Item #2 Austin's Creative Heartbeat - Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment — original pdf

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Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (AACME) Austin's Creative Heartbeat Angela Means, AACME Director November 2025 The Profound Impact of Arts & Culture According to the Texas Cultural Trust 2025 State of the Arts Report 2 • Established on February 24, 2025, Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (AACME) emerged from decades of community advocacy to prioritize arts and music in Austin’s identity and governance. Created during a critical funding shortage, AACME strengthens the City’s commitment to building a vibrant, resilient creative ecosystem. • Art, Music, and culture remain the heart of Austin – shaping its unique vibe, supporting community connection, and attracting residents and visitors alike. 3 HOW WILL AACME BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY? • Provide centralized support for creatives and cultural organizations. • Enhance economic growth, tourism and civic engagement. • Foster collaboration between artists, cultural organizations, and local businesses. • Create open, accessible spaces for residents to experience arts and culture. • Strengthens Austin’s identity as a global destination for creativity. 4 HOW WAS AACME FORMED? Economic Development Department Cultural Arts Arts in Public Places Music & Entertainment Parks & Recreation Department Museum & Cultural Programs Historic Tourism Special Events (Partial) Development Services Department Austin Center for Events Entertainment Services Austin Public Library African American Heritage & Cultural Facility Aviation Music & Art 5 WHAT ARE AACME’S 2025 GOALS? • Streamline operations • Implement community engagement programs • Launch the development of a comprehensive Strategic Plan • Reevaluation of Cultural Funding grant program guidelines • Increase access to programming • Establish new collaborative partnerships with the community and partners across various sectors 6 6 WHAT FACILITIES MAKE UP AACME? • African American Cultural and Heritage Facility + Dedrick Hamilton House • Asian American Resource Center • Dougherty Arts Center • Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center • George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center • Elisabet Ney Museum • O. Henry Museum 7 • Old Bakery & Emporium • Susanna Dickinson Museum • UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum • Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex • Montopolis Negro School • Beverly S. Sheffield Hillside Theater • Renaissance Market (Right-of-Way) 7 AACME's First Year: Building Trust Through Action 1 Community-Centered Approach Established transparency, active listening, and consistent availability to all stakeholders as core operational principles. 2 Effective Advocacy Successfully mediated resolutions during the controversial Airport expansion and Convention Center demolition projects, protecting local artists and artwork. 3 Research & Benchmarking Analyzed historical community data and conducted national/state benchmarking to identify best practices and industry standards. 8 AACME’s Road Ahead: The Creative Reset Phase 1: Rollout of Enhanced Funding Program • Review and redesign funding programs • Gather and integrate community feedback Implement enhanced funding guidelines • Phase 2: Program Evaluation & Strategic Plan • Develop comprehensive 5-year strategic plan • Conduct thorough review of all existing programs • Assess cultural facilities management • Identify gaps and opportunities Phase 3: Resource Development • Launch public-private partnership initiatives • Develop corporate sponsorship program • Explore new revenue streams • Evaluate special events Phase 4: Implementation • Roll out enhanced programs • Launch new communication platforms • Present progress report to stakeholders 9 Planned Launch Calendar – Phase I Funding Applications are Open! Deadline, December 4 2025 October 21, 2025 Elevate Austin Live Music Fund CSAP Heritage Preservation Fund 2026 March Nexus July September Elevate Thrive Austin Live Music Fund Heritage Preservation Fund Nexus 2027 March Nexus July September Elevate Austin Live Music Fund CSAP Heritage Preservation Fund Nexus 10 10 The Creative Reset – Phase II AACME’s Cultural Facilities 2025-2026 August-September 2025 • Planning • Development October-December 2025 December 2025- January 2026 • Public Launch • Community Engagement • Data Collection • Data Analysis • Recommendation Upcoming Community Meetings: • November 19, 3-7 PM George Washington Carver Museum (In-Person) • December 1, 5:30-7:30 PM (Online-Zoom meeting) For more information: https://publicinput.com/g14400 11 10 Our Vision: Art for All A city where every person, in every neighborhood, has access to creative opportunities and cultural expression. Join our mailing List 12 12 Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment www.austintexas.gov/acme Austin’s Creative Heartbeat 13