Austin's arts and culture department highlighting art access through October

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s newly formed Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (AACME) department is marking its first official month in operation by joining national and citywide celebrations of National Arts & Humanities Month.

National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM) happens every October, and it’s the nation’s largest celebration of arts and culture. This year is Austin’s first time joining the celebration. The city’s local theme is “Arts for All ATX.”

Throughout the month, AACME and its partners are hosting cultural events, performances, exhibitions, and public programs across the city as part of NAHM, but also to celebrate the first official month that AACME is up and running after being announced earlier this year.

“As part of the kickoff of the department, we’re also really wanting to celebrate our local artists,” Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager of Cultural Education & Programs for AACME, said Wednesday.

“So, the Americans for the Arts organization holds their National Arts and Humanities Month in October, and we decided to celebrate with them,” she said. “We have arts and culture events happening at all kinds of our city facilities across the city. In every district, we have music events, we have art events. We have amazing performances, everything from visual arts to performing arts. It’s really an exciting time.”

The celebration officially kicked off on Oct. 2, but events are happening nearly every day. A full calendar is posted on the AACME webpage.

Flanagan said that while Austin is known for its live music scene, the department wants to highlight facilities in the city dedicated to art and culture, like the Mexican American Cultural Center, the Dougherty Arts Center, the George Washington Carver Museum, the Asian American Resource Center, and others. She said it’s also a goal of AACME’s to make sure art is accessible to everyone.

“We are wanting to make sure that every Austinite has access to be able to participate, make art, attend arts and culture music events, and they’re happening all month long, but really all year long,” Flanagan said. “You can take art classes, you can come and see live music. It’s a great opportunity.”

Part of Arts for All ATX was the launch of Phase 2 of The Creative Reset, a one-year strategic planning process. Phase 2 will “reimagine Austin’s creative ecosystem,” according to a release from AACME.

Flanagan said Phase 1 focused on reworking the grant programs that will provide $25 million in grant opportunities. Those are expected to launch later this month.

“The next phase of the creative reset, Phase 2, is focused on our cultural facilities,” Flanagan said. “So, we’re going to be looking to talk to the community about what kinds of programs and classes they need and want.”

“We just want to recap and meet people where they’re at, make sure we’re in line with what the community needs, and then kind of reset and, you know, celebrate… This is the soul of Austin, so let’s highlight that and make sure everyone is having the opportunity to come and visit,” she said.

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