Collaborations

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden organizes various outreach programs throughout the year, often in collaboration with other Austin area art organizations. Students get a chance to learn about sculpture, and often create their own work, in either clay or with found objects during a hands-on workshop.

ArtsBlitz

ArtsBlitz is a collaboration between Ballet Austin, Pollyanna Theatre Company, and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum. A live dance theatre production, Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for teachers participating in professional development, and free curricula for classroom educators all center around a thematic performance. See the Ballet Austin website for more information on past projects and the 2010 Symphony of Clouds production, discussing Mozart’s life and work. Interdisciplinary curricula were developed by each participating organization, with the Umlauf addressing visual arts and social studies.

VSA Texas’ Art in the Park

VSA Texas (the state organization on arts and disability) strives to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. Each year VSA hosts a day of art activities in the park. Local organizations host activity tables and students with special needs come from all over the school district to participate in a day of fun and creativity. The Umlauf hosts a table where students are given small amounts of clay and allowed to create an animal or simply enjoy feeling the qualities of the material.

Projects with Local Schools

MAE (Music & Art Education) Day at Great Oaks Elementary

Great Oaks Elementary hosts a full day of music and art making workshops for its students each year. Local organizations host a series of 1 hour workshops, as students rotate throughout the school. The Umlauf hosts a clay project, usually ceramic animals (the school has a kiln for firing).

Pease Elementary Fine Art Night

Pease Elementary hosts a Fine Art Night every spring. The Umlauf hosts a table with a small sculptural project and uses such opportunities to visit with parents about the programs and camps that are offered at the Umlauf.

Austin High Photography Exhibits

Students from Melanie Sherwood’s classes at Austin High visit the gardens for a day of tours and activities. A show of their work is held in early Spring each year.

Austin Museum Day

Free annual event to encourage museum participation (more information) – The Umlauf partners with the Texas Society of Sculptors (TSOS), who hosts tables of finished sculptures and work in progress. McCallum High School also hosts a children’s clay table. Around 1,600 guests visit this day!

Austin Nature Challenge

Like the Amazing Race, nature style, Nature Challenge encourages teams of families and friends to get outdoors and explore beautiful natural spaces close to home. Eighteen participating sites include state parks, city parks, nature centers and museums that have developed missions for teams to accomplish. Coordinated statewide by the Texas Forest Service, Agri-LIFE Extension and Houston Wilderness. Coordinated in the Central Texas area by the Austin Nature and Science Center, the Challenge provides a great way to stay close to home and explore local outdoor venues. Now an annual event, local organizations feature tasks to be completed during the months of April, May and June. See the TAMU Nature Challenge website for more details.