From an art club with more than a century’s worth of history to an innovative women-driven arts foundation operating out of a repurposed cotton mill, McKinney is home to a diverse and growing community of artists and arts organizations.
“We have so many places where you can go to appreciate art or participate in some kind of art event,” Art Club of McKinney President Kathryn Iklé says. The club, which began all the way back in 1914, is just one of the organizations hosting regular artistic events in the city, Collin County’s county seat.
“It definitely has become more of a magnet for artists and people who appreciate the arts,” says Iklé, who's seen artists from around Texas and beyond look to showcase their works in the city.
“I think the interesting thing that I see about the Art Club and several of these other art organizations is artists are cross-pollinating,” Arts and Music Guild Executive Director Annie Royer says, describing how artists are coming to McKinney to join its organizations and display their works.
As one of the artists who spearheaded the growth of the arts in McKinney over the years, including the creation of the nonprofit guild in 2011, Royer has seen the city’s art scene develop firsthand and played a major role in that development herself. She says it’s the collaborative nature of the McKinney arts community that makes it such a destination for artists. “It’s not just how many galleries or opportunities there are to sell. It’s also how many opportunities do I have to see what somebody else is doing and tell them about what I’m doing,” Royer says. “That’s where the inspiration comes. That’s why artists want to live in artist communities, and that’s the type of community that McKinney has become.”
Here is a snapshot of some of the galleries, venues and organizations spotlighting McKinney’s vibrant artistic community.
The Art Club of McKinney
Monthly member meetings held at The HUB at First United Methodist Church of McKinney on 102 West Lamar St
The oldest art club in the state is still blazing new trails even 110 years after its creation. The club recently hosted a first-time collaborative event with Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum featuring the work of 25 artists. The event marked just one of the ways the club has continued to showcase the work of its nearly 150 member artists throughout the year. The club also recently participated in a fundraiser art auction for Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center and is preparing a free high school student art exhibition at TUPPS Brewery on October 26. The McKinney-based brewery frequently supports the arts and will display works from local students through November 3.
Those events come in addition to monthly member meetings from August through May and regular community activities and artistic opportunities. Art Club of McKinney President Kathryn Iklé says those interested in joining the club can visit its website or simply attend one of its events to learn more about becoming a member.
Heard-Craig Center for the Arts
205 W Hunt St
Another venerable arts institution in McKinney, the Heard-Craig Center holds the distinction as the city’s first official art museum. Built in 1900 by Stephen and Lillian Heard, the center features the Kathryn Heard-Craig and Thomas E. Craig collections with works by Frank Klepper, Guy Wiggins, Allie Tenant and more. Tours of the center and its art run each Tuesday and Thursday.
Thanks to the philanthropic work of the Heard’s daughter, Kathryn, the center also houses 26 different art and literary organizations today, like The North Texas Porcelain Guild and The Mockingbird Poetry Society. Keep an eye on the center’s website for monthly art history lectures, events such as the recent Art Meets Fashion show on Oct. 19 and much more programming.
LAST Art Gallery
105 W Louisiana St
Make LAST Art Gallery one of your first stops on the McKinney Downtown Square. Founded by award-winning artist Gail Delger in 2014, the gallery became an artist co-op in 2019 and now numbers 57 member artists. With such a wide footprint, it’s no surprise that patrons can find many varieties of visual art in the gallery. Member artists include woodworkers, jewelry makers and sculpturers as well as traditional canvas artists. LAST ART Gallery’s large classroom area also hosts regular classes by its talented member artists.
Arts and Music Guild
The Arts and Music Guild acts as an advocate and organizer for many artistic events and programs around McKinney, including several mentioned throughout this guide like the McKinney Art Studio Tour, The Cove and the Unique by Nature art competition. The guild also sponsors Summer Music Intensives and hosts the Live Art 2 Live Music event. The latter pairs world-class musicians and artists together at TUPPS Brewery. While the musicians perform, the artists create stunning pieces live in front of attendees.
The Cove
402 N. Tennessee St.
With movable walls capable of contorting to fit the needs of each exhibiting artist, The Cove is a truly unique space in McKinney. An Arts and Music Guild initiative, The Cove runs weekly exhibitions by acclaimed artists from around the North Texas area. Each week, the exhibition rotates to showcase the work of a new artist or group. The cooperative venue is free to attend and often includes complimentary drinks, lessons and more tied to the exhibitions. A full list of exhibitions and dates is available on the venue’s website.
McKinney Performing Arts Center
111 N Tennessee St
Located in the heart of the downtown square, the McKinney Performing Arts Center is host to plenty of music and theater events. Don’t let the name fool you, however. The center also hosts visual art exhibitions and one of the premier art competitions in the city, Unique by Nature. The competition, held in collaboration with the Arts and Music Guild, invites artists to submit their work for an opportunity to win a cash prize and become part of the center’s permanent public art collection. Next year’s reception will take place on April 5, with the artwork remaining on display throughout the month.
