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The Culture of Creativity -- Why It Matters How do we define culture in Central Texas – the arts, music, ethnic heritage, history, food, even Keep Austin Weird? And how do we pass on these cultural values to our children?
Culture makes us unique, defines us and brings us together to create Central Texas’ distinctive identity. Our vibrant arts circles, colorful music scene and rich heritage spark our thriving culture of creativity. This creative energy drives our economy and makes Austin an incubator of innovation.
More than 44,000 Austin residents are employed in the creative sector. The City of Austin provides funding to more than 200 cultural groups that reach 2.5 million people each year. Still hundreds of other artists scrape by on minimal funding and scramble for practice and performance space.
A 2006 City of Austin Cultural Assessment Survey found that the top three pressing issues facing the cultural development of Austin are lack of adequate funding, lack of affordable facilities and our increasing cost of living.
Arts and cultural advocates agree that artistic expression – whether by a cast of thousands or a voice of one – must be constantly nurtured. Patronage and financial support are critical to growing Austin as a place where diverse perspectives are welcomed and new ideas flourish.
Nurturing Artistic Expression
Many theater and dance groups strive to bring the best artists in their fields to Austin, raising the bar and stimulating intellectual exchange. TexARTS produces four Broadway-quality classic American Musicals and five student productions each year, including a youth ballet Nutcracker production. Founded by two artists with extensive professional experience, TexARTS regularly hosts renowned masters to mentor students eager to take the stage. The Lakeway-based group serves 450 students each year.
The American Repertory Ensemble (ARE) is led by acclaimed dancer David Justin and showcases some of the best dancers from around the world. Often paired with exceptional musicians on stage, the group’s mantra is “See the music, hear the dance.” Performances are held each January and July.
The Theatre Action Project (TAP) reaches more than 15,000 kids each year through in-school performances and educational programming. High school theatre troupes bring to life topics such as bullying and teen dating violence.
Austin Circle of Theaters (ACoT) works to cultivate an environment where the performing arts can grow and flourish and advocates for the many benefits the arts bring to our quality of life. ACoT serves over 130 arts organizations with marketing, ticketing, audience development and organizational support services.
Opportunities to explore the visual arts abound. Austin citizens and visitors may delve into the often challenging and unfamiliar world of contemporary art at Arthouse, where programs and exhibitions are free of charge. Arthouse presents high quality, nationally recognized contemporary arts programming reflecting the “art of our time” and a cultural slice of history for future generations.
The Mobile Film School brings media arts education to rural and underserved communities and creates mentoring relationships between students and seasons industry professionals and educators. The school cultivates a unique appreciation of local history and culture using storytelling in film, giving voice to those who might feel unheard.
Developing Cultural Identity
Educating children about their own cultural identities and appreciating the contributions of other cultures in society is crucial to developing healthy attitudes about themselves and their world. Many children in Central Texas’ growing Latino population have not been exposed to their cultural legacy and grow up without a strong sense of self. Mexic-Arte Museum helps students experience the rich contributions and value of Mexican and Latino culture in our society through educational programming and exhibitions. Since 1984, Mexic-Arte Museum has served more than 100,000 children in Austin’s underserved schools.
Southwest Key Programs offers culturally relevant educational programming to underserved and disadvantaged youth. Its East Austin Community Development Center is a hub of cultural activity for the local community and Central Texas arts groups, but additional affordable performance and rehearsal space is still needed.
The Carver Museum and Cultural Center, housed at the Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library, serves as a cultural focal point for Austin’s African American community. The Carver Branch is home to two permanent art collections featuring historical and contemporary pieces relating to the culture, art and social life of African Americans.
Growing a Culture of Private Philanthropy Austin-based cultural organizations are behind their national peers in raising individual contributions, but receive more support from corporations, foundations and government. Our community does not yet have a culture of private philanthropy; the wealth is younger, not multigenerational. That’s what I Live Here, I Give Here, Austin’s Campaign for Philanthopy is all about – increasing the level of individual giving in Central Texas.
Encouraging artistic expression and nurturing cultural identity do not take vast amounts of money – every small donation or ticket purchased fuels Central Texas’ creative vitality. To find our more about Central Texas cultural organizations, please visit ilivehereigivehere.org.
Resources Wish Lists: American Repertory Ensemble (ARE)
$50 would allow five students to attend a performance through ARE's educational outreach efforts.
$500 would allow ARE to provide Assistive Listening Devices and sign language interpreters for all of its summer events.
$5,000 would allow ARE to commission a new piece, creating work for both the composer/choreographer and the dancers/musicians that bring the piece to life.
Arthouse at the Jones Center
$50 would pay for a gallery attendant for one day.
$500 covers an honorarium for a guest speaker.
$5,000 would help underwriting an exhibition or publication.
Southwest Key
$50 would buy us items such as some new shoes for the Ballet Folklorico students, or hold a “pizza Viewing party” after a final show.
$500 worth of contributions would allow us to buy instruments for the Mariachi students, or pay an instructor for a month of poetry class.
$5,000 would allow us to purchase a PA system for our amphitheater, or supplies for a year’s worth of visual arts classes. Tapestry Dance Company
$50 pays for a one month scholarship for an at-risk/financial need child in the TDC Academy.
$500 would provide program support for one TDC AISD outreach program - “Rhythm, Dance, Music & You! (two lecture demonstrations) within an AISD At-Risk School.
$5,000 helps to fund a partial sponsorship of a TDC Professional Dancer to share the power of dance through performance and outreach and continue into the company’s 20th year.
Mobile Film School
$50 provides students with support materials for their film workshop.
$500 pays for breakfast for all students and staff per workshop, or rental on one editing suite for the workshop.
$5,000 provides tuition for 3 students; allow us to by one camera; pay for rental equipment for an entire workshop; or pay for head faculty or 2 assistants for a workshop.
Mexic-Arte Museum
$50 would pay for a Gallery tour for 25 school students
$500 would sponsor a Gallery tour for 1,000 school students OR Honorariums for 2 gallery speakers.
$5,000 would pay for two semester-long after-school art classes at underserved Austin area schools.
TexARTS
$50 would provide art materials for one class of youngsters studying visual art.
$500 would provide a full scholarship for a child in need to study dance, theater, music or visual arts for one year.
$5,000 would underwrite the development of a new, multi-disciplinary educational piece that could be performed in schools throughout the Austin region by TexARTS professional and/or student performers.
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