FALL in Love with the Briscoe with A great deal of Festivals, Occasions & Enjoyable for the Complete Household
You Are Positive to Fall in Love with The Briscoe this FALL
The Briscoe Western Artwork Museum is kicking off an thrilling fall season stuffed with new exhibitions, cultural celebrations and hands-on artistic experiences for the entire household. From the sweeping historical past featured in Going to Texas: 5 Centuries of Texas Maps to the highly effective pictures of Distinction: Jay Dusard’s Black and White West, the Briscoe continues to carry the spirit of the American West to life by way of partaking exhibitions and community-centered packages.
“Fall is at all times a magical time on the Briscoe,” mentioned Liz Jackson, President and CEO of the Briscoe Western Artwork Museum. “Our packages not solely have fun the wealthy cultural traditions of the West but in addition invite the group to study, create and join in significant methods. From artwork workshops to cultural festivals, every expertise is designed to encourage and produce individuals nearer to the tales of the West.”
FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
Going to Texas: 5 Centuries of Texas Maps
By means of Jan. 19, 2026
This landmark exhibition explores the historical past and id of Texas by way of 66 uncommon and authentic maps from the extraordinary Yana and Marty Davis Map Assortment paired with greater than 25 artworks from non-public loans and the Briscoe’s everlasting assortment. The map assortment, on mortgage from the Museum of the Huge Bend at Sul Ross College in Alpine, Texas, reveals how cartography formed perceptions of the area throughout centuries. Spanning almost 500 years, from 1525 to 2006, the gathering is extensively considered some of the essential Texas cartography collections in existence.
Interactive Expertise: Guests can step into the function of a mapmaker by way of hands-on and digital actions. Hint the paths of early explorers, examine historic maps with modern-day Texas, and discover the artistry behind mapmaking. Households can even get pleasure from a particular exercise that teaches use a compass, then navigate to find artworks tied to the historical past of the Lone Star State.
Distinction: Jay Dusard’s Black and White West
On view by way of Dec. 31, then March – October 2026
A compelling assortment of hanging black and white photographs captured within the mid-Nineteen Eighties, Distinction showcases photographer Jay Dusard’s imaginative and prescient of the West by way of portraits, landscapes and summary compositions. Stripped of shade, the pictures spotlight the crisp geometry, stark magnificence and residing traditions of the cowboy lifestyle and the underlying geometry and grit of the environments and individuals who outline it – showcasing a West that’s alive, genuine and deeply human.
Dusard, who handed away in September on the age of 88, leaves behind a profound legacy as one of many American West’s most considerate and humane photographers. Born in St. Louis in 1937 and initially skilled as an architect, he turned to pictures with the assumption that every topic’s full context mattered, by no means decreasing individuals to mug photographs however as an alternative putting them thoughtfully inside their environment. Over a lifetime spent capturing the lives of ranchers, cowboys, cattle and the immensity of the western panorama, Dusard cultivated a particular aesthetic grounded in pure gentle, persistence and respect, relying as an alternative on comfortable, revealing gentle and a dedication to environmental portraiture as an alternative of utilizing synthetic lighting or reflectors.
Made potential by way of the generosity of Keely and Byron Jay Lewis, this transformative exhibition is on view by way of Dec. 31, with a brief deinstallation in early 2026 to showcase the museum’s newly expanded annual San Antonio Inventory Present and Rodeo Pupil Artwork Exhibition. Distinction will then once more be on view March – October 2026.
FALL PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
Día de los Muertos: Group Ofrenda
Oct. 9 – Nov. 3, included with admission
The group is invited to take part within the Briscoe’s Día de los Muertos group ofrenda honoring influential figures in Western artwork and the American West. Everyone seems to be welcome so as to add copies of pictures of misplaced family members and private choices to assist have fun their lives. The ofrenda is on show within the museum foyer and free Día de los Muertos-themed crafts can be found for many who wish to take part. The Briscoe’s Hendler Household Museum Retailer additionally has Día de los Muertos objects accessible for many who want to add to their choices.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 6–8 p.m. | $35, $20 for museum members
Rejoice Día de los Muertos by making a vibrant alebrije portray led by energetic and charismatic worldwide artist Gio DiZurita. Brightly coloured, fantastical creatures that mix parts of various animals, actual and imagined, into one hanging type, alebrijes aren’t solely celebrated as a vibrant artwork type but in addition maintain deep cultural significance, representing creativeness, transformation and non secular steering. In Mexican folks custom, some imagine alebrijes can function spirit guides providing safety and knowledge. Whereas sipping beer and wine, you’ll create an acrylic portray on an 11 x 14 canvas in a hands-on session with DiZurita as she guides company by way of a take-home murals. This 21+ occasion is per individual and contains museum admission, with all supplies included and beer, wine and lightweight bites supplied. Class dimension is proscribed, so register immediately to safe your spot.
