Frameworks E.A.S.T. Microlending Fundraiser

June 7th, 2011

Due to state and federal regulatory issues, some artists on E.A.S.T.’s unique tour need upgrades to their studios. FRAMEWORKS E.A.S.T. gives us an opportunity to give them a hand by raising the seed money to fund a microlending program to provide these great artists quick, low-interest loans with forgiving plans to help with specific issues involving their studios. This will allow them to comply with code in time for the East Austin Studio Tour this fall. With your support, the ACA will provide micro-lending, consulting and a resource center to help artists and their studios comply with Federal and State standards.

FRAMEWORKS E.A.S.T. provides a way for you to show your support for E.A.S.T.’s artists, as well as a chance to bid on specially selected works from those artists. Join us for live music by The Pons and the Ron Titter Band, refreshments, good times, and more, June 29th, 7:30 at ND.

Individual tickets are $20, available at http://nowplayingaustin.tix.com/Schedule.asp?ActCode=65425, also, we invite you to sponsor the event to provide a strong foundation for the lending program. Sponsorship levels are as follows:

$250 – Apprentice
$500 – Journeyman
$1,000 – Master

For more information about becoming a Sponsor of Frameworks:E.A.S.T. please visit http://austincreativealliance.roundtablelive.org/east or call at (512) 247-2531.

Crisis & Opportunity

June 7th, 2011


In light of recent transitions and critical issues cropping up in some of Austin’s nonprofit arts and cultural institutions, the Austin Creative Alliance has organized this open, structured dialogue in which any interested community member is invited to participate. Our goal is to engage in a constructive process to address recent events, underlying issues, national trends, and proposed solutions with a specific outcome: to arri…ve at an honest and progress-centric document that we will issue to the community at large. Topics will be collected on our Facebook event and via email dialogue@austincreativealliance.org) and then combined in advance to reflect the will and interest of engaged participants and ground-rules will be provided to give us the best chance of a productive process. Subject to change, here are some initial topics we envision:

o The current economic climate – tighten belts or drive innovation?
o What is the role of a Trustee?
o To what degree should organizations be accountable to the public?
o How can non-profits understand and implement a new Social/Experience economy model?
o How does Austin’s creative economy/climate reflect National trends?
o What is the future of the Not for Profit model?

We envision this format being the basis for an ongoing series to address critical topics as they arise, as well as bringing in expert speakers to facilitate topic-centric discussions.

We are compiling a resources and links document concerning national organizations in transition. What are other relevant resources you all would like to see developed? Please link or comment below.

We hope to see you there!

-Austin Creative Alliance

Sponsored by The City of Austin Cultural Arts Division and WyattBrand

For a little preparation for the evening, feel free to prime yourself with these articles and links:

http://emcarts.org/site/emc_arts2/assets/pdf/2009_MAC_Keynote.pdf

www.artsincrisis.org

http://www.americansforthearts.org/pdf/get_involved/membership/alternative_business_models.pdf

http://www.ssireview.org/opinion/entry/no_art_no_social_change._no_innovation_economy/

http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/about/aboutandrew.php

http://glasstire.com/2011/05/27/artists-unite/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter+5-29-11&utm_content=Newsletter+5-29-11+CID_fab8947bd73e96c6889ce0db46d13367&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Artist+Call+to+Arms

http://www.creativecity.ca/english/component/content/378?task=view

http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/main/the-art-of-the-business-model.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/month-after-bankruptcy-filing-philadelphia-orchestra-unveils-awareness-fundraising-campaign/2011/05/18/AFfpWW6G_story.html

http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/701/documents/Innovate%20to%20Thrive%20-%20Summary%20Handout%20for%201.14.10%20Address.pdf

http://www.denvergov.org/doca/DenverOfficeofCulturalAffairs/PlanningPolicy/2010CulturalForum/tabid/436746/Default.aspx

http://nonprofitfinancefund.org/partnerships/leading-for-the-future

http://nonprofitfinancefund.org/case-change-capital-arts/casestudies

http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/2011/Jan/MalmuthArts

http://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2011-05-13/control-shift/

Media Monthly

June 2nd, 2011

So you better remember everything I talked about last month, as there will be a quiz at the end of this email. Not really. Or is there?

Since I completely miss doing your “Today in History” on the A-Team emails, I figure I’ll do it here! And in honor of the arts, as usual, today in history in 1884 the first Ringling Brother’s circus debuted!

So this month, I want to talk to y’all about the Austin Arts Minute. For those not in the know, the Arts Minute is a weekly spot that airs once an hour every Wednesday on YNN. We highlight a handful of events going on during the given week. It reaches all of Time Warner’s cable users and is a great promotional tool for any event.

The catch however, is that to be considered for the Austin Arts Minute, you have to be listed in Nowplayingaustin.com. And of course, the number one way to make sure you are, is to use our handy-dandy Submission Tool!

Mitchell Mazurek

Friendly Neighborhood Interactive Media Director

ED Excitements

June 2nd, 2011

Friends of the Austin Creative Alliance,

I am pleased to be writing you as the recently appointed Interim Executive Director of the Austin Creative Alliance-an organization that exists to advance, connect and celebrate our arts, cultural, and creative communities. It is a true honor to lead the Alliance-its mission so critical to the city we all call home. After nearly three months on the job, I have already learned so much and have gained a profound appreciation for the commitment of our staff, members, and board for this mission. Their passion for the organization’s myriad programs –and the broader community’s need–is truly inspiring.

It has long been my belief that the arts are the deepest expression of our humanity, guiding us toward growth, higher consciousness and a vital understanding of ourselves and of one another. There is no greater aim-no work more critical-than giving creative expression the support and advocacy it needs to be accessible to all. These goals can only be truly realized by supporting artists, building infrastructure for their work, and actively raising awareness of the incalculable human benefits of artistic expression in our community. These are the goals of the Austin Creative Alliance.

Of course, my work is just a continuation and evolution of those who came before me. I was passed the baton from outgoing Executive Director, Latifah Taormina, who innovated much of what you know as our programs and direction over the past decade. We are all building on the foundation that Latifah created, including the very existence of the Austin Creative Alliance, that was recently established via the transformation of a pre-existing arts service organization, Austin Circle of Theaters (ACOT), which had been operating since 1974. Clearly, we have broadened our scope to answer a greater need.

Much of that need-and our response to it-was inspired by the community-led CreateAustin Plan which has forged a pathway for invigorating Austin’s “culture of creativity” and recommended establishing the Austin Creative Alliance as a top priority. We have already expanded our core services to better assist individuals and organizations in the creative sector, revamped our board, revised our internal policies and procedures, and are examining our programs to best address our next phase of development.

Over the coming months I plan to listen and learn from you as we set our course. We will survey the full membership during this time to ensure we are capturing the range of member responses so we can continue to develop programs and services that truly meet your needs. To that end, I hope you will join us this coming Tuesday for an open forum on crisis and opportunity in the Austin arts community.

I thank you for this opportunity to do such meaningful work that affects so many and I invite you to participate in my process. I am an ardent believer in open models, straight talking, logic based decisions, etc., and I would like you to consider my door open. Please call me at 247.2531, email me at marcy@austincreativealliance.org, and follow me on twitter @marcyhoen and us @austincreativea – I welcome your insight.

Marcy Hoen

Interim Executive Director
Austin Creative Alliance

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