Southwest School of Art & Craft

The Southwest School of Art & Craft is one of San Antonio’s most enduring cultural centers, alive with creative pursuits and rich in history. Once a cloistered convent, the Southwest School of Art & Craft is now a vibrant hub for contemporary and traditional arts.

Image: © Southwest School of Art & Craft

Located on its picturesque Ursuline Campus grounds are a fine crafts Sales Gallery, a weekday-lunch café, a Visitors Center Museum and public gardens. The Navarro Campus across the street offers contemporary exhibitions that reflect the art school’s teaching mission.

Southwest School Location: 300 Augusta @ Navarro (across from the Central Library) San Antonio, TX 78205

Administrative phone: (210) 224-1848 Exhibitions phone: (210) 271-3374

There’s ample free parking, and the site is accessible from the River Walk during weekday business hours or by the “Blue” trolley line. Directions and Map

Southwest School Hours: Ursuline Campus: Mon–Sat 9:00am–5:00pm Navarro Campus: Mon–Sat 9:00am–5:00pm, Sun 11:00am–4:00pm

Exhibitions at the art school are FREE!

Exhibition Schedule

Gallery Shop Mon–Sat 10:00am–5:00pm

Visitors Center Museum Mon–Sat 10:00am–5:00pm, Sun 11:00am–4:00pm

Copper Kitchen Lunch Cafe Mon–Fri 11:30am–2:00pm (Closed on holidays, weekends and evenings. Caters for special events)

Image: © Southwest School of Art & Craft

Southwest School Highlights:

Award-winning and serenely beautiful historic site Contemporary art exhibitions Texas’ largest visual arts program for youth Extensive visual arts studios and a strong teaching faculty

Southwest School History: Open to the public, part of the Southwest School of Art & Craft operates on the site of the historic Ursuline Convent and Academy, which was founded in 1851 as the first school for girls in San Antonio but was eventually abandoned in the late 1960s.

In 1971, the art school moved into the then-dilapidated grounds and buildings. It’s been an important part of the school’s mission ever since to care for and use this unique historic place.

The buildings are now on the National Register of Historic Places, and since 2005 the school has been honored by three state-wide and national awards for historic preservation.

Events at Southwest School: Fiesta Arts Fair takes place at the Southwest School of Art & Craft each spring as part of Fiesta San Antonio. It’s often considered one of the best art fairs and festivals in the country.

Check out the other upcoming public events on their event calendar.

Many people choose to hold private events at the school. The Coates Chapel and Gardens on the Ursuline Campus are very popular for weddings, parties, dinners and other gatherings, while The Navarro Campus offers a more artsy feel with contemporary spaces that are perfect for seminars, business meetings and other events. The chapel and its two gardens are a beautiful backdrop for weddings and often booked a year in advance for Saturday evening weddings. So if you are interested, please reserve early. You can call the Rentals Manager at (210) 224-1848 ext. 311 or e-mail rental@swschool.org.

Southwest School Classes: San Antonio’s art school offers studio classes to 4000 students a year. Students range from beginners to professional artists, who study painting, printmaking, ceramics, fibers & weaving, photography, book arts, and metals & jewelry in semester-long classes or weekend sessions. During nine weeks every summer, the art school’s program for children and teens is a local favorite.

Southwest School Visitor Center Museum: This permanent exhibition displays artifacts tracing the 1851 founding of San Antonio’s first school of girls, the architectural significance of the Francois Giraud-designed buildings, and the historic site’s rebirth from crumbling ruins, to one of the country’s largest community art schools. The museum is FREE to everyone.

You can find out a lot more information about the Southwest School of Art & Craft on their website at swschool.org, including pictures, videos and many more details. Whether you are just visiting San Antonio or a long-time resident, the Southwest School is a must-see destination.

Post from: The San Antonio Guide