The McKinney Cotton Mill
610 Elm St
This historic cotton mill may date back to 1910, but you won’t find any denim manufacturing equipment inside these days. Instead, the expansive mill hosts a number of art galleries and studios amidst its multi-purpose space. Some of the galleries include individual canvas artists like LX Artworks by Lindsay Ekstrom and Leticia Herrera Art. The jewelry designs of Bloom Galleries, Bay Willow Design’s handmade millinery and Glaze Ceramic Studio are also some of the artistic organizations that call the Cotton Mill home as well.
MillHouse McKinney and MillHouse Foundation have also played a pivotal role in the artistic development of the mill. The sister nonprofits promote the work of female artists in the area. MillHouse McKinney operates as a 14,000-square-foot workspace for 32 resident artists and photographers who participate in its business league for women in creative industries. MillHouse Foundation organizes an array of festivals, markets and events that highlight the exceptional works of local artists out of the mill’s location.
Jump Into Art Studios
404 N Church St
Children and adults alike can take a leap into the art world through one of Jump Into Art Studios’ many classes. The community art center gives lessons on pottery, ceramics, textiles, watercolors and more. Owner and director Magda Dia highlights a weekly sip-and-throw pottery workshop for adults, which includes an end-of-class blindfold pottery challenge, as one of the studio’s fun classes accessible for both beginner and intermediate artists alike. For the kids, there’s plenty of opportunities to learn about painting, drawing and clay as well as art camps that provide a chance to try a range of different mediums. An upcoming ages 6-12 Thanksgiving camp promises Thanksgiving tree painting, basket weaving, printmaking and even pumpkin muffin making across November 25-27.
Chestnut Square
315 S. Chestnut St.
With historical buildings that stand as art in of themselves, Chestnut Square provides a trip back in time to see architectural beauty dating back to 1854. In addition, different artists sell their work each week at the square’s farmer’s market, and local artists often participate in events like the annual Holiday Tour of Homes. Keep an eye out for the square’s participation in special exhibitions like the Tiny Doors art tour as well.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (Empty Bowls McKinney)
511 Foote St.
One of the biggest artistic events in the city, Empty Bowls McKinney raises funds each year for local area food pantries. The upcoming event on April 24 gives attendees a chance to enjoy soups from different local food options and take home an artistic bowl in the process. The bowls come from local artists and studios, with many area organizations like Glaze Ceramic Studio, The Cove and Jump Into Art hosting events tied to Empty Bowls.
The event takes place in the downtown square, but its roots date back to the halls of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, which organizes it as an outreach ministry. The church is a longtime supporter of the local arts community, dating back through the creation of the St. Peter’s Artist Collective (SPARC) and its support of the resident artists there.
Arts in Bloom Festival
Historic Downtown McKinney, 111 N. Tennessee St.
In April, the Arts in Bloom festival brings together more than 100 artists from around the city and beyond to McKinney’s downtown. Art of all mediums will be on display and for sale throughout the free-to-attend festival. The festival pairs the art with wine tasting, live music and kids programming. Last year, area artists also hosted live demos of their work throughout the three-day event.
Art Gallery at Filtered
218 E Louisiana St
A sip of craft coffee isn’t the only pick-me-up you can get at Filtered. For more than six years, the coffee shop has hosted a multimedia art gallery featuring beautiful works from local artists and organizations like the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco that would surely give a boost to your day. Beyond visual art, Filtered also frequently hosts author signings and music performances.
McKinney Art Gallery
118 E. Louisiana St.
A recent addition to the local art scene on the McKinney Downtown Square, McKinney Art Gallery formed last March. The 2,500-square-foot facility includes 55 member artists and four active studios. “The atmosphere is energizing,” co-owner Justin Zimmerman says in an email statement. Artists of all varieties sell their work at the gallery, with ceramic, metal and jewelry pieces sharing a space with canvas and print works. Check out the McKinney Art Gallery Facebook page for updates on upcoming art classes, events and new works at the gallery.
This guide is a great starting point for exploring McKinney’s vibrant visual arts scene, but there’s even more art to discover across the city. The McKinney Art Studio Tour map provides a look at additional artists and studios to discover. The breadth of McKinney’s artistic community is on display in the McKinney Art Studio Tour (MAST). Royer works to organize the annual two-day event, held November 9-10 this year. It currently boasts 75 participating artists across 28 locations.
McKinney isn’t the only home for beautiful works of art in North Texas either. Keep an eye on Local Profile for upcoming art guides for cities like Frisco and Plano in the near future.
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