Frequently Asked Questions

What is Art League Houston?

• Art League Houston (ALH) is a non-profit visual arts space. We provide exhibition and community programs, along with offering art classes for adults at our onsite Art League school. Our mission is to connect the community through diverse, dynamic, and creative experiences that bring people together to see, make, and talk about contemporary visual art.

• ALH was founded in 1948 and is one of Houston’s oldest non-profit art spaces. While keeping the core of the art league model – a robust membership deeply committed to the value of visual art in contemporary life – Art League Houston embraces contemporary approaches to curatorial programming, community-building, art education, and outreach to under-resourced communities.

• For information about ALH’s history, mission, and values, please visit the History page.

Where are you located?

• We are located at 1953 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006. Canary Café Montrose is in the same building. We are also located across the street from Texas Art Supply. You can view a map of where we are located on the Visit & Contact page.

Does ALH have visitor parking?

• The ALH parking lot is located right off of Montrose. Parking in the ALH parking lot is limited during classes and events. Street parking is available in the neighborhood behind ALH, but please be aware of parking signs. ALH is also accessible from the Midtown area via Metro bus.

When is ALH open?

• The ALH Building is open Monday through Thursday, 9 AM - 5 PM & 6 PM - 9:30 PM. Friday through Sunday, 9 AM - 5 PM.

• The ALH Galleries are currently open from 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Sunday. These are hours subject to change.

What door should I use to enter ALH?

• Please enter ALH using our patio doors, located right by our Sculpture Garden. Our front doors off Montrose Boulevard are currently closed and the entrance off Willard Street is for staff and instructors.

• Visitors can also enter ALH through Canary Café Montrose.

Is ALH an accessible campus?

• The main entrance to Art League Houston is accessed through the ALH Sculpture Garden and is an accessible entrance. There are two additional entrances that have up to three steps and do not have ramps. All ALH gallery spaces and ALH studios are on the ground floor and fully accessible. ALH has multiple gender-neutral and accessible restrooms available, and an elevated toilet is available in the restroom in the Main Gallery. Please let ALH staff know of any specific needs that we may be able to help accommodate.

What is your current COVID-19 protocol?

• Face masks are recommended, but not required in the ALH building. For updates about our health and safety protocols, visit the Updates page.

I have art supplies I’m no longer using. Can I donate them to ALH?

• We appreciate you for thinking about us, but we are currently not accepting supply donations. We suggest reaching out to organizations such as the Houston Center for Creative Reuse or Star of Hope Women’s Shelter.

• If you would like to support ALH, you can donate to our programs or volunteer your time. To place a donation, visit the Donation page.

What are the registration dates for general classes?

• The registration timeline for general classes during our Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter semesters are listed here.

• The registration timeline for Flexible Access classes during our Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter semesters is listed here.

I’ve never taken an art class before, what class should I take?

• That depends on your interests! We offer a wide variety of classes and workshops on different mediums. A beginner drawing or painting class would be a great way to build up your 2D art skills whereas ceramics would be a good way to build your 3D art skills.

• Workshops are also a great way to test out a medium to see if you would like to pursue it further.

• For more help in deciding on what class is perfect for you, give us a call at 713-523-9530 or email at school@artleaguehouston.org.

How long are your classes? How many days a week?

• Typically our classes are 9 weeks (27 hours total), however, they can range from 4 to 9 weeks. Our workshops are usually between 1 to 3 days.

• Classes typically meet once a week for 3 hours. Workshops may meet more than once a week.

• All courses listed on our website note the following:

  • Title of the class or workshop

  • Instructor name

  • Course level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc.)

  • Day and time

  • Dates

  • Length

  • Price

  • Location

  • Course description

Can I earn course credit hours from ALH classes?

• ALH is not an accredited institution so we do not offer class credit for our classes.

• If you are interested in fulfilling professional development credit hours and would like to receive a Certificate of Completion for a class or workshop you've taken at Art League Houston (ALH), please email the ALH School at school@artleaguehouston.org

  • Students will need to complete the class or workshop in order to be eligible for the certificate.

  • If you have any questions or concerns about how to request a certificate of completion, feel free to reach out for assistance.

Do you offer kids’ art classes?

• We do not offer classes for kids at the ALH campus, but our Artbound! In-School Residency Program brings visual arts instruction with professional teaching artists to HISD campuses across the Houston area. If you are interested in bringing an Artbound! residency to your campus, please contact us.

• Our Summer Teen Intensive program is for students ages 14 - 17. Applications are accepted in early spring for the following summer. For more information about the program, visit the Summer Teen Intensive page.

