The city is expected to launch a new incentive program for small businesses such as grocery stores, child care centers and creative spaces that bring needed community benefits to underserved areas. The place-based enhancement program, which is currently going through the community feedback process, is a new initiative from the Economic Development Department that is […]
Arts Commission
The Arts Commission advises the Austin City Council in all arts-related matters, fosters the development of the arts, and promotes cooperation between the City and the public.
Posted inAustin
Arts commissioners signal support for city funds for The Contemporary art museum
Members of the Arts Commission appear ready to advocate for The Contemporary Austin fine art museum and sculpture park to receive consistent city funding beyond Hotel Occupancy Tax dollars. This week’s commission meeting featured a presentation from Sharon Maidenberg, executive director and CEO of The Contemporary, detailing the organization’s plans for the next five years […]
Posted inPlanning
Incentive package for music venues, arts spaces headed for May public hearing
The city is working to make incentives for creative spaces available to individual sites and properties as well as larger cultural districts that have been proposed in city planning documents in recent years. Monday’s Arts Commission meeting included a presentation from Donald Jackson, a business process consultant in the Economic Development Department, on progress on […]
Posted inAustin
Black arts collective wants progress on city’s African American cultural district
An East Austin arts nonprofit is looking to organize musicians, artists and other creatives for job opportunities and to put pressure on the city to move forward with building out plans for the African American Culture and Heritage District that were approved by City Council in 2021. The East Austin Creative Coalition is seeking members […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
EDD previews changes to Cultural Arts funding programs ahead of consultants’ reviews
The Economic Development Department is moving ahead with a handful of adjustments to its pilot programs for Cultural Arts grants, with more changes likely to result from a comprehensive review from three outside consultants. At this week’s Arts Commission meeting, staff from the Cultural Arts division gave an update on the funding process for the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
City awards $4.5M to help Austin Playhouse construct dual-theater facility
The city has selected the Austin Playhouse theater group as the latest recipient of creative space bond money, with City Council set to approve a $4.5 million award at today’s meeting. That money will allow the independent arts group to construct two theater venues with an outdoor patio, lobby, classroom and studio space and the […]
Posted inCity Hall
Artists decry delay in city grant payments, putting some projects and events at risk
Arts commissioners have joined local artists in criticizing the city for the prolonged rollout of one of its newer grant programs, which has left some recipients without funding ahead of events they’d organized with expectations of using the city funds. Last week’s Arts Commission meeting in some ways resembled this month’s Music Commission meeting, where […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission approves amendment to allow more music venues, creative spaces
The Planning Commission has approved an amendment to the city’s building code that could clear the way for more music venues and creative spaces throughout the city. At its July 25 meeting, the commission unanimously approved the amendment, which was initiated by a pair of City Council votes last year that sought to add specific […]
Posted inPlanning
Commissions get updates ahead of RFP for blocks 16, 18
The two city-owned blocks expected to become the anchors of the long-discussed African American Cultural Heritage District will likely include 30,000 square feet of creative space, more than 100 residential units, and a combination of restaurants and office space that could also serve local creatives. Two city commissions – the Arts Commission and the Urban […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Long Center moving toward shared services pilot program for arts groups
The Long Center for the Performing Arts is moving ahead with planning for a proposed pilot program that would offer shared services and expected cost savings for small, cash-strapped arts organizations around the city. The pilot program, which is expected to include a handful of initial arts groups over a three-year cycle, is part of […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
City Council to consider expanded arts, music venue code language by June
The city’s Music and Arts commissions have given their support to expanded definitions of what constitutes music venues and creative spaces, in the hope that the city will move ahead with building code changes and incentives to encourage those spaces throughout Austin. The unanimous votes – held during a recent joint meeting of both commissions […]
Posted inAustin
Arts, music commissions to renew push for short-term rental tax collections
It appears arts and music advocates will likely ask City Council to reach an agreement with short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and begin receiving millions of dollars in uncollected hotel taxes that could in part benefit the local creative community. Both the Music Commission and Arts Commission have in the past year asked the […]