The NCCIL exhibits, tours, collects, preserves and promotes original art from the finest children’s literature. Our vision is to inspire and empower children to read and be creative. Through our programming and outreach, the NCCIL actively promotes children’s literacy, both art and reading, in the Abilene community and beyond.

I will never forget the first time I visited. You were featuring William Joyce’s The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore... I cried. I couldn’t believe something so wonderful existed. A place to celebrate illustrated books and the little hands that hold those books. It was a big factor in moving to Abilene. What must the people be like in Abilene that value children and literature so much? I had to find out and become part of this wonderful community. What you’re doing is important. It’s bigger than books and art. You’re honoring and holding sacred what those books and illustrations are for young and old readers...a reflection of who they are and that they are seen and loved by their community.
— Local Educator in the Abilene Community

Guest Curator:

Erin Holland is a filmmaker, artist, and writer. Based in Texas, she creates relational offerings through photography, video, performance, and installation, most recently seen in the exhibition Posthumous (2023), finding rhythms of loss, humor, and fortitude after her mother’s death from Alzheimer’s. Holland formerly worked as an art director and producer at The Museum of Modern Art while engaging in community projects led by MoMA Pop Rally, Creative Time, and Public Art Fund. Her work has been featured in Artforum (2020), Tiger Strikes Asteroid PDF (2021), Lenfest Center for the Arts (2022), The Jewish Museum in New York (2022), and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (2023). She received her MFA in Visual Art from Columbia University in 2022.


Accessible art

“We love Family Fun Saturdays. No where else can I take my kids for FREE to get messy and create without even having to worry about the clean up.”

 

Learn more about how we welcomed our summer illustrator, Brian Lies, during the 2023 Children’s Art and Literacy Festival


The NCCIL operates with support from our generous donors

Kaye Price-Hawkins/Priceless Literacy

Jack and Becky Rentz

The Shelton Family Foundation

Claude and Mae Moss Charities/Dick Spalding

T&T Foundation

Texas Commission on the Arts

United Way of Abilene

National Endowment for the Humanities

Abilene Cultural Affairs Council

Community Foundation of Abilene

Ms. Katie Deal And Family

Dian Graves Owen Foundation

Jan Elliott

Greathouse Foundation

Humanities Texas

Excelsior Foundation