Item 4. Presentation from A3 Art Alliance Austin on donation efforts and upcoming collaboration with the ESB-MACC — original pdf

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L A U R A E S P A R Z A E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R W H AT I S A 3 ? - A non-profit Local Arts Agency devoted to supporting artists, musicians, performers and arts contractors who make Austin a vibrant city by raising money and raising awareness. - An all-volunteer organization of business and arts professionals who believe that the arts are integral to our quality of life. - A catalyst for community change in collaboration with others who are committed to the value of the arts. WHAT IS A LOCAL ARTS AGENCY? • The nation’s 4,500 Local Arts Agencies (LAAs) promote, support, and develop the arts at the local level ensuring a vital presence for the arts throughout America’s communities. LAAs are diverse in their makeup—they have many different names and embrace a spectrum of artistic disciplines. But each LAA, in its own way, works to sustain the health and vitality of the arts and artists locally, while also striving to make the arts accessible to all members of a community. • The Cultural Arts Division is a Local Arts Agency but cities can have more than one thus diversifying the funding pool. • Americans for the Arts tells us that the Arts strengthen the economy and community cohesiveness. WHO IS A3? PA S T • The Texas Fine Arts Association started in 1911 at the Elisabet Ney Museum. In 1950 it fundraised for Laguna Gloria Museum with an Arts and Crafts Festival. In 1956 they renamed their festival FIESTA, in an inappropriate act of cultural appropriation. In 1989 the organization became Art Alliance Austin and produced Art City Austin. It went dormant in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. • Relaunched in September 2024 as an LAA. • • • • P R E S E N T • Austin’s first non-profit Local Arts Agency with a diverse board including: • Board Chair Eric Hiduke, Attorney-at-Law • Vice-Chair Kevin Ivester, Gallery Owner • Treasurer Imani Aanu, Director RECLAIM! • David Goujon, Architect • Andrea Hyland, Event Producer • Kayo Asazu, Restaurant owner/operator • Advisors: Constance White (Airport Arts & Music) Lourdes Rodriguez (ED David Rockefeller Fund) Lydia Galvan (Teacher) Dana Friis-Hansen (Retired Museum Director) HOW CAN A3 FUND CITY FACILITIES? • City staff and Commissioners cannot solicit funds from individuals, businesses or the COA Cultural Arts Division. • They can write grants but this requires two acts of City Council and the timelines do not always match the funders’ deadlines. • Gifts of money directly to cultural centers cannot be used in the same fiscal year. Funds are available in January of the following fiscal year. • Services and materials can be donated to City facilities. • City staff suspended receiving donated arts services from A3 because of a lack of bureacratic procedure. WHAT HAS A3 FUNDED TO DATE? A R T I S T S / M U S I C I A N S / P E R F O R M E R S ’ F E E S , C O N T R A C T O R F E E S , M AT E R I A L S . T H E F U N D F O R F R E E A RT • Musicians for Tones music series at the AARC* (TBD) the Ney* • Artists and musicians sharing their work at • 2025 Fusebox * • 2025 Summer Musical* • Speakers for the Dougherty’s Professional Development Program, Feb-June • Gallery Opening for the Carver’s Black History Month Exhibition, Feb 8 * • Artist mentors and materials for the ESB- MACC’s Caminos program. • Stipends for exhibit installation costs. • Black Artists Fund WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM? • THE USUAL SOURCES: FUNDRAISING IN AUSTIN IS DIFFICULT • Grants • CAD funding • Fundraising Events • Direct appeal for major gifts • Corporate sponsorship • Business direct appeal • Go Fund Me • FIESTA RECLAMADA • Book Sales of “The Perfect Storm: Austin Arts Today.” • The vast majority of non-profit arts organizations are struggling, with closure in site. • We’re losing our iconic events. • There are few foundations giving to the arts. • There is only one source of government funding and government cannot do it all. • There are no other non-profit LAAs. • There is no business council for the arts. • The business and tech community has not stepped up to the plate, with some notable exceptions. • Hotel Occupancy Tax has been limited in the breadth of what it could help fund. • BUILDING PUBLIC WILL TO VALUE THE ARTS IS NEEDED TO CHANGE THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS IN AUSTIN. HOW CAN YOU HELP? • Sponsors for Fiesta Reclamada • Give generously at A3Austin.org • Consider giving a party for A3 to solicit donations. • Tell your friends. Word of mouth is everything in changing Public Will. • Send names of potential board members. • Sign up for our newsletter. • Come to our 2nd Educational Luncheon, November 2025 • Stay informed about changes in the City’s process of managing the arts. C O M E TO F I E S TA R E C L A M A DA ! May 4, 2024 12pm-6pm The Cathedral 2403 E. 16th Street Austin, TX Laura Esparza, Exec Director (512)588-0369 A3ArtAllianceAustin@gmail.com A3Austin.org