News & Events

Americans for the Arts Annual Convention Coming to San Antonio

January 27th, 2012

The New Normal—we hear about it every day, but what does it mean to your organization?

The 2012 Americans for the Arts Annual Convention this June 8–10 in San Antonio, TX will bring together more than 1,000 arts and community leaders to focus on how the arts field can function, change, and thrive in The New Normal—a landscape of economic uncertainty and shifting demographics.

Early Bird Registration now open.

Arts Funding and Leadership Development Workshop

January 27th, 2012

Texans for the Arts, the official Arts Advocacy Organization for Texas, and The Texans for the Arts Foundation to host Arts Funding and Leadership Development Workshop

Save the Date!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

9:30AM ~ 4:30PM

The Long Center

Don’t miss this information packed workshop for arts administrators, arts organization’s board members and community arts advocates. The day will include a challenging professional development workshop with content for all levels and a primer on arts advocacy that will prepare you to be an effective advocate for the arts or other issues in your community.

Watch for you invitation and registration information

For More information Contact: mburketfa@gmail.com

Costs

$25 ~ TFA Member; $50 ~ additional person from a TFA member

$75 ~ Non-Member

($25 goes to one-year annual membership in TFA)

Prices include registration and lunch

Personal Income Tax Workshop

January 12th, 2012

Join us at the Austin Creative Alliance Studio at 701 Tillery Street, Suite A-8 on Monday January 23 at 6pm for a FREE Personal Income Tax Workshop

Shani Hebert from H&R Block will be sharing some hints and tips on how to complete your personal income taxes plus learn about:

  • Quarterly Taxes
  • 1099s
  • E-Filing
  • Health Insurance
  • Retirement and IRAs

Space is Limited. Please RSVP to Anne-Marie McKaskle – membership@austincreativealliance.org or call 512.247.2531

January Creative Mix Up: Featuring Austin’s Emerging Arts Leaders

December 20th, 2011
Join the Austin Creative Alliance at Gourmond’s on January 30th from 6pm-8pm for a free talk to learn about Austin’s Emerging Arts Leaders re-launch. Jesus Pantel the former Co-Chair will be our special guest leading the discussion. Born as a suggestion from a creative conversation, the idea behind Austin’s Emerging Arts Leaders is to let artists from different disciplines connect with each other. The Austin Emerging Arts Leaders is part of the American’s for the Arts Emerging Leaders Network. Their site is a resource for artists and arts administrators.

January 30, 2012

6-8pm

Gourmand’s

2316 Webberville Road: map

Austin, TX 78702

Let us know you are coming: RSVP

About our guest speakers:

Jesus Pantel is an Austin grant writer and development consultant—familiar with both sides of the grant writing process, having worked as a grant writer for a nonprofit organization and currently administering grants for one of Austin’s major arts funders.

Jessica Thompson spent three years working at the Austin Creative Alliance, first as the Outreach Director and then as the Cultural Concierge Director.  During her time with the organization, she co-chaired the Austin Emerging Art Leaders Network with Jesus Pantel.  In 2009, she led the ‘Dine-Around’ discussion on forming emerging leader networks at the National Arts and Marketing Project Conference for the Americans for the Arts.  Prior to moving to Austin, Thompson was the founding director of the Foundation of Retaining Creative Energy in Madison, WI.  There she served on the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Council.  Thompson’s organization joined Arts Wisconsin in forming Wisconsin Emerging Art Leaders Network and was the co-host of the 2007 Emerging Leaders of Wisconsin Summit.

Closed for the Holidays

December 19th, 2011

Austin Creative Alliance will be closed during the holidays from December 26-December 30

ACA will reopen on January 2 at 10am.

Have a wonderful holiday!

ACA at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

December 19th, 2011

An Austin original, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is the city’s hub for holiday shopping, live music and fun. The 2011 show will run from December 14th through Christmas Eve from 11am to 11pm daily at the Palmer Events Center. This year the Austin Creative Alliance is hosting a booth in the community area. Come visit us!

WHEN: December 14th – 24th, 11am to 11pm daily. Food and drink from open to close.

TICKETS:  $5 before 7pm on weekdays and $8 nights and weekends.

WHERE: Palmer Events Center,

900 Barton Springs Road.

Parking is available in the Palmer Events Center/Long Center garage.

