Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum for the Creative Sector

WHO: Austin Creative Alliance with Austin Film Society, Austin Music People, and TALA

WHAT: Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum for the Creative Sector

WHEN: Monday April 30th at 6pm, happy hour to proceed at 5:30p

WHERE: Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street, 78701

RSVP: http://votecreateatx.eventbrite.com

WEB: www.austincreativealliance.org, www.facebook.com/events/164979496958188/

@AustinCreativeA #VoteCreateATX

MEDIA: Details and interviews via david@wyattbrand.com and 512/450.4395

AUSTIN, Texas—Austin Creative Alliance today announces the “Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum for the Creative Sector” to give voters an accurate understanding of the position of each candidate on issues concerning the sector. Addressing issues such as affordable housing, funding sources, public policy, job creation and economic development, and the creation of durable community institutions—the questions will be culled from the co-presenting organizations’ leadership as well as input from their constituents. 

Marcy Hoen, executive director of Austin Creative Alliance, says, “The creative sector in Austin is a $4.35 billion industry that contributes over $48 million annually to the City tax base and over 44,000 jobs. We invite the Mayoral and Council candidates to the table to address critical issues for this city that our boards, member organizations and artists, and partner groups agree are pivotal factors this coming election.” Hoen cites the recent  report by Jon Hockenyos, President of TXP.

As community based nonprofit organizations representing an extensive and diverse constituency, Austin Creative Alliance (ACA), Austin Music People (AMP), Austin Film Society (AFS), and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts of Central Texas (TALA) believe it is their responsibility to raise awareness of and facilitate discussion concerning issues deemed important by community residents and creative industry. Community members can submit questions in advance at www.facebook.com/events/164979496958188/ 

Executive director of Austin Film Society, Rebecca Campbell, adds, “This sort of exchange is essential—both for the cultivation of those individuals who work in the creative sector and for the development of the sector itself. We all must make it a priority to make our voice heard clearly.”

The “Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum for the Creative Sector” is open and free to all, but an RSVP is requested at [link]

• 5:30-6:00 pm Happy Hour: Mix, Mingle, and share a beverage with your community and fellow candidates

• 6:00-6:30 pm Mayoral Candidate Forum

• 6:30-7:30 pm City Council Candidate Forum - Please note that questions will be posed at large so that candidates who need to leave early for another engagement or those who arrive late will all have an opportunity to participate fully in the forum.

• 7:30-- Decamp to Discuss, Location TBA

For over 25 years, AFS has supported the appreciation of film and the production of creative media. Through screenings, artist services, youth education, and Austin Studios, AFS impacts the lives over over 28,000 people each year. Audiences and members represent all ages and a cross-section of the diverse population of Austin. Individual film series target particular audiences, and have expanded our audience base in the Latino, African-American, Middle Eastern, Jewish and Asian-American communities. We also co-sponsor events with other Austin arts organizations such as Cine Las Americas, the Harry Ransom Center, the Blanton Museum of Art and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The Austin Film Society founded Austin Studios in 2000 through a partnership with the City of Austin. Austin Studios features over 100,000 square feet of production space in former airplane hangars and office space for working creative media professionals. Since renovating the campus in 2006, Austin Studios has helped bring over $290 million of economic impact to the greater Austin community. www.austinfilm.org

About Austin Music People: The AMP Project is founded on the fundamental belief that in the Live Music Capital of the World, music and the creative class are a crucial part of what binds us, supports us, drives us, and makes Austin special. Our Austin music culture is unique and world renowned, and it represents both our future and our past. The AMP Mission is to protect and grow our music culture and our reputation as the live music capital of the world.www.austinmusicpeople.org

TALA was formed in 1979 to help meet the legal and accounting needs of artists and arts nonprofits across the State of Texas. TALA volunteers throughout the state handle more than 350 matters per year. This amounts to more than six hundred thousand dollars annually in donated services to the arts and cultural community.

TALA’s pro bono legal and accounting services are offered to artists from all creative disciplines, including visual artists, musicians, actors, dancers, filmmakers and writers. Over 600 attorneys and accountants volunteer their time each year, assisting in legal and accounting matters that might otherwise remain unresolved and unrepresented.www.talarts.org

The mission of the Austin Creative Alliance is to advance, connect, and advocate for Austin’s arts, cultural, and creative communities in order to nourish and strengthen the character, quality of life, and economic prosperity of our region. Austin Creative Alliance (ACA) was established via the transformation of an existing arts service organization, Austin Circle of Theaters (ACOT), which had been operating since 1974. ACA is poised for growth and innovation, inspired by the community-led CreateAustin Plan which forged a pathway for invigorating Austin’s “culture of creativity” and recommended establishing ACA as a top priority. ACA has successfully expanded its core services, launched important programs and initiatives to better assist individuals and organizations in the creative sector, serving both for- and non-profit entities. ACA is committed to providing the critical support, advocacy, and tools to excel. Find out how you might benefit at www.nowplayingaustin.org and www.austincreativeallliance.org