Celebrate World Art Day, which is happening this Friday, April 15 right in our state's backyard. Appreciate the beauty of art at two destinations below that offer Texans a place for leisure and to take in art. Some art-related news from the historic Driskill hotel is also below, where a self-guided art tour led by QR code has just launched on the property.

Dreamland in Dripping Springs, Texas

Located across 64 acres in the Texas Hill Country in Dripping Springs, one will find Dreamland, the outdoor entertainment, recreation, and arts venue where folks can find a variety of art pieces. The art program, led by Artistic Director Gareth Maguire, is the focus at Dreamland. There is an impressive array of awe-inspiring sculptures and murals from artists from all over the world. Each is carefully placed throughout the property that also boasts mini-golf, pickleball courts, disc golf, the splash pad, a beer garden, a film and concert screening area that showcases regional musicians weekly, and more.

On April 15, the Splash Pad will also officially reopen for the summer season at Dreamland, making it a great family spot with the warm weather here. And not just on World Art Day – but everyday – Dreamland serves as a free art gallery to the community, where visitors are surrounded by beautiful, diverse art at every turn, from spray paint and graffiti/street art styles to pieces illustrated with acrylics, aerosol, and various inks by local and global artists alike. With sustainability in mind, Maguire has collaborated with these artists to repurpose Dreamland’s rainwater collection tanks into beautiful murals of different styles. Additionally, there is a gorgeous glass tile mosaic that can be seen when playing mini-golf. And Dreamland is an ever-changing spot to find art, new pieces will continue to be installed for years to come.

New, self-guided art tour at The Driskill in downtown Austin, Texas

For decades, The Driskill has continued to be home to historical figures, with many being famous Texas politicians, such as President George W. Bush. Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) even chose the legendary hotel as an unofficial HQ during his legislative and presidential career. Now, it’s not just history buffs who can appreciate the building. This month, The Driskill launched a new self-guided art tour where locals and visitors alike can step into the space and dive into the history of one of Austin’s most legendary gems that has withstood the test of time while paying homage to the 135-year-old hotel and those who have walked its halls. There will be a total of 25 paintings and art pieces on site for visitors to discover, including a 130-year-old portrait of Jesse Driskill, the cattle baron who built the hotel, which even saw a gun duel that left the painting with two bullet holes. The tour is in audio format where participants can simply scan the QR code at each piece of art and follow the instructions on The Driskill’s website to listen.