E.A.S.T. Victory Lap

October 31st, 2011

Come Join us at the Victory Grill

November 12, 13 & 19, 20

6pm – 10pm

Victory Grill

1104 East 11th Street

On Saturdays and Sundays after the tour, convene at the Victory Grill — one of the  last remaining “Chitlin’ Circuit” juke joints on the east site — for our official after-event festivities. Admission is free and includes showcases of music, drinks, and community artisans. Come dance, meet your neighbors, talk with artists and other E.A.S.T.-goers about what you’ve seen and the experience the heritage of the East side.

November 12 – Sonia Moore

November 13 – Drastik

November 19 – Invincible Czars

November 20 – Gina Chavez

Presented by Big Medium, Austin Creative Alliance and Capitol View Arts

And the 2011 B. Iden Award goes to…

October 31st, 2011

2011 Austin Creative Alliance Special Honoree

Outstanding Contribution to Austin Theatre

Latifah Taormina

Latifah Taormina, 2011 Outstanding Contribution to Austin Theatre

PLAYS FOR YOUTH

Outstanding Production of a Play for Youth

A Year With Frog and Toad Summer Stock Austin

Outstanding Direction of a Play for Youth

Rudy Ramirez The Physicists

Outstanding Performer in a Play for Youth

David Meissner (Momo, Henry, Man, Watch Seller, Jean-Paul) The Adventures of Iris and Momo

MUSIC THEATRE

Outstanding Production of Music Theatre

I’ve Never Been So Happy Rude Mechanicals and Center Theatre Group

Outstanding Direction of Music Theatre

Thomas Graves and Lana Lesley I’ve Never Been So Happy

Outstanding Lead Actor in Music Theatre

Andrew Cannata (Austin) I Love You Because

Outstanding Lead Actress in Music Theatre

Haley Smith (Marcy) I Love You Because

Outstanding Featured Actor in Music Theatre

Brian Coughlin (Edna Turnblad) Hairspray

Outstanding Featured Actress in Music Theatre

Janis Stinson (Motormouth Maybelle) Hairspray

COMEDIES

Outstanding Production of a Comedy

The Dudleys!: A Family Game TUTTO Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction of a Comedy

Gary Jaffe The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy

Shelby Davenport (Jack Tanner) Man and Superman

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy

Lauren Lane (Barbara Fordham) August: Osage County

Outstanding Featured

Actor in a Comedy

Michael Stuart (Charlie Aiken) August: Osage County

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Comedy

Chris Humphrey (Nanna) MilkMilkLemonade

DRAMAS

Outstanding Production of a Drama

Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show Trouble Puppet Theater Company

Outstanding Direction of a Drama

Connor Hopkins Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

Justin Scalise (Hamlet) Hamlet [Scottish Rite Theatre and Black Swan Events]

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

Babs George (Martha) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Drama

Travis Dean (Baylor) A Lie o

f the Mind

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Drama

Rebecca Robinson (Beth) A Lie of the Mind

GENERAL CATEGORIES

Outstanding Set Design

Ia Ensterä Here Comes Gosling!

Outstanding Light Design

Natalie George Baal

Outstanding Sound Design

Leegrid Stevens The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Costume Design

Susan Branch Towne Hairspray

Outstanding Music Direction

Chris Humphrey The Elementals: AIR

Outstanding Dance Choreography

Melinda Rebman and Zenobia Taylor The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Fight Choreography

Travis Dean Hunter Gatherers

Outstanding Original Script

Leegrid Stevens The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Original Score

Leegrid Stevens The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Media Design

Dan Monceaux, Angela Hill, David Bengali, Jordan Rein, Josh Lampman, David Mauro, Camilo Munar and Jake Witlen The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Puppetry

Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show Trouble Puppet Theater Company

Outstanding Cast Performance

The Dudleys!: A Family Game TUTTO Theatre Company

Outstanding Ensemble Performance

Roderick Sanford and Joshua Denning (Tom Collins and Angel Dumont Schunard) RENT

Outstanding Young Performer

Joshua Michael Braun (Newton) The Physicists

Rudy Kloptik Award for Outstanding Work in Improvisational Theatre

Confidence Men The Institution Theater

Special Certificates

Biography of Physical Sensation – Rubber Repertory, Salvage Vanguard Theater, Rude Mechanicals and Fusebox Festival

I’ve Never Been So Happy: A Western Musical & Transmedia Shindig – Rude Mechanicals

B. Iden Payne Awards – Changes and Nominees Announced

September 30th, 2011

The B. Iden Payne Awards organizers and Austin Creative Alliance Monday evening jointly announced that—after 37 years as a special event of the Alliance—the B. Iden Payne Awards Council (BIPAC), has become a separate, sponsored nonprofit project of the Austin Creative Alliance.

