Item 2.b Austin's Creative Consortium — original pdf

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Austin’s Creative Consortium Presented by Cory Baker, CEO Recognizing a Need • Now more than ever, the creative sector in Austin desperately needs a reliable support system with the resources and infrastructure to sustain itself, enabling growth to accommodate and better reflect the rapidly expanding population. • We believe that Austin is missing a critical piece to ensure a healthy creative sector – centralized support and services as called for in the Imagine Austin and Austin Music and Creative Ecosystem Omnibus Resolution: 23. Review the feasibility of existing efforts to partner or support the creation of a music “HUB” that supports the music industry by offering a collection of resources and services for musicians and artists under one roof. (Development a sustainable business model to support the musician and artistic community and the music and creative industry) Opportunity Emulate other organizations across the country that support the creative sector through creating efficiencies, raising revenue and awareness and cultivating collaboration Creative Consortium The Creative Consortium, a new initiative under the umbrella of The Long Center, would be an administrative hub offering services and generating resources for creative and cultural organizations. The Consortium will operate as an equitable and inclusive membership-based hub for the creative sector. Build Support and Revenue for the Creative Sector • Identify new funding to support the creative ecology in Austin that would be unavailable to individual organizations • Leverage scale and visibility of a multi-member consortium to successfully tap into corporate giving • Create a unified plan and voice to market the creative sector and build partnerships with key allies like the hospitality and tourism industries Increase efficiencies & Decrease costs through shared infrastructure • Consolidate and reduce overhead expenses freeing up time and resources for artist pursuits • Maximize savings through pooled purchasing • Provide a level of high caliber infrastructure and business services currently out of reach for many creative organizations, venues and artists Additional Benefits: • Opportunity to prioritize support for under-served and under- represented organizations • Cultivate collaboration and strengthen communication across the Creative Sector • Provide educational resources and best practice recommendations promoting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion • Elevate visibility of and advocacy for the creative sector Potential Consortium Structure • Membership organization with independent advisory board and by-laws • Commitment to intentional Equity and Inclusion • Long Center serves as administrative hub with centralized business unit and staff to manage services and members • Funds managed and housed separately from Long Center Why the Long Center? • Mission alignment • Agnostic • Strong Foundation – staff & infrastructure • Experience • Existing Support from the Community We're not the answer; we can be a catalyst for the solution. Current conversations and focus groups aren't about securing clients but rather looking to recruit partners to build with. Potential Tier 1 services • Human resources support & health insurance • Finance & accounting services • Pooled purchasing • Professional development • Shared office and venue space • Ticketing & Box Office Potential future programs • Collaborative Fundraising • Joint Marketing • Business Development & Strategic Planning • Venue-Specific Services Potential Funding mechanisms • Long Center is currently seeking seed funding to underwrite a three-year pilot program so that we can launch and provide relief at no initial cost to member organizations. • Longer term sustainability through fees on tickets, scaled member dues, grants and/or donations. Thank you! Questions?