Due to the overwhelming popularity of the fall series, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is extending its monthly “Locals Days” programming through the spring. To thank the San Antonio community for its support, the third Sunday of each month is “Locals Day” at the Briscoe, greeting locals with 50 percent off general admission. Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days on February 21, March 21, April 18, and May 16. As a further thank you, the Locals Days offer is being extended to the federal holidays of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 18) and Presidents’ Day (February 15) as well, giving everyone additional opportunities to enjoy the museum. As always, children 12 and under receive free admission, as do active-duty members of the military, making the Briscoe the perfect spot for local families to enjoy. Parking at City of San Antonio downtown meters is also free on Sundays and federal holidays, making it an affordable day of fun for families. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)

The Briscoe routinely updates its galleries to share new acquisitions and donations, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy more of the museum’s collection. The latest additions include “1876, Gall – Sitting Bull – Crazy Horse,” a 2011 bronze by John Coleman on loan courtesy of the Jack and Valerie Guenther Foundation. One of today’s leading contemporary Western artists, Coleman’s works portray the historical nature and mythology of western subjects in sculpture, paint, and charcoal. Guests can enjoy the sculpture in the museum’s San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Gallery.

Another recent addition is “Once Upon a Time,” by artist Mark Maggiori and donated to the Briscoe’s permanent collection to highlight the story of working Black cowboys. An award winning Western contemporary artist known for his realistic and academically tuned works, Maggiori is a French artist who paints modern cowboys in the nostalgic American West. The artist is a graduate from the prestigious Academie Jullian in Paris and has lived in the United States since 2010. The piece is now permanently installed in the Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr. Gallery.

The Briscoe also features rotating works in its New Works Gallery. The new year brings a new selection of rotating works in the museum’s New Works Gallery as well. A collection of historic Western photographs, including 19^th and early 20^th century works from well-known western native photographer Edward S. Curtis and landscape photographer William Henry Jackson feature prominently in the gallery. Part of the museum’s permanent collection yet rarely on display, the images share a glimpse of the west as it was and highlight how photography preserved the landscape, life, and diverse western cultural groups before they experienced irreversible changes.

While at the museum, visitors may enjoy self-guided tours, watch short videos, and learn more about the artists behind the works through the Briscoe’s app, available for iOs systems. Lil Partner activities for children are located on the app, as well as the museum’s website through the museum’s “Beyond the Briscoe” program. The entire family can enjoy a scavenger hunt that explores the museum, play musical match-up or musical bingo, bringing the museum’s extensive collection to life for all ages.

An oasis of Western beauty just off the River Walk, the McNutt Sculpture Garden and the museum grounds feature 32 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life. The Briscoe’s collection of Western art and artifacts showcases the stories of the West through visual art. Collection highlights include Santa Anna’s sword, works by Frederic Remington, Pancho Villa’s last known saddle, a fantastic Alamo diorama and artifacts, contemporary and historic paintings, sculptures, an impressive spur collection, and other cowboy and Native American relics, weapons, and photography.

The Briscoe is open Thursday through Monday, 10a.m. – 5p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free for children 12 and under and for active-duty members of the military and up to four members of their families. The museum is proud to participate in Museums For All, Blue Star Museums and Bank of America Museums on Us. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online. The museum is operating at reduced capacity with health and safety protocols that require both staff and guests to wear masks.