The Council is comprised of a group of volunteers who remain focused on recognizing artistic excellence within the Austin theatre community, and will continue with creation and distribution of the nomination ballot for voting community members.

Marcy Hoen, Interim Executive Director of Austin Creative Alliance says, “We are so proud that this venerable Austin tradition, which has been woven into our own history as an organization, has now grown to the point where it can spin off into its own, distinct organization.” She adds, “We look forward to many years of collaboration with the Council.”

BIPAC on Monday also announced the nominees and details for the October 24th Awards ceremony, which will be held at the State Theatre. List of nominees—on which members of the newly formed BIPAC can vote—are listed in full below.

Voting members will pay a small membership fee to BIPAC.  100% of membership fees will be used to fund the annual B. Iden Payne Awards ceremony, as well as cover administrative costs associated with creation and distribution of the nomination ballot each season.

To purchase tickets click here or  call 512.474.1221

The Nominees Are:

PLAYS FOR YOUTH

Outstanding Production

Here Comes Gosling! Pollyanna Theatre Company

Just So ZACH Performing Arts School

Monsters! kidsActing

The Physicists VORTEX Summer Youth Theatre

A Year With Frog and Toad Summer Stock Austin

Outstanding Direction

Dede Clark            Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Judy Matetzschk-Campbell            Here Comes Gosling!

Michael McKelvey            A Year With Frog and Toad

Rudy Ramirez            The Physicists

Adam Roberts            Just So

Outstanding Performer

Sophia Franzella (Mouse, Young Frog, Squirrel, Stumpy Tree)            A Year With Frog and Toad

Dylan Kittleman (Maurice)            Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Julie Linnard (Chunk, Admiral Pekin Duck)            Ducks vs. Squirrels: Battle for the Park

David Meissner (Momo, Henry, Man, Watch Seller, Jean-Paul)

The Adventures of Iris and Momo

MUSIC THEATER

Outstanding Production

Hairspray ZACH Theatre

Hillcountry Underbelly: A Pilgrimage on the Outskirts paper chairs

I Love You Because Penfold Theatre Company

I’ve Never Been So Happy Rude Mechanicals and Center Theatre Group

Urinetown: The Musical Summer Stock Austin

Outstanding Direction

Bonnie Cullum            The Elementals: AIR

Thomas Graves and Lana Lesley            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Michael McKelvey            I Love You Because

Michael McKelvey            Urinetown: The Musical

Dustin Wills            Baal

Outstanding Lead Actor

Andrew Cannata (Austin)            I Love You Because

Arthur DiBianca (Ko-Ko)            The Mikado

Zach Green (Leo Bloom)            The Producers

Tyler King (Officer Lockstock)            Urinetown: The Musical

Trevor McGinnis (Max Bialystock)            The Producers

Outstanding Lead Actress

Kylie Baker (Housewife)            di[verge]: an original play with songs

Elizabeth Newchurch (Julie Jordan)            Carousel

Brooke Shapiro (Tracy Turnblad)            Hairspray

Haley Smith (Marcy)            I Love You Because

Outstanding Featured Actor

Aaron D. Alexander (FunkBot)            Mighty Five’s Infinite Funk Odyssey

Brian Coughlin (Edna Turnblad)            Hairspray

Joey Hood (Ekart)            Baal

Tyler Mount (Roger Debris)            The Producers

Alejandro Rodriguez (Woof)            Hair

Outstanding Featured Actress

Chase Crossno (Svettka, Luise, Older Sister, Young Lady)            Baal

Amy Downing (Velma Von Tussle) [June 29-Aug. 28]            Hairspray

Amy Downing (Diana)            I Love You Because

Sophia Franzella (Little Sally)            Urinetown: The Musical

Janis Stinson (Motormouth Maybelle)            Hairspray

COMEDIES

Outstanding Production

August: Osage County ZACH Theatre

The Dudleys!: A Family Game TUTTO Theatre Company

Hunter Gatherers Capital T Theatre

An Englishwoman Abroad: Tea in Tripoli Austin Phoenix Productions & Bernadette Nason

Vigil Hyde Park Theatre

Outstanding Direction

Gary Jaffe            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Mark Pickell            Hunter Gatherers

Dave Steakley            August: Osage County

Don Toner            Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

Estevan J. “Chuy” Zarate            Dos Pocitos

Outstanding Lead Actor

Shelby Davenport (Jack Tanner)            Man and Superman

Owen Egerton (everyone)            The Other Side of Sleep

Robert Pierson (Ibsen)            Heddatron

Charles P. Stites (Kerr)            Chesapeake

Xaq Webb (Emory)            MilkMilkLemonade

Outstanding Lead Actress

Elizabeth Bigger (Janice)            Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake)

