center with a 150-​seat auditorium where the drill hall used to be.

Thousands of diverse Austinites have began, nurtured, and shared their artistic lives and careers here.

Dougherty Arts Center also recommends

Austin Nature & Science Center

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Jardins zoológicos

,

Campos de férias

Dougherty Arts Center says,

«Incredible programs and resources immersing people of all ages with nature.»

MACC– Mexican American Cultural Center

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reviews

Museus

Dougherty Arts Center says,

«The programs and educational curriculum include areas of visual art, theatre, dance, literature, music, language and multi-​media.»

George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center

9

reviews

Museus

Dougherty Arts Center says,

«The museum offers gallery exhibits, programs, classes, springbreak and summer camps, theatre productions and a genealogy center.»

Asian American Resource Center

4

reviews

Pavilhões desportivos

Dougherty Arts Center says,

«The AARC features nine classrooms, library/​computer lab, conference room, assembly hall, and cultural exhibitions/​display spaces.»

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Nearby

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19 reviews of Dougherty Arts Center

No registration required
Place rating: 2
Austin, TX
Dear Dougherty: How do you expect beginners at wheel throwing to learn without any open studio time??? It’s outrageous to me that you don’t offer any!!!
I am currently taking the Beginners and Beyond class and the only reason I am giving two stars is because I LOVE THE INSTRUCTOR Melissa Mencini! That said I DON’T LIKE Dougherty Arts Center for not letting us have open studio time.
I’ve taken classes at Laguna Gloria and there is tons of open studio time for almost the same price. I don’t understand how anyone is supposed to learn wheel throwing without open studio time. If it were not for the awesome instructor (she has a lot of patience with beginners and is very knowledgable) I would have asked for a refund. I will not being returning; for future classes I will go back to Laguna Gloria for only a few more dollars.
Place rating: 5
Round Rock, TX
Recently performed here for the first time. Plenty of dressing rooms and rehearsal space, which is so important for a show with over 30 dancers! Very nice lobby and clean, bathrooms very clean as well.
I also have been to see a show here, and though the theater is small, the acoustics are good, and it’s a good view from every seat.
The only downside is that parking is limited, but it’s not too hard to park in the garage at the Long Center and walk over.
If I had a small show to produce, this theater would be a top choice!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
I’ve held a couple auditions for short films in their blue and yellow rooms, and they have worked out great! The people there seem very accommodating and the art galleries that rotate in always are worth a look.
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
I recently saw a Christmas play here… and originally I wasn’t sure what to expect considering it was my 1st time to ever enter this theater. But I’ll tell ya what, although the seating area was a little small, it really fit the venue quite Superbly!
As you enter the front doors, the foyer is filled with small framed artwork and lit just bright enough to view each piece without much squinting required. In addition, the wall-​to-​wall artwork is pretty inviting to the Curious Eye; especially for 1st-​Time Comers!
The seating area was quaint but comfortable. Padded folding chairs made up the sitting area, nothing fancy but it got the job done. The production area of the stage was easily from view-​able from any seat in the house, unless you were 5 years old and sitting behind a woman wearing a large hat or Bigfoot!
It’s a nice theater for small productions. :)
Place rating: 5
San Antonio, TX
This place has the best program for pre-​school social time. 3hr classes 2days a week. Loving, creative, and just jaw-​dropping wonderful.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
For 65 years, this place has been a center of the center of Austin.
Granted, for the first 30 of those years, it was a Marine/​Naval reserve training facility …
But hey, the Armadillo World Headquarters was a National Guard armory until 1970.
I think it’s a nice metaphor for Austin’s growth. Next up: Camp Mabry Botanical Gardens and Meditation Park!
Anyway, it looks like the Dougherty Arts Center is soon to go the way of the Armadillo:
And sadly, it seems that it won’t be rebuilt. Where will the high-​quality, low-​cost kids’ programs for South and Central Austin be in the future? I am not aware of a comparable facility anywhere in the area.
The DAC is where I’ve seen several free art exhibits. It’s where I’ve seen concerts and taken music lessons. I saw a 12-​year-​old Sarah Jarosz play with her family bluegrass band.
The place is falling apart, so it’s time has come. But it’s a shame nothing seems to be in the works to take its place.
Place rating: 5
Manchaca, TX
This arts center has been most accommodating with us and our every whim was met promptly.
Mary is an outstanding lady who runs the place.
Thank you Dougherty for all you have done now and in the future.
Place rating: 3
Austin, TX
I want to give Dougherty more than 3 stars but the class time offerings have kept me from taking more classes :(I wish there were more times available.
Hubs and I got lucky and found an Expressive Drawing class on Saturdays with Heidi Schlenk and we had a great time. She was so motivating and kind and could always find something beautiful in your drawing. Her class was something we looked forward to every weekend.
BUT, we haven’t been able to find any other classes we’re interested on Saturdays :(A lot of the classes are offered on a weeknight, which would work for me, but the hubs works late, so we wouldn’t be able to take a class together. It would just be great if there were more Saturday offerings!
Also, we bought so many supplies for the class and ended up spending probably $ 180 but we could’ve easily taken the class and been OK not getting everything on the list because we didn’t use a lot of it.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
I had such a great experience with my first watercolor class at the Dougherty I’m already signed up for two more. Watercolor was new to me but I felt Robert did a really great job of introducing the medium — there were people at all levels of experience in the class and everyone seemed to get something out of it. Each class focused on a different subject, from human form to still life to landscape. Even though my paintings are still pretty sad, I feel like I’m learning and getting better.
The classes are relatively inexpensive, but beware of supply costs! Materials for my intro class ended up over $ 200… Granted they last much longer than the class, so you can continue to use them once you’ve finished.
Place rating: 5
Pflugerville, TX
