TCU’s newest art venue, Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, is designed to give students hands-on experience staging exhibitions while also providing valuable exposure for emerging artists.

Nestled in a strip center at 2900 W. Berry St., the gallery adds to the local arts scene and TCU’s department of art and art history.

“We’ll be profiling those who are operating at the front of contemporary practices, who are changing the way we consider visual art,” said Gavin Morrison, the museum’s curator. “It’s almost like a test or experimental lab we’re running.”

Opening night drew more than 250 art lovers who took in the debut exhibit, “Material Culture,” spotlighting three-dimensional works by a dozen Texas artists including San Antonio artist Chris Sauter, whose work “Bread” features miniature utility lines atop ciabatta loafs. The exhibit also features Fort Worth artist Helen Altman’s works entitled “Feeder Tank,” an aquarium stand filled with plastic goldfish, and “Harvester 11,” which uses three cigar boxes.

TCU recruited Morrison from the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston to develop a dynamic series of exhibitions and events for the 2,500-square-foot gallery, which will supplement the university’s J.M. Moudy Exhibition Hall.

Fort Worth Contemporary Arts is supported by a grant from TCU’s Vision In Action program and the Material Culture publication was made possible by support from Robert Sunkel.

The gallery is free and open to the public 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Call 817.257.7643 for information.