February will be a Celebration of Love, Legacy and the Rodeo at this River Walk Museum
This February, lasso love, legacy and the rodeo at the Briscoe with The Art of the Rodeo: Student Western Art Competition Exhibition, Harlem on the Prairie Film Screening, Dia del Amor y Amistad – Interactive Painting with Gio and much more including extended hours and programming. If your heart is the size of Texas, then why not fill it with vibrant scenes, themes, and happenings as vibrant and unique as the WEST itself!
The Briscoe Western Art Museum invites you to immerse yourself in a month filled with inspiring events, creative workshops and celebrations of culture and history. From honoring Black History Month to embracing Mexican Valentine’s Day traditions and tipping its hat to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo this museum has something for everyone.
The Art of the Rodeo: Student Western Art Competition Exhibition
Ready to rodeo, San Antonio? The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Student Western Art Competition Exhibition fills the Briscoe’s Clingman Education Gallery and is included with general admission. Featuring the 13 winning entries in the 2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Western Art Competition as well as 12 entries selected for exhibition, the works on display represent the best in show from the annual contest that includes 183 South Texas school districts or those attending private school or homeschooling across 54 counties. Once the rodeo kicks off on Feb. 6, the 13 winning entries will be displayed on the rodeo grounds while the museum choice selections will remain on display at the Briscoe through Feb. 23.
And don’t miss the Briscoe at the rodeo! Look for the Briscoe’s beloved giant inflatable bison visiting the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo grounds, snap a selfie and lasso an admission special: Scan the QR code in the Briscoe’s display to receive 50% off museum admission. The offer is good through Feb. 23 and the tickets can be used any time before Sept. 30.
Special Film Screening and Presentation: “Harlem on the Prairie”:
- Feb. 9, 2025, 2 – 4 p.m., included with museum admission
Celebrate Black History Month at the Briscoe with a special screening of 1937’s “Harlem on the Prairie,” a film considered to be the first “All-Black” Western musical. Created by and starring Herb Jeffries, the film showcases Black actors, offering characters that young Black children could look up to. It was the first in a series of four Western films Jeffries produced starring an all-Black cast and has been restored thanks to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Ronald Davis, the Witte Museum’s Curator of American History, will share more about the history of Black cowboys before the screening. Included with museum admission.
Día del Amor y la Amistad: Painting with Gio at the Briscoe
- Feb. 13, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $35, $20 for museum members
Celebrate Valentine’s Day and Día del Amor y la Amistad at the Briscoe with an evening of creativity and connection! Join San Antonio-based international artist Gio DiZurita to create a heartfelt painting inspired by love and friendship, as celebrated in Mexico. Based in San Antonio, DiZurita tells stories through her art, an everlasting transformation of life experiences. This inclusive event honors the bonds we share with family and friends – and the love of the West! You’ll create an acrylic painting on an 11 x 14 canvas in a hands-on session with Gio as she guides guests through a take-home work of art. Registration for this 21+ event is per person and includes all supplies, as well as beer, wine and light snacks, making it a perfect way to add art and fun to your Valentine’s celebrations. Class size is limited. Register today to secure your spot!
Extended Hours & Programming Make It Easy to Head West
The Briscoe is committed to engaging the community with a variety of family-friendly and educational programs for all ages – all included in museum admission. The museum offers extended hours on Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday – Monday. Children 12 and under always receive free admission at the Briscoe, making these programs affordable family fun:
- Highlights Tour – Enjoy a guided tour through the museum’s galleries through these 45-minute tours each Thursday at 2 p.m., with stops at some of the most significant and striking pieces in the Briscoe’s collection. With frequently rotating artworks on display, this tour is ideal for both first-time visitors and long-term friends of the museum.
- Locals Day – Come say howdy and explore the West for free as a San Antonio local. San Antonio and Bexar County residents enjoy free admission on the first Sunday of each month. Upcoming dates: Feb. 2, Mar. 2 and Apr. 6.
- Full STEAM Ahead – Dive into this monthly hands-on activity on the first Sunday of each month with children and families combining science, technology, engineering, art and math with Western themes. These family programs are great for all ages. Upcoming dates:
- Sunday, Feb. 2: Stories in Fabric Learn how different cultures used fabric to tell their stories! After listening to a short presentation, families will be able to create a quilt square to share their story.
- Sunday, Mar. 2: Making Rain Dive into the water cycle, learning how clouds form, then create a science experiment showing how the water gets heavier and gravity makes it rain.
- Scout the Briscoe – Hunt and enjoy a fun interactive way to see more of the Briscoe’s collection in an educational scavenger hunt on the first Sunday of each month. Completing the hunt is a family affair and you’ll learn fun information about works throughout the museum. Upcoming dates: Feb. 2, Mar. 2, Apr. 6.
- Storytime Stampede – Enjoy a storytelling session designed for young children and families on the third Saturday of each month, 10:30 a.m. Sing songs, engage in movement activities and create artwork together as you learn about the West. Even better: Adults bringing children to Storytime Stampede receive half-off general museum admission. Upcoming dates: Feb. 15, Mar. 15.
- Saturday, Feb. 15: “Round Is a Tortilla,” by Roseanne Thong. In this lively picture book, children discover shapes all around them. Shape by shape, this playful concept book reinforces the shapes found in every child’s day.
Step Into the Stories of the West at the Briscoe
An oasis of Western beauty just off the River Walk, the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Garden and the museum grounds feature 35 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life. The museum’s beautifully restored historic home inside the former San Antonio Public Library building, includes 14 galleries, with special exhibitions, events and the Hendler Family Museum Store, providing art, culture, history and entertainment. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.