Celebrating Native American Heritage: Movies & Competition
To highlight the significance of Indigenous cultures within the American West, the Briscoe is internet hosting its Native American Movie Sequence and celebrating its annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Competition this fall. All occasions embrace museum admission and are free with pre-registration.
Native American Movie Sequence
“Thunderheart,” Saturday, Nov. 15, 1:30 p.m.
The Briscoe’s Native American Movie Sequence celebrates Indigenous storytelling by way of the lens of latest cinema. The sequence spotlights movies created by Native American filmmakers and artists, providing audiences a singular alternative to have interaction with the tales, cultures and histories of Indigenous communities from the American West. All movies had been directed, written, produced by and/or star Native People. Matthew Davila, a member of the Standing Rock Lakota Sioux Tribe, curated the sequence and can lead a brief presentation earlier than every movie. The movies are free and embrace museum admission with pre-registration.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., free admission
Highlighting the continued vibrancy and inventive traditions of Native American communities, the household pleasant, enjoyable for all ages Yanaguana Indian Arts Competition options Native American artists, musical performances, dancing, storytelling, artist demonstrations, Native American-inspired meals and free museum admission.
Vacation Celebrations: Christmas within the West
Thursday, Dec. 4, 6-8 p.m. | $35, $20 for museum members
Paper mâché Christmas ornaments carry a home made appeal and festive creativity to the vacation season, mixing custom with private expression. Light-weight but sturdy, these ornaments might be embellished in numerous methods, making every one a singular souvenir. Be taught the method of portray paper mâché ornaments and go away with a superbly personalised decoration to hold in your tree or reward to family members. Mija People will share their artistic course of earlier than guiding company in portray their very own paper mache ornaments to take residence. All supplies and museum admission included. Beer, wine, and lightweight bites supplied. Pre-registration required.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Included with museum admission, free for native residents
Get wrapped up in Western enjoyable and meet Cowboy Santa on the Briscoe’s annual Cowboy Christmas. Included with museum admission, Cowboy Christmas is the proper solution to get pleasure from vacation enjoyable and make reminiscences with your loved ones. The celebration falls on the Briscoe’s month-to-month “Locals Day” so all Bexar County and San Antonio residents obtain free admission to benefit from the museum.
Cowboy Christmas incorporates a day of household enjoyable exploring the museum with vacation crafts, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and visits with Cowboy Santa 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Households are welcome to snap photos with Cowboy Santa, whereas a particular 12 Days of Christmas scavenger hunt leads you thru the Briscoe’s incredible assortment. Christmas crafts, together with decoration making, will give everybody a little bit of the West to take residence. And naturally, a stroll by way of the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Backyard is the proper path to benefit from the River Stroll and its vacation magnificence.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY AND FREE OPPORTUNITIES
The Briscoe is proud to be a family-friendly vacation spot the place studying and enjoyable go hand-in-hand. Interactive exhibition parts, artistic workshops and free crafts make the museum an inspiring place for guests of all ages. The museum presents a number of methods for households and people to get pleasure from free admission:
Museums on Us: Financial institution of America cardholders get pleasure from free admission on the primary full weekend of every month.
Locals Day: San Antonio and Bexar County residents can discover the museum freed from cost on the primary Sunday of every month. Free programming provided on Locals Days contains:
Full STEAM Forward – Dive into this month-to-month hands-on exercise 1 – 3 p.m. on the primary Sunday of every month with kids and households combining science, expertise, engineering, artwork and math with Western themes. Full STEAM Forward falls on the Briscoe’s month-to-month Locals Days, giving households a possibility to discover the museum and revel in hands-on actions collectively.
Sunday, Nov. 2 | 1–3 p.m.
Full STEAM Forward: Salt Maps
Sunday, Jan. 4 | 1–3 p.m.
Hunt and revel in a enjoyable interactive solution to see extra of the Briscoe’s assortment in a free scavenger hunt on the primary Sunday of every month. Finishing the hunt is a household affair and you may get pleasure from a ten% low cost within the museum’s Hendler Household Museum Retailer when you end. Upcoming dates: Oct. 5, Nov. 2, Dec. 7.
The museum honors army veterans with half-price admission year-round and free museum admission in honor of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 10. Veterans might present their army ID to obtain the provide and can even get pleasure from a ten% low cost within the Hendler Household Museum Retailer. The Briscoe presents energetic obligation army members free admission all year long, in addition to discounted admission for energetic obligation relations and veterans.
Navigate the West on the Briscoe
An oasis of Western magnificence simply off the River Stroll, the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Backyard and the museum grounds characteristic 35 sculptures portraying varied facets of Western life. The museum’s superbly restored historic residence inside the previous San Antonio Public Library constructing, contains 14 galleries, with particular exhibitions, occasions and the Hendler Household Museum Retailer, offering artwork, tradition, historical past and leisure. Museum hours, parking and admission particulars can be found on-line.
