IDAC

07/02/2025

What an exciting lineup!! What show are you looking forward to the most?

Our 25-26 Season is going to be AMAZING!! Starting with Into the Woods this September...stay tuned for audition and ticket details!

07/01/2025

Let us introduce you to Bobbie Baumgarten! Who has been a passionate volunteer at our Irving Arts Center for the past 7 years!

As a retired librarian, it makes sense that Bobbie “especially loves doing tours and art with the youth groups.” She loves attending the Lunch & Learns and sharing knowledge about every new, wonderful exhibit that comes into the galleries. Though if you ask Bobbie, she’ll tell you she looks forward to the exhibits that feature children’s book illustrators the most.

What stood out when speaking with Bobbie is the love she has for her fellow docents. Never missing an opportunity to shout out their hard work.

“Cindy (Volunteer Coordinator at IAC) and the other docents are a wonderful group of people, like a family! Marci (Director of Exhibitions & Education at IAC) always does an amazing job getting wonderful exhibits and speakers that keep us coming back and engaged.”

But let’s not forget your hard work, Bobbie! Irving Arts isn’t the only place you’ll see her volunteering her time. You can catch her at the DFW Airport, where she enjoys assisting passengers in navigating the large facility. And even gets involved with her friends at the Irving Public Library to help raise funds!

With such a busy and rewarding life, we asked what one piece of advice has helped her through it all:

“Don't sweat the small stuff and don't put off doing things in life, as it's too short!”

A role model to her words, when she’s not out volunteering and making an impact, Bobbie spends time reading, crocheting, and doing home projects.

Thank you for your dedication to the Irving community, Bobbie! We are so fotunate to witness the impact you make every day.

06/07/2025

Pride Month is a time to recognize and celebrate LGBTQ history. That history is on display in an exhibit at the Irving Archives and Museum.

06/07/2025

NOW ON VIEW @ IAM: "Badge of Pride: From Silence...to Celebration!"

Irving Archives & Museum is honored to present a groundbreaking new exhibition, "Badge of Pride: From Silence…To Celebration!", in partnership with the Dallas-based nonprofit Badge Of Pride, with the organization’s Executive Director, Adrian Cardwell, serving as lead curator. Running from June 6 to September 28, 2025, this landmark exhibit offers one of the first and most comprehensive artifact-driven explorations of LGBTQ+ history in Texas.

Anchored by a powerful panel from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt, the exhibition weaves together personal artifacts, archival materials, and historical narratives to showcase over a century of LGBTQ+ history. Featuring items from Badge of Pride’s extensive collection, as well as artifacts on loan from private and institutional collections, this exhibition provides visitors with a rare opportunity to connect with history through the objects and stories of those who lived it.

The exhibition’s title draws inspiration from the 1995 Pride theme, "From Silence to Celebration," honoring the LGBTQ+ community’s transformation from fear and invisibility to resilience, activism, and joy. It is a tribute to those who broke the silence, those who fought for visibility, and the generations who turned pain into pride, ensuring that LGBTQ+ stories are not only remembered but cherished and celebrated.

Designed to educate, inspire, and empower, Badge of Pride: From Silence…To Celebration! invites visitors into a safe space for reflection and dialogue. A dynamic speaker series, Say It Loud: From the Shadows to the Mainstage, along with community-driven events, will deepen engagement and connection to the themes of the exhibit. By centering the voices and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, this exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come—and the work still ahead to build a more inclusive future.

This exhibition is more than a history lesson—it is a testament to the power of community, visibility, and pride. Join us as we honor the triumphs, struggles, and legacies that have shaped the LGBTQ+ experience, around the globe and right here at home in North Texas.

See it @ IAM through September 28, 2025!

05/31/2025

One of, if not the largest, community arts project in history, the AIDS Memorial Quilt helps us remember the real and unique lives of those lost to HIV/AIDS.

Each panel honors individuals and groups affected, with roughly 50,000 of them created dedicated to over 110,000 people. And this pride, two of our locations have parts of this incredible dedication in our exhibits.

Irving Archives and Museum is honored to home Badge Of Pride From Silence...To Celebration! From June 6th - September 28th. IAM invites visitors into a safe space for reflection and dialogue...

The Dance Lives On by Amy Branch-Lambert explores the life of her brother, Kenneth Branch, through her ceramic works. Including a ceramic quilt alongside her brother's panel. Celebrate life at Irving Arts Center May 31st - August 30th.

Centering the voices and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community serves as a powerful reminder of how far we've come and the work ahead to continue toward a more inclusive future.

05/27/2025

Exciting things are coming to Irving this June!!

The transformation has officially begun!

We’re in Phase One of turning the gallery into a bold, immersive space for our upcoming exhibition—and yes, those are hot pink walls and columns you’re seeing. One does want a hint of color, after all…

We open to the public in less than two weeks! But you can be among the very first to experience it at our exclusive Preview Event on June 05. Join us for fabulous food, cocktails, and community as we celebrate this milestone for Texas—a groundbreaking exhibition centering Q***r history, art, and power. Tickets at 🔗 in bio!

This is just the beginning of something truly extraordinary. 🏳️‍🌈✊🏳️‍⚧️

05/20/2025

We love being a part of Smithsonian Affiliates here in Irving! Did you know that our museums have traveling exhibitions from around the US and more? See the latest at Irving Archives and Museum