Locals Day: FREE Admission for Bexar County Residents
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is happy to welcome all residents of San Antonio and Bexar County to come and experience the culture and art of the West for FREE! Our neighbors can enjoy a FREE day of art and culture on the first Sunday of each month.
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Scout the Briscoe: FREE Scavenger Hunt
Visitors of all ages can learn about the American West with a FREE monthly scavenger hunt during Locals Day. Embark on a delightful adventure navigating the museum’s 1.4 acre campus and 14 permanent galleries. Solve the clues to uncover the answers to our monthly questions and receive a special discount at our Hendler Family Museum Store.
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Full STEAM Ahead: Hands-On Education
Families and visitors are also invited to learn about the American West in the Briscoe’s monthly education series, “Full STEAM Ahead” during Locals Day. Work together and engage in hands-on, STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics- learning experiences. The education program features hands-on activities and workshops all ages will enjoy every first Sunday of the month during Locals Day, 1 – 3 PM.

Locals Day: FREE Admission for Bexar County Residents
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is happy to welcome all residents of San Antonio and Bexar County to come and experience the culture and art of the West for FREE! Our neighbors can enjoy a FREE day of art and culture on the first Sunday of each month.
______________________________

Scout the Briscoe: FREE Scavenger Hunt
Visitors of all ages can learn about the American West with a FREE monthly scavenger hunt during Locals Day. Embark on a delightful adventure navigating the museum’s 1.4 acre campus and 14 permanent galleries. Solve the clues to uncover the answers to our monthly questions and receive a special discount at our Hendler Family Museum Store.
______________________________

Full STEAM Ahead: Hands-On Education
Families and visitors are also invited to learn about the American West in the Briscoe’s monthly education series, “Full STEAM Ahead” during Locals Day. Work together and engage in hands-on, STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics- learning experiences. The education program features hands-on activities and workshops all ages will enjoy every first Sunday of the month during Locals Day, 1 – 3 PM.

Cancelled Due to Inclement wintery weather.

The Museum will Also be Closed.

Free All-Day Community Event!
Saturday, January 24 | 10am – 4pm

To celebrate one of the four pillars of Western Art, wildlife and animals of the west, the Briscoe Western Art Museum will hold a FREE community day on Saturday, January 24, 2026. All activities will revolve around the theme of Western wildlife with a focus on Texas habitats and wildlife. We will have ALL DAY animal-themed art activities and local wildlife experts participating.

Join us as award winning artists Billy Schenck shares how he weaves together the story of his artistic process from film stills to paintings and creating new narratives. Moderated by Curator of Night of Artists & Special Exhibitions, Tim Newton. Schenck will also discuss his Native pottery collection and new book, with a book signing included.

This event is included with museum admission and is FREE for members!

Children 12 and under are ALWAYS FREE at the Briscoe!

About Billy Schenck:

One of the originators of the Western pop art movement, Billy Schenck incorporates techniques from photorealism with a pop art sensibility to both exalt and poke fun at images of the West. Schenck is known for utilizing cinematic imagery reproduced in a flattened, reductive style, where colors are displayed side-by-side rather than blended or shadowed. In the August 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine, his work was described as “a stance … a pendulum between the romantic and the irreverent.”

Schenck’s artwork is now in 60 museum collections, including Smithsonian Institution, Albuquerque Museum, Autry Museum of the American West, Booth Western Art Museum, Briscoe Western Art Museum, Denver Art Museum, the Mesa Southwest Museum, Museum of the Southwest, New Mexico Museum of Art, Phoenix Art Museum, Tucson Museum of Art. Private collections include the estate of Malcolm Forbes, Laurence Rockefeller, Sylvester Stallone and the estate of Fritz Scholder. Corporate collections include American Airlines, IBM, Sony, and Saatchi & Saatchi.

