Rockport Center for the Arts a beach-bucket list stop

When planning a visit to the Coastal Bend, add Rockport Center for the Arts to your beach-bucket list of things to do. The center opened its new downtown complex in 2022 and has expanded its offerings to include art classes, multiple visiting exhibits, and even cooking classes. 
The campus consists of a 13,000-square-foot visual arts and education building, the 8,000-square-foot Rockport Conference Center, and a 16,000-square-foot outdoor sculpture garden. Before moving to its new digs, RCA operated out of a series of residential and commercial structures, most recently the old Kline’s Café building. 
More room means more opportunities for students and admirers of the arts. With five classrooms, Rockport Center for the Arts offers a plethora of courses and workshops, covering almost all genres. Recent programs include photography, animal sculptures, creative paper clay, beginner wood carving, and watercolor basics. 
[image  id="35684" title="Rising Eyes of Texas" linkto="file" ] Rising Eyes of Texas, a recent exhibition at Rockport Center for the Arts. Courtesy photo
The center’s culinary arts kitchen hosts a cooking class each month and a young chefs summer camp for kids grades 3-8.
With expanded exhibit space, Rockport Center for the Arts can host more than one event at a time, displaying works by national, regional, and member artists. Since the move to expanded quarters, the center has showcased the works of Brian Wedgeworth, Fernando Andrade, Lynne Ruf, Winston Taylor, and others.
Youngsters with a creative bent can take advantage of offerings designed just for them. The center sponsors several children’s programs, including Free Family Saturdays (during the school year), ArtSpace summer youth camp, the Jumpstart for Teens after-school program, the Spring Break Youth Arts Camp, and field trips throughout the year.
Rockport Center for the Arts is located at 204 S. Austin St. in Rockport. Call 361-729-5519 for more information. 
chuck@thepicayune.com