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The Irving Arts Center, located in Irving, Texas, USA, is a 10-acre Art Center that caters to all different ages within the community. The center contains over 91,500 square feet of performing and visual arts space which includes a 3,800 square-foot Main Gallery. The Main Gallery host over 20 exhibits throughout the year. In 2007, the art center became an affiliate with the Smithsonian Institution, which makes the Irving Arts Center one out of 160 smithsonian affiliates nationwide.

History
The beginning of the Irving Arts Center started as early as the 1980’s when an Irving city art board was created to come up with creative ideas for the community by the city council. The board consisted of eleven hard working people. The Center was completed sometime in the 1990’s. The 10 acre large center has theaters, classrooms, as well as reception halls and other things to cater to the community. One of the most popular attractions is their Sculpture Garden. The Irving Arts Center has been a continuous success ever since the day it opened.

In 2007, the art center became an affiliate with the Smithsonian Institution, which makes the Irving Arts Center one out of 160 smithsonian affiliates nationwide. When this occurred it allowed the center the ability for growth within future exhibits, and more knowledgeable people in the field exhibit development.

Exhibitions and Artwork
Irving Arts Center is highlighted by four state-of-the-art galleries that are free and open to the public. They feature a large variety of artwork from local and regional artists, along with traveling shows from the Smithsonian Museum and other affiliates around the country. After going through the art galleries indoors, art enthusiasts can walk through the art center’s Sculpture Gardens. It is highlighted by its newest piece “Starflower” created by renowned sculptor James Searles.

Resident Arts Organizations
The Irving Art Center is home to eleven cultural organizations. These organizations operate independently from the Irving Art Center Board but use the facility to host activities and events.

The current eleven Resident Arts Organizations are: New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, Irving Symphony Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Stage, Irving Symphonic Band, ICT MainStage, Momentum Dance Company, Entertainment Series of Irving, Irving Chorale, Irving Black Arts Council and Irving Art Association

These organizations are funded by the Residential Arts Fund. The purpose of the fund is to provide the opportunity for organizational assistance support to the resident arts organizations whose efforts brought the Irving Arts Center into existence and which meet the eligibility requirements as established by the Irving Arts Board and the City of Irving.