Cultural Arts Program

Tracking the recent history and redevelopment of Austin's Cultural Arts Program

"...April 2001: Cultural Contracts Program staff uses a new program guideline to..."

April 16, 2004 Arts Feature

Faster Than Sound: City Council Supports Music-Focused Arts Facility on East 11th Street

Harold McMillan breaks down civic steps to the envisioned Kenny Dorham Center

"...In 2007, Austin City Council created an African American Cultural Heritage District in East Austin, recognizing the home to..."

Sept. 10, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

It's a Dirty Job ...

New arts tsar Vincent Kitch rolls up his sleeves to give Austin arts funding a clean start

"...Vincent Kitch, Austin's first official arts tsar, is tackling a task almost as mythic in..."

April 16, 2004 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

A Better Tomorrow

For years, the city of Austin's arts funding process has been mired in perpetual gloom, but with the city reviewing its Cultural Contracts Program, artists and arts companies talking with each other about collaborations and a shared vision of what the arts mean to Austin, there are glimmers of light on the city's arts funding horizon.

"...For years, the city of Austin's arts funding process has been mired in perpetual gloom. The..."

Oct. 11, 2002 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Culture Flash!

Last call for changes to the city arts funding guidelines, another cool two million for the Long Center, Sally Jacques gets touched by an angel, more Austin artists do New York, and another honor for Conspirare

"...Last call to review the recommended changes to the Cultural Arts Funding Program Guidelines before they go to the..."

July 8, 2005 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Bending the Rules

Getting arts funding from the City of Austin is a long, complicated game, and Austin Chronicle writers Robi Polgar, John Walch, and Mary Jane Garza have been following some of the players around the game board this year. In the final part of their four-part series, they critique the city arts funding process.

"...board in utter frustration. As the City of Austin arts funding system -- formally known as the Cultural Contracts..."

Sept. 3, 1999 Arts Feature by Mary Jane Garza

Paint By Numbers

Racial Divides in Austin's Public Arts Funding

"...out money to a broad range of artists and arts organizations each year, mostly in very small amounts --..."

June 28, 1996 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

A Bad Year Gets Worse

The Austin Arts Commission has found itself stewing in a bubbling gumbo of controversies this year, and lately that gumbo has been getting hotter and hotter, with resignations from the Commission, an investigation by the Texas Commission on the Arts, and a call for reforms by a City Council member.

"...you're never likely to hear anyone on the Austin Arts Commission warbling "It Was a Very Good Year" --..."

Aug. 24, 2001 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Articulations

City Council adopts new guidelines for the Cultural Arts Funding Program, Michelle Schumann shoots off for a Canadian piano competition, and some 'palpable hits' to get your sweet William for Shakespeare's birthday

"...Clean Start for the Arts: Postscript..."

April 23, 2004 Arts Column by Robert Faires

The Forest for the Trees

The Austin Arts Commission has never been a model of bureaucratic efficiency, but this year it seems to have become a big cliché in action, a body so focused on procedure and minutiae and the concerns of the moment that it can't see the forest for the trees. It's compounding the problems in Austin's profoundly flawed public arts funding system and demonstrating just how poorly that process serves not only the city's artists but all its citizens.

"...So it was when the Austin Arts Commission convened on Tuesday, May 30. The purpose of..."

July 6, 2001 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Culture Flash!

City arts funding revisions get a thumbs-up from council, theatre artists sing for cancer charities, and local playwrights meet and greet

"...• Score a big win for the Guidelines Committee and the Austin Arts Commission in the column..."

Aug. 26, 2005 Arts Column by Robert Faires

City Hall Hustle: Got an App for That?

From the lobby to the parks, council has an item for you

"...adds that "opportunities to compete for City social service funding, City cultural arts funding, City (including federal and state)..."

Oct. 21, 2011 News Column by Wells Dunbar

Faster Than Sound: Live Music Preservation Fund Outlays Another $3.5 Million

City program supports 28 venues with ongoing grants as national Save Our Stages funds stall

"...under threat of closure. In Phase Two of the program, 28 clubs received grants totaling $3.5 million. The second..."

April 23, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Faster Than Sound: Cheer Up Charlies Booker Trish Connelly’s Thoughtful Curation

Community outpours support for booker’s multiple sclerosis treatment, city opens first for-profit venue assistance program, and Las Cruxes’ storefront shutters

"...venues. Under a grant from the city of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Las Cruxes presents experimental composers Sarah Davachi..."

March 29, 2019 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Hold That Process

The Arts Commission recommends to City Council that the arts funding application process be suspended for the coming year

"...the tempestuous close to last year's newly reformed city arts funding process, a cadre of intrepid artists and arts..."

April 1, 2005 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect ...

Part One: The Artists' Application Process

"...guerrilla theatre presented by one of the city's many arts companies; this is guerrilla arts administration and the final..."

March 26, 1999 Arts Feature

Community Chest and Chance Rolled Into One

The Applicants

"...by Bret Brookshire A handful of artists applying for funding are being monitored as they make their way around..."

May 28, 1999 Arts Feature

Budget Blitz

The City Council on Tuesday approved its $1.8 billion budget for fiscal 2003, but not before mollifying some angry citizens and mopping up some of the blood on the floor.

"...Arts Funding..."

Sept. 13, 2002 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Public Notice: Bikes, Toll Roads, TNCs

A miscellany of mostly transportation

"...• Taste of Mexico 2015: A Culinary Arts Festival celebrating Cinco de Mayo, and supporting Mexic-Arte Museum's..."

May 1, 2015 News Column by Nick Barbaro

Articulations

"...Wanted: Cultural Czar..."

Jan. 15, 1999 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Public Notice: In Defense of Pedophilia

CM Don Zimmerman embarks on a new crusade

"...of weeks ago, city staff will launch a pilot program for enhanced code enforcement of short-term rentals (STRs) in..."

July 3, 2015 News Column by Nick Barbaro

Public Notice: Does Business Really Hate Education?

It's way past time for some new voices on education policy

"...two board seats and about a half-billion dollars in funding proposals (yes, that's a "B"). The League of Women..."

Oct. 10, 2014 News Column by Nick Barbaro

The Tail Wags the Dog

"...One measure of how well the Cultural Contracts Program has been managed in a given year..."

July 6, 2001 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Musicians on How Best to Employ City Funds Earmarked for the Local Scene

$3 million in HOT funds are coming. Now what?

"...inception four years ago. We could create incentives and funding for more organizations like that. Countries like Australia and..."

Jan. 10, 2020 Music Feature

Naked City

Headlines and happenings from Austin and beyond

"...a new VP position to focus on inclusion and cross-cultural issues and a mandatory course on multiculturalism. On Monday..."

May 14, 2004 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Faster Than Sound: City on the Fence Regarding Red River’s Homeless Problem

Red River merchants push to finally enclose dangerous alley with 10-foot fence, electro-pop diva p1nkstar touches down at Fuego ATX, and more

"...fence around a dangerous alley in the Red River Cultural District. The corridor, which runs between Beerland and the..."

Jan. 25, 2019 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

The Next New Neighborhood

City and residents plan a sustainable Colony Park

"...the Depart­ment of Housing and Urban Develop­ment's Sustainable Communities program – will result in a shovel-ready master plan for..."

April 4, 2014 News Feature by Robyn Ross

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...Baby: The IRS launched a new, free Direct File program (directfile.irs.gov) available in 12 states including Texas. (Fun fact:..."

March 22, 2024 News Feature