With over 120 solo shows in the U.S. and Europe, career highlights include the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s 2018, Andy Warhol Cowboys and Indians and Billy Schenck Myth of the West retrospective, 2023 Museum of the West, Mystic Visions of the West, Denver Art Museum’s 2011 Western Horizons and the 2013 Utah Museum of Fine Art’s exhibit Bierstadt to Warhol:American Indians in the West.

A genuine cowboy himself, Schenck is a ranch-sorting world champion and the proprietor of the Double Standard Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, his home for the past two decades.

A Masterful Dash of Abstraction – New, Truly American Art of the 1930s New Deal

Join us for a conversation with wildland conservationist and Western American Art enthusiast Carl Green as he explores a uniquely American, historically important, and aesthetically brilliant array of art that arose out of the depths of the Great Depression. 

Using works from the Storytellers exhibition and the Briscoe’s permanent collection, combined with images from museums, federal buildings, and post offices across the nation, Carl will introduce you to cultural conditions that set the stage for an outpouring of intensely expressive art, homegrown in inspiration and incredibly diverse in technical style.

This event is included with museum admission and is FREE for members!

Children 12 and under are ALWAYS FREE at the Briscoe!

About Carl E. Green:

Born and raised in Irving, Texas, Carl became enthralled by nature at an early age. A typical day found him and his friends catching snakes, bringing skinks to school for show and tell, or fishing at the local lake.  Life took him in a variety of directions after high school. He managed a motorcycle parts department, developed a taste for fine food working at a Florida golf resort, worked in aviation with Southwest Airlines, and put his education in geography to work with Mapsco Map Company in San Antonio.  Coursework in botany, zoology, and history, coupled with serving as a volunteer with Texas Master Naturalist, guided him to a career in conservation with Texas Parks and Wildlife, serving as a leading team member to develop and open Government Canyon State Natural Area. For more than twenty years, he has dedicated his time to protecting this unique Karst Preserve and sanctuary for numerous endangered species.   In his spare time, Carl enjoys traveling with his wife, Judit, to national parks across the United States while seeking-out art of the American West along the way.

Indian Relay – Rated PG

The hope and determination of modern-day American Indian life is revealed in this film about what it takes to win one of the most exciting and perilous forms of horse racing practiced anywhere in the world today. Featuring remarkable high-speed cinematography, Indian Relay follows three teams from different American Indian communities as they prepare for and compete in a grueling season.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Native Film Series showcases a selection of unique films that feature original and diverse indigenous stories.  Guests will get a deeper look into life in the Southwest in conjunction with our latest exhibit Storytellers: Narrative Art & the West.

All films were directed, written, produced by, and/or star Native Americans.

This film is part of a series curated by Matthew Davila, a proud member of the Standing Rock Lakota Sioux Tribe. Matthew will offer a brief presentation before each film, providing insights into the significance of the stories being told and their cultural impact.

Thanks to the generous donation of Matthew Davila, curator of the Native American Film Series, we’re able to offer free admission to the remaining films.

Join us in celebrating this gift and enjoy these meaningful screenings at no cost!

🎟 The film is FREE, please register here

Festive Lights, Western Nights: A Member Holiday Party

Kick off your holiday season with a night of festive fun, Briscoe-style!

Join us for Festive Lights, Western Nights: A Member Holiday Party, a memorable evening filled with holiday cheer, special activities, and the warm glow of the San Antonio River Walk’s stunning holiday lights. Exclusive for Briscoe members, this annual tradition celebrates the magic of the season with your museum family.

Boat Space is Limited! RSVP SOON!

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER ONLY EVENT!

MEMBERS RSVP FOR FREE TODAY!

Do you want to join Briscoe Membership? Has your membership lapsed? Renew/join today and celebrate with us!

Highlights of the Evening

6:00pm – Doors Open:

Arrive early to start the festivities! Enjoy holiday music in our lobby, sip a seasonal cocktail, and indulge in delicious lights bites. Then capture a holiday memory with Cowboy Santa.