Lana Dieterich (Violet Weston)            August: Osage County

Lauren Lane (Barbara Fordham)            August: Osage County

Bernadette Nason (herself)            An Englishwoman Abroad: Tea in Tripoli

Martina Ohlhauser (Victoria)            Too Many Husbands

Outstanding Featured Actor

Jon Wayne Martin (the men)            On the Verge

Rupert Reyes (Uile)            Dos Pocitos

Michael Stuart (Charlie Aiken)            August: Osage County

Jericho Thorp (Elliot)            MilkMilkLemonade

Mical Trejo (Mervyn)            A Behanding in Spokane

Outstanding Featured Actress

Jennifer Coy (Mary)            Cardigan

Jenny Gravenstein (Mac)            “The Thief of Tears”, Three Viewings

Chris Humphrey (Nanna)            MilkMilkLemonade

Breanna Stogner (women)            Down the Drain

Irene White (Ivy Weston)            August: Osage County

DRAMAS

Outstanding Production

Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show Trouble Puppet Theater Company

Hedda Gabler Palindrome Theatre

A Lie of the Mind Capital T Theatre

Paradise Key a chick and a dude productions

Topdog/Underdog City Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction

Connor Hopkins            Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show

Lisa Jordan            Topdog/Underdog

Melissa Livingston            Paradise Key

Christina J. Moore            Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Don Toner            The Trip to Bountiful

Outstanding Lead Actor

Collin Bjork (Equality 7-2521)            Anthem

Tom Green (Dr. Halb)            Paradise Key

Joey Hood (Jerry)            The Zoo Story

Ev Lunning, Jr. (George)            Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Justin Scalise (Hamlet)            Hamlet [Scottish Rite Theatre and Black Swan Events]

Outstanding Lead Actress

Mary Agen Cox (Carrie Watts)            The Trip to Bountiful

Dawn Erin (Ann Martin)            Defiant

Babs George (Martha)            Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Meredith McCall (Linda Waterman)            Fiction

Rebecca Robinson (Hannah Jelkes)            The Night of the Iguana

Outstanding Featured Actor

Aaron D. Alexander (Papi)            Fight

Travis Dean (Baylor)            A Lie of the Mind

Micah Goodding (Aaron McKinney, Stephen Belber)            The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later

Daniel Sawtelle (Slim)            Of Mice and Men

Jacob Trussell (DJ Snowstorm)            Flying

Outstanding Featured Actress

Shannon Grounds (Fool)            Lear

Sadé Jones (Lady in Green)

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

Julia Lorenz-Olsen (Ophelia)            Hamlet [Scottish Rite Theatre and Black Swan Events]

Rebecca Robinson (Beth)            A Lie of the Mind

Gricelda Silva (Bushy Tail)            Flying

GENERAL CATEGORIES

Outstanding Set Design

Ia Ensterä            Here Comes Gosling!

Lisa Laratta            Baal

Lisa Laratta            Heddatron

Anne McMeeking            Fight

Michael Raiford            August: Osage County

Outstanding Lighting Design

Kathryn Eader            Eurydice

Natalie George            Baal

Stephen Pruitt            Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show

Stephen Pruitt            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Steven Shirey            Flying

Steven Shirey            Uncle Vanya

Outstanding Sound Design

the company            Baal

the Gunn Brothers            Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

Buzz Moran            Heddatron

Justin Sherburn            Flying

Leegrid Stevens            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Costume Design

Dawn Allee, Pam Martin and Jennifer Davis

A Midsummer Night’s Dream [The Baron’s Men]

Glenda Barnes            Urinetown: The Musical

Ia Ensterä             Here Comes Gosling!

Pam Friday            MilkMilkLemonade

Susan Branch Towne            Hairspray

Outstanding Music Direction

Chris Humphrey            The Elementals: AIR

Michael McKelvey            I Love You Because

Michael McKelvey            Urinetown: The Musical

Allen Robertson            Hairspray

Michael “Thuso” Stevens            Ti-Jean and His Brothers

Outstanding Dance Choreography

Danny Herman and Rocker Verastique            Carousel

Robin Lewis            Hairspray

Ananda Mayi Moss and Sadé Jones

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

Melinda Rebman and Zenobia Taylor            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Adam Roberts and Jennifer Young            Just So

Outstanding Fight Choreography

Travis Dean            Hunter Gatherers

Toby Minor            Lear

Outstanding Original Script

Trey Deason            Cardigan

Raul Garza            Dos Pocitos

Kirk Lynn            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Bernadette Nason            An Englishwoman Abroad: Tea in Tripoli

