Local art scene is great for families
The great thing about art is it’s ubiquitous.
Pair that ideology with a child’s sponge-like mind, and you’ve got yourself an opportunity to inspire your young one.
There are several resources offered in our area that cater to just that, too. Below is a list of organizations in Shreveport-Bossier City that offer ample opportunities to immerse your family in local art: artspace (Shreveport Regional Arts Council) Located in downtown Shreveport at 710 Texas St., artspace is more than an art gallery. The space presents events on a regular basis, from art exhibitions, to poetry readings, to music concerts and much more for an audience of all ages. Learn about their current exhibitions and upcoming programs at artspaceshreveport.com. East Bank Gallery (Bossier Arts Council) Right across the Red River sits the Bossier Arts Council at 630 Barksdale Blvd. At bossierarts.org, you’ll find a complete list of current exhibitions within the East Bank Gallery, as well as a schedule of upcoming artist talks, classes (ranging from basic drawing to the inner workings of Photoshop), theater performances and exhibits at the Gallery Fine Art Center, also located in Bossier City at 2151 Airline Drive, Suite 200. Meadows Museum of Art Nestled within the campus of Centenary College, the Meadows Museum of Art features a permanent collection showcasing a variety of world cultures, with 1,500-plus works by artists such as George Grosz, Emilio Amero, Mary Cassatt and Alfred Maurer. The gallery also displays temporary exhibitions on a regular basis. Did I mention this museum is free to the public? Additionally, their website provides questions you can discuss with your child, specifically for students in kindergarten to second grade. Learn more at centenary.edu/meadows. Multicultural Center of the South The Multicultural Center of the South, located in the heart of downtown Shreveport, offers a variety of experiences for its visitors. Cultural exhibits, musical programs and artistic demonstrations are just a sample of what takes place inside the center. The programs challenge visitors to learn about different traditions of various cultures by both long-ago and present day immigrants. Cultures showcased include those present in Northwest Louisiana: Native American, Cajun, Middle East, East Indian, Asian, Creole, Slavic and much more. Plus, the center is offering a summer camp from May 23 to Aug. 8. Learn more by visiting mccsouth.org. Norsworthy Gallery This art gallery, located at 214 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport, is small but rich in its work. The frequently rotating shows feature both established artists and up-and-coming, with works ranging from abstract, realist or sculpture. Visit thenorsworthy.com to learn about their current exhibit. Pamoja Art Society The Pamoja Cultural Art Center is a
“clearinghouse for African-American visual and performing artists in northwest Louisiana,” according to our local visitor center. The center hosts exhibits, workshops, art classes, theater and cultural dance classes, lectures and poetry expressions. The society was founded in 1974, and the cultural center is located at 3806 Linwood Ave. R. W. Norton Art Gallery This gallery displays both an American Collection and European Collection, in addition to the gallery’s Rare Book Collection (which I also recommend checking out). Their permanent collection has more than 400 paintings by more than 100 artists from Renaissance Old Masters to modernist iconoclasts and contemporary neo-realists. There are also hundreds of sculptures, varied in size, as well as six tapestries dating from the 16th century. Visit rwnaf. org to learn more about the gallery’s free tours and educational materials to accompany tours for visitors of all ages.
Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center According to Leonardo da Vinci, the principles for the development of a complete mind are to: “Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses – especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” Science and art exist in tandem, and there is a plethora of examples of this syncrasy inside your local science center, located in on the Shreveport riverfront. Visit sciport.org to learn more.
In addition to these venues listed above, there’s also Touchstone Artworks (located at 5011 E. Texas St. in Bossier City), a gallery and frame shop that features framed and unframed prints in a range of prices, and the Southern University Museum of Art (at 610 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport), with 300 pieces of African and African-American art and artifacts on display.
With such an extensive list of artistic venues around town, I encourage you and your family to immerse yourselves within art. Be it worldly or local, it is sure to inspire.