River Boat Ride Times: 7pm & 7:15pm

Space is limited in the River Boats, and they end after the party. Please take your belongings on the boats, delight in the 100,000 holiday lights on display, and enjoy the rest of your night in beautiful downtown San Antonio.

River Walk Holiday Lights Boat Ride:
See the breathtaking holiday lights of the River Walk from the best view in town—on a festive riverboat ride! Members can hop on board for a 45-minute scenic tour of the beautifully illuminated River Walk, surrounded by over 100,000 sparkling lights and the towering bald cypress trees that make this a truly unforgettable holiday experience.

Boat Space is Limited! RSVP SOON!

8:00pm – Event Ends:

As we wrap up the evening, take home memories of a holiday night well spent with your Briscoe family.

Food & Drink

Sip on beer, wine, and a signature holiday cocktail crafted especially for the evening. The bar will be open throughout the event.

Festive Extras

Exclusive Member Store Discount: For one night only, Briscoe members enjoy a 15% discount on all items in the Museum Store. Browse unique gifts and Western-inspired treasures to check off your holiday list.

Capture the Season with Cowboy Santa! A professional photographer will be available to capture photos of you and your family with Cowboy Santa all evening.

Come Be Part of a Unique Journey Through Art and Narrative

Don’t miss the chance to witness the incredible artist Ed Natiya as he brings a sculpture to life right before your eyes! While he works, Ed will share how storytelling is intricately woven into his art, giving you a glimpse into his creative process.

🗓️ Thursday, November 14 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM

This event is included with museum admission

The evening culminates in our special exhibit, Storytellers: Narrative Art of the West, where Ed will reveal the inspiration behind his stunning pieces, including “Stories of Our People” and “Shared Memories.” This intimate discussion will be guided by the insightful Tim Newton, ensuring a rich and engaging experience.

The evening culminates in our special exhibit,” Storytellers: Narrative Art of the West,” where Ed will reveal the inspiration behind his stunning pieces, including “Stories of Our People” and “Shared Memories.” This intimate discussion will be guided by the insightful Tim Newton, ensuring a rich and engaging experience.

A day of family fun exploring the museum with holiday crafts and visits with Cowboy Santa!

Unwrap Western fun and meet Cowboy Santa at the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s annual Cowboy Christmas! This year’s Cowboy Christmas falls on the museum’s monthly “Locals Day” when the Briscoe greets locals with free general admission. Cowboy Christmas is also FREE, making the Briscoe the perfect way to enjoy holiday fun and make memories with your family.

Families are welcome to snap pictures with Cowboy Santa, while a Scout the Briscoe scavenger hunt will lead you through the Briscoe’s fantastic collection, and of course, a stroll through the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden is the perfect path to enjoy the River Walk and all of its holiday beauty.

Cowboy Crafts 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Cowboy Santa 11:00 AM -2:00 PM

Free All-Day Community Event!
Saturday, November 8 | 10 AM – 4 PM

Highlighting the continued vibrancy and artistic traditions of Native American communities – and the local tribes who helped shape San Antonio – the Briscoe Western Art Museum invites everyone to enjoy its annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival. The event is FREE and includes admission to the Briscoe, making it a perfect way to celebrate the important role Native Americans played in shaping the West while enjoying art and artifacts that highlight Native American history.

The event starts with a Native American spiritual blessing, followed by a ceremonial drum circle that invites everyone to join. 

The annual event is named in honor of the Payaya people who were indigenous to the San Antonio area. “Yanaguana” was the word they used to describe what is now known as the San Antonio River. The festival groups with historical roots in the San Antonio area and highlights a core pillar of Western art featured in the Briscoe’s collection. The festival has been held annually since the museum opened.

Fun for all ages to enjoy, so come on down with your family and friends! Register today! 

Want to Lend a Hand?

Volunteers help make this a fun and safe event for all our visitors. Volunteers will help with check-in, support staff with arts & crafts with the kids, help keep art supplies neat and organized and help with light clean up.