Art and Design Research Guide: Clarksville Galleries

Produced by The Downtown Clarksville Association, First Thursday Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour that combines visual art, live music, engaging events and more in the heart of Downtown Clarksville. Held each month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. — rain or shine!

Located in the heart of historic downtown Clarksville, Tennessee, the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center is the State’s second largest general museum. With over 35,000 square feet of exhibit space, hands-on activities and special events…people of all ages agree – the Customs House Museum is well worth the stop! The Customs House Museum has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors through its doors over the years. Our galleries host a variety of both permanent and rotating art, history and science installations that appeal to visitors of all ages and interests. Our reputation for high-quality exhibitions and publications has enabled us to receive grants from both state and federal agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts. Explore an entire city block featuring large gallery spaces filled with fine art, science and history. The Explorer’s Landing is packed with fun, learning and fantasy in McGregor’s Market and kitchen, the toddler play space and of course – the Bubble Cave! Finally, get “all aboard” to see our fantastic model trains. Our volunteer engineers “ride the rails” every Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The Downtown Artists Co-op is an association of talented local artists and interested patrons dedicated to promoting the visual arts in the Clarksville/ Montgomery County area. DAC was founded in 2001 by a small group of local artists who had a vision of an art gallery in historic downtown Clarksville. Since then, it has grown to include 27 Full Artist Members, 16 Consignment Artists and over 50 Patrons. DAC's first gallery space was located on the 2nd floor of 103 Franklin Street, above The Front Page Deli. The Gallery's first exhibit opened in July of 2002. In February of 2004, DAC moved its current location of 96 Franklin Street.

The Living Gallery is a dedicated space for student creative research in the heart of the new Art and Design Building. This residency program accommodates ten dedicated student studios, providing the invaluable resources - time and space to make work, an exhibition space with which to exhibit those efforts, critical response from APSU’s robust Visiting Artist program, and regular opportunities for public viewing - all designed to foster high level independent creative research within the APSU Art and Design student community. Each term, all students taking art classes are eligible to propose a project to use these spaces. More than just a studio, this competitive student residency functions as a campus hub and model for creative research within our university community. The Living Gallery is an embodiment of the Department of Art and Design’s commitment to provide a creative environment that enables students to ask questions, think critically, and take risks as they gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary for a meaningful, productive life and work as critical makers in a global society.

The purpose of The New Gallery is to promote the mission and vision of Austin Peay State University by hosting engaging and thought-provoking exhibitions of artworks:

-That provide important learning opportunities for students
-That serve to energize and maintain a high level of student engagement.
-That support the University’s commitment to collaboration, critical inquiry and cultural diversity
-That are meaningful to the University’s location, identity and mission
-That feature important artists whose work embodies the highest standards of excellence
-That celebrate community by also featuring works created by students, alumni, faculty and supporters
-That highlight the diverse disciplines practiced and taught at the University
-That promote an understanding of the arts