I make every effort to visit the Dougherty Arts Center Gallery each month for their ever-​changing exhibits. Excellent themes and creative displays center around many local artists of all ages. The building is located in a beautiful area of Barton Springs Road with shady parking in front. Visitors are always welcomed by the friendly staff. I LOVE this little gallery ! !
Place rating: 4
Dallas, TX
Great selection of art/​photography classes for adults, reasonably priced.
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
And oh what heights we’ll hit.
On with the show, this is it.
End… scene.
You have to be grateful for a community arts center where people can gather for events with a good amount of parking, find a solid rotation of interesting installments, and do one thing a lot of these spaces can not do — learn. Dougherty Arts Center has plenty of classroom and rehearsal space, and reminds me a little of some of the studios I would fashion in New York as usually unemployed actor.
Having gone to a few shows and auditions there, I have some street cred for this review. Recently, I saw a review in the main stage space, and at least for this show, the theater was left me strangely concerned about space. A deep upstage area swallows minimal set pieces and the dearth of follow spot lighting eats up actors as they perform when they should be lit more intimately. That could have been a function of the show rather than the space, so the verdict is still out. Maybe not utilizing the whole stage space for certain shows is advisable.
A good federal or foundation grant would give the center the next face lift it deserves. Lots of the pianos need tuning, the walls need scraping and painting, and the work spaces are cramped for the volunteers and employees. That said, the visual art space looks very good no matter what installment they have.
So, curtain up,
light the lights! (More of them, please!)
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
One of my favorite Austin institutions, have had nothing but very good experiences here over many years… theater, art exhibits, music performances, and four classes at the arts school
Cool older building in nice location, staff is bright/​cool/​professional, art school faculty have been great… have yet to have a parking issue
current art school classes offered:
Ceramics
Darkroom Photography
Digital Photography
DIY: Artist Development
Drawing & Painting
Jewelry & Metals
Textiles
Open Studio
Place rating: 3
Austin, TX
I came dressed for a superhero play as The Mighty Man-​O-​Taur!
And no one really batted an eye.
So, to be fair, I only visited this place for a play, and I guess they do house much much more than that. So, I’ll give it 3 stars.
The performance space is pretty small, though. The stage looks kinda decent, but it seemed that the backstage was rather cramped. The other issue is seating. I’d imagine there’s a better way to handle all this, but I don’t know what it is. You can’t fit many people in there, and the rows ascend two at a time. So, if someone sits right in front of you, they’re possibly RIGHT in front of you.
All in all, I’m glad this place is here. The location is central, and it looks like it gets a fair bit of use from the community in more ways than what I saw tonight.
Place rating: 3
Austin, TX
I really wanted to like this place. The building is neat, and I love participating in community events. I signed up for an 8-​week ceramics class after years of wanting to learn. The first 2 classes started off with some basic lessons, but after that, we were left on our own. As an absolute beginner (does making clay faces in elementary school count?), I felt very lost and under-​instructed. The rest of my class members (who I only saw on the first day, I guess they came during other hours) were more experienced and didn’t need much assistance. I found myself asking a lot of questions, and then feeling guilty for pestering everyone else who was hard at work.
I made a few basic pieces, but I felt like I could have made a lot more if the class had more teaching and less solo studio time. Even after days of practice (apparently you need years), I just could not master or even figure out the wheel enough to make a functional piece. The instructor showed me how to make a mug, and it was cool, but she basically made the whole thing for me. Plus, a serving bowl I had worked hard on melted and stuck to the shelf in the kiln and had to be tossed. All because the instructor accidentally fired it at the wrong setting.: (
For the price, I would say you are paying for use of the studio, and not for instruction. This is a class better suited for more experienced potters, not curious beginners.
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
I was volunteering for a program at Dougherty last Saturday and really like this place!
They have labs for different classes and it is definitely very kid friendly for those who are looking for events for the kids to do during the weekend. I would like to come back and take some art classes soon.
Place rating: 5
Philadelphia, PA
I took a ceramics class here and it was wonderful! We had to bring our own clay and materials, but if your forgot, our instructor, Kori, was more than accomodating. We learned about slabs and also got to use the wheel (which was my favorite).
The session was 8 weeks, met on Saturdays for 3 hours and the price was very reasonable. We got to glaze our own pieces and if you werent finished with all of your pieces by the end of 8 weeks, you could come back for the next session to finish everything which was really nice.
The school has a great variety of art classes you can take, I’d highly recommend it!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
There’s lots of parking and a great new park right next to it now! This is truly a community arts center. Great classes too!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
I’m hoping that this can be the most glowing review I have ever written. When I formed a theater company and began the crazy Austin process of getting established in the community, I called the Dougherty Arts center for help. There is a wonderful man named Russell, who I encourage everyone to talk with, that not only found a way to squeeze us into the already busy theater season but made the whole process ridiculously uncomplicated.
The Dougherty Arts has a theater, rehearsal rooms, art/​drama classes for kids and an art gallery.
Everyone is exceptional. From Russell to the front desk personal who would inquire about our play every night and sneak us in a little early so we could rehearse a little more, we were amazed by how much they actually supported local artists in all forms.
They have rotating pretty tremendous art exhibits and a very community air about the place. Go here to see shows, rent space (things have to be rented faaaar in advance) or take a look at the bulletin board for upcoming artsy events.
The only con is the construction. there’s alot of construction around the area which makes parking dismal. There are some paid parking lots and street parking available however.
Go here.