Mission:

To promote the visual arts by presenting exhibitions, developing educational programs, and providing an environment for creative expression.

The Galveston Arts Center, a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization, was incorporated in 1986 as the primary center of contemporary art serving a culturally diverse, eight county area between Houston, Corpus Christi and Beaumont. Housed in the historic First National Bank building (1878) at the corner of 22nd and Strand, the GAC was first founded as the Centre on the Strand in 1968. At that time the Junior League of Galveston County donated the building for use as an art education center. Due to damage from Hurricane Ike, the GAC is currently located at 25th and Market Street in Galveston, Texas.

Today GAC has developed into the only visual arts organization in Galveston with a permanent location, rotating exhibition schedule, a full-time staff and free admission at all times. GAC provides art education outreach to various underserved populations in our community from pre-K children to the elderly.

The GAC also offers art education classes in-house and collaborates with after school programs to bring children to the center to experience viewing art in a gallery setting and creating their own work from their experiences. One collaboration produced a mural conceived and executed by teens from the St. Vincent’s House Quality of Life Anti-Gang project. Another was an installation at the GAC by La Marque High School students who participated in a program with the gallery at the College of the Mainland and artists who have previously exhibited at the GAC.