Contracommon

Join us May 9th from 7-11pm in The Secret Garden:

The Secret Garden is a one-night-only immersive art fundraiser blending art, music, and interactive installations. A minimum donation of $30 grants you access to delights within, and all proceeds will support Contracommon's mission to provide accessible opportunities to emerging artists.

What Awaits You in The Secret Garden?
Exclusive access to 11 private artist studios:
Meet the artists, see works in progress, and experience the creative process up close.

Perennials group exhibition opening:
Celebrate the resilience and growth of artists with a curated exhibition of inspiring works.

The Bloom Garden:
Discover affordable art from artists who have exhibited with us in the past, each piece priced at $100, perfect for collectors or first-time art buyers.

Immersive activations and live music:
Experience the evening through interactive installations and lives performances (from Hexpartner and Bennett & the Infinite Glowing Castle) all complemented by craft cocktails and refreshments.

CONTRACOMMON is an artist-run, artist-led nonprofit that supports and encourages artists in a collaborative setting. Members volunteer their time and expertise to create exciting exhibits and events that connect individual artists to their community, and foster opportunities for professional development. Through a partnership with the Hill Country Galleria, Contracommon operates an experimental gallery space, which provides affordable workspace for emerging artists, and access to facilities to support artists’ professional practices.

OUR MISSION
Contracommon empowers underrepresented artists through community, collaboration, and creative exploration.

OUR COMMUNITY
In 2018, a multidisciplinary group of artists conceived an idea - a groundbreaking space to support and advance emerging artists in Central Texas. Contracommon launched in August 2018 as an experimental gallery space, with artist studios, and a communal workshop. The founding members procured a low-cost facility for the nonprofit art space through an innovative partnership with the Hill Country Galleria, an outdoor shopping center west of downtown Austin, Texas. Members rolled up their sleeves and made extensive renovations to the building. In early 2019, the gallery and a few studios opened. After further renovation, more studios and communal spaces opened in mid-2020. Through this programming and our facility, Contracommon has created a growing community of emerging artists and arts advocates. We are building a supportive network of resources and equipment that elevates artists' practices and encourages creative exploration.

OUR GOAL
Contracommon is growing! We are expanding artists' access to our resources with the CONNECT. Program, which will allow non-studio members access to our facilities—including our wood shop, printing press, photo studio, desktop computers with the Adobe Suite, and more. With these crowdfunds going to operating expenses, Contracommon will be able to continue offering free and accessible exhibitions, events, workshops, and resources for artists. Donations will support our year-round programming featuring both local and visiting emerging artists. 

You can check out some of our past exhibitions here.