Leegrid Stevens            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Original Score

Adam Glasseye Beckley and Reverend Glasseye            Woyzeck

Rob Greenfield and Andy Tindall            Baal

Jerry Hagins, Jesse Gregg and Chris Peterson            A Lie of the Mind

Chris Humphrey            The Elementals: AIR

Peter Stopschinski            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Leegrid Stevens            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Outstanding Media Design

Owen Egerton and Les McGehee            The Other Side of Sleep

Lettuce Turnip Media and Robert Jacques            Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show

Miwa Matreyek            I’ve Never Been So Happy

Dan Monceaux, Angela Hill, David Bengali, Jordan Rein, Josh Lampman,

David Mauro, Camilo Munar and Jake Witlen            The Dudleys!: A Family Game

Will Hollis Snider            di[verge]: an original play with songs

Outstanding Puppetry

Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show Trouble Puppet Theater Company

Heddatron Salvage Vanguard Theater

Outstanding Cast Performance

The Dudleys!: A Family Game TUTTO Theatre Company

Hunter Gatherers Capital T Theatre

I’ve Never Been So Happy Rude Mechanicals

Morning’s at Seven Different Stages

Topdog/Underdog City Theatre Company

Outstanding Ensemble Performance

David Stahl and Michael Stuart (Clown 1 and Clown 2)            Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

Angelica Faye Davis, Kia Dawn Fulton and Tiffany Mann (the Dynamites)            Hairspray

David Meissner and Toby Minor (Rabbit and Froggie)            Here Comes Gosling!

Alejandro McDonald-Villarreal, Aaron Niemuth, Eva McQuade, Heath Thompson,

Gene Storie and Samantha Smith (the mechanicals)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream [The Baron’s Men]

Roderick Sanford and Joshua Denning (Tom Collins and Angel Dumont Schunard)            RENT

Outstanding Young Performer

Ryan Borses (Toad)            A Year With Frog and Toad

Joshua Michael Braun (Newton)            The Physicists

Keith Gruber (Kolokolo Bird)            Just So

Ben Roberts (Bobby Lazenbee)            Monsters!

Xander Slay-Tamkin (Möbius)            The Physicists

Rudy Kloptik Award for Outstanding Work in Improvisational Theatre

Austin Secrets            The Hideout Theatre

Confidence Men            The Institution Theater

Get Up            Gnap! Theater Projects

The Megaphone Show            The New Movement Theater

Midnight Society            ColdTowne Theater

ATX List Cooperative Info Sessions on Sept. 22

September 13th, 2011

Come Learn about ATX List Cooperative: a new, Austin Creative Alliance -organized, web-based patron community database that securely puts YOU in charge of using, understanding, and – only if you choose – selectively trading aspects of your patron database.

Info Sessions will be held Thursday, September 22.

Afternoon Session – 1pm-3pm in the AT&T Room at the Long Center
Evening Session – 6pm-8pm (Location TBD)

What is ATX List Cooperative?

The ATX List Cooperative is the Austin Creative Alliance’s collaborative, web-based patron database, built and operated by TRG Arts (www.trgarts.com), which is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While a new initiative for Austin, this is hardly the first co-op of its kind: TRG is managing and developing data communities in Denver, Philadelphia, Houston, Los Angeles, the state of New Jersey, Washington DC, and Seattle with several new programs in development.

What does ATX List Cooperative do?

Several exciting things:

  • “Blind trades” of lists for direct mail campaigns is made simple and easy. Rather than having to manually track requests, compile, and e-mail the lists, you can use the on-line functionality (TRG’s eMerge software system) to request and execute trades. And since the system is permission-based, you can suppress certain records (your donors for example) and only trade with organizations you choose when you choose to trade with them.
  • Automated updates: In order to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information for your patrons, the Community Patron Database goes through quarterly National Change of Address (NCOA) data hygieneFOR FREE! Information on your patrons comes back to you yearly so that you can keep your in-house records just as current. (Upgrades for more frequent cleanings are available)
  • Research and analysis of the area cultural patron will help us identify trends, bust myths, and make our audience retention and development efforts more robust and effective. The Community Patron Database will teach us about our community-wide patrons – and allow each organization to learn more about the people coming through their doors.

For more information, upload the attached document:  ATX List Info Sheet

Link to RSVP for Information Sessions: http://app.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/austincreativealliance/atx-list-info-session-rsvp/

Link to Participate: http://app.fluidsurveys.com/s/ATXListCooperative/

Link to TRG Arts: trgarts.com