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The beloved community tradition returns. Starting February 12 and running through March 1, 2026, Mexic-Arte Museum opens its galleries to celebrate the next generation of Austin creatives with Totally Cool, Totally Art!—a vibrant annual exhibition featuring works by teens in REC centers across the city. After 20 years of collaboration between the museum and Austin’s Totally Cool Totally Art program, this exhibition remains one of the most authentic expressions of local youth creativity and a key part of the museum’s broader community exhibitions lineup.
Mexic-Arte Museum
$WHAT TO EXPECT
Visitors will see mixed‑media works, paintings, digital pieces, sculptures, and experimental projects created under the guidance of TCTA teaching artists. The exhibition allows young artists, many from underserved neighborhoods, to experience a professional museum setting for the first time—complete with curation, installation, and opening‑night celebration in the same galleries that house Mexic-Arte’s permanent collection of Mexican and Latinx art.
ESSENTIAL VISITOR INFO
Location: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Dates: February 12–March 1, 2026
Hours: Mon–Thu 10am–6pm; Fri–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 12pm–5pm (closed 10am–12pm Feb. 12)
Admission: Adults $8; Students/Seniors/Educators/Military $5; Ages 12 & under $1; Free every Sunday (verify latest details on the museum’s visit page)
Family Day: February 22, 2026, 1–4pm (free admission, free workshops—watch for updates via the museum’s event newsletters)
INSIDER INTELLIGENCE
Opening day is busiest after 12pm—arrive early for clearer views of the work.
Sundays offer free admission and easier downtown parking; if you’re driving in, you can pair your visit with a read of this guide to Austin’s parking meter secrets to strategize your spot.
Family Day (Feb. 22) is the best time for interacting with teaching artists, taking behind‑the‑scenes photos, and seeing student demonstrations, similar in spirit to other community‑minded events like ACL Live Community Day 2026.
If you want interviews with young artists, opening weekend draws the highest number of participants.
The exhibition pairs well with nearby stops—plan a downtown walking loop from Congress Ave and consider extending your cultural day with other local icons like Deep Eddy Pool or a history‑rich stroll through Pease District Park’s hidden past.
INTERNAL LINKS FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION
For more cultural and local‑insider coverage:
• Inside The Superfair Austin: The Insider Guide to the City’s First Artist‑Led Art Fair
• Inside ACL Live Community Day 2026: The Insider Guide to Austin’s First‑Ever Family Music Celebration
• Inside Pease District Park’s Hidden History: The Insider Guide to Governor Pease, Woodlawn Homestead, and the Enslaved Community Who Built It
• Inside Deep Eddy Pool: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Oldest, Most Overlooked Urban Oasis
EXTERNAL PRIMARY SOURCES
• Mexic-Arte Museum official site: https://mexic-artemuseum.org
• City of Austin Totally Cool Totally Art program: https://www.austintexas.gov/tcta
• Museum visitor information: https://mexic-artemuseum.org/visit/
• Museum exhibitions overview: https://mexic-artemuseum.org/exhibitions/
• Museum permanent collection: https://mexic-artemuseum.org/permanent-collection/
• Museum newsletters and updates: https://mexic-artemuseum.org/newsletters/
Totally Cool, Totally Art! remains one of the most uplifting annual art events in Austin—an exhibition that demonstrates how meaningful mentorship, community programs, and creative empowerment can shape the city’s future artists, while connecting them to the broader ecosystem of Mexican and Latinx art fostered by Mexic-Arte Museum.
Related Austin Data
Inside Totally Cool, Totally Art! 2026: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Youth Art Showcase at Mexic-Arte Museum
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