• ALH school classes are for students 17 and older unless instructor consent is given.

What is Open Studio Figure Drawing?

• Open Studio Figure Drawing is a drop-in studio session where students can freely sketch, draw, or paint from a live model. Sessions are held on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 - 4 PM, unless noted otherwise. Please visit the Open Studio Figure Drawing page for more information.

Can I submit an application to model for Open Studio Figure Drawing?

• We are not currently looking for models however if you would like to submit your information to school@artleaguehouston.org, we will keep your information on file.

• Information required from the model includes:

  • Full name

  • Primary phone number

  • Email

  • Brief physical description (we do not collect images of models)

  • Previous modeling experience

  • Availability

• If contacted and booked, a W-9 will need to be submitted prior to the start of the scheduled session.

• The modeling pay rate is $20/hour

Are tickets required to visit exhibitions? Is there a fee?

• ALH exhibitions are always open to the public and there is no fee to visit.

• Gallery Hours: Monday - Sunday 9 AM - 5 PM.

Are exhibition openings and events open to the public?

• All ALH exhibitions, artist talks, and public programs are free and open to the public. At times, events will have limited seating. Please check the individual event to determine whether registration is required.

Is photography of artwork in exhibitions allowed?

• More often than not, photography is both allowed and encouraged. If an exhibiting artist does not allow photography of their work, ALH will post signage that notifies visitors that photography is not allowed.

How can I exhibit at ALH?

• ALH has an Exhibition Open Call Process. Proposals are reviewed once a year are selected through our Artist Advisory Board. We are also W.A.G.E certified & artists will receive a stipend for exhibiting in our spaces. For more information visit the Exhibition Open Call page.

How are exhibitions selected?

• ALH has an Exhibition Open Call Process. Artists submit proposals that are reviewed by our Artist Advisory Board once a year. The Artist Advisory Board is made up of artists and arts professionals from the region. The proposal selection process is highly competitive as Art League Houston receives numerous submissions each year. Artists are selected on overall quality and innovation.

Can ALH purchase work?

• ALH is a non-collecting institution.

Can ALH provide gallery representation?

• We are not a commercial gallery and we do not offer gallery representation opportunities.

Does ALH appraise, purchase, or sell artwork?

• ALH does not offer any appraisal services. ALH is not a collecting entity and therefore does not purchase artwork. ALH only facilitates the sale of ALH exhibition artwork. For more information about the ALH Exhibition program, visit the About Exhibition Programs page.

Does ALH offer programming for youth?

• ALH does indeed offer programming for young artists in two community programs. ALH partners with Houston area schools (K-8) that offer little to no visual arts instruction through the Artbound! In-School Residency Program. For more information about the Artbound! Program or to request Artbound! at your campus, visit the Artbound! page.

• ALH offers the Summer Intensive Program for teens ages 14-17 annually at the ALH campus. For more information, visit the Summer Teen Intensive page.

What is Healing Art?

• Healing Art is an arts program for adults living with severe illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and physical disabilities. The program creates a supportive environment that encourages creative exploration and expression. The program is taught by two teaching artists, Rebecca Bass and Emily Sloan, along with workshops led by visiting artists. Participants are invited to exhibit work with ALH through various opportunities.

When can I submit my Healing Art application?

• The Healing Art Program accepts applications between most semesters, depending on program capacity. The application process includes a form to be completed by the applicant as well as a recommendation form that must be completed by a healthcare provider or representative of a community health organization. Applications may be submitted during the open application period through an online application portal or by downloading and printing a pdf which may be submitted via email or mail. Blank, printed applications may also be mailed directly to applicants upon request.

• Please check the Healing Art Program page to learn more or send any questions to rian@artleaguehouston.org.

Does Art League Houston provide tours?

• Yes! Request a guided tour of the Art League Houston galleries for your group or class today by visiting the Group Tour page. Tours are subject to scheduling availability and requests must be received at least two weeks in advance.

How long is my membership valid?

• Memberships are valid for one year from the date of purchase. To check your membership status, please call us at 713-523-9530.

Does my membership automatically renew?

• Memberships do not automatically renew. To renew your membership you can call us at 713-523-9530 or you can renew online on the Membership page.

How do I check the status of my membership?

• Please email school@artleaguehouston.org to request the status of your membership.

Do members have a members-only exhibition?

• We currently do not offer a members-only exhibition. If you are interested in exhibiting at ALH, please submit a proposal to our Exhibition Open Call.