Our Mission
Austin Arts Foundation enriches Austin’s equity, creativity, and cultural development landscape by supporting emerging and traditionally under-supported artists.
We assist artists in achieving recognition and success by fostering community spirit, promoting pride in Austin’s diverse cultural identity, and advancing social justice. We create inclusive spaces for visual artists, performers, filmmakers, and other creatives to connect by engaging with the community and showcasing their culturally rich works. We do this through educational projects, events, public art, and collaborative spaces, ensuring artists can thrive creatively and financially.
Our Values
Uniting creators, cultural organizations, public institutions, and the private sector to support all art forms.
Collaboration is at the heart of our mission. We’re all about bringing together a wild mix of creators—visual artists, musicians, writers, performers, you name it. Our partnerships with cultural organizations and public institutions mean we’ve got the venues, resources, and platforms to make magic happen. And let’s not forget the private sector—because who doesn’t love a good sponsor? By working together, we create a bustling, interdisciplinary artistic community where every art form gets a chance to shine.
*Pictured Darryl Demps @imdarryld.
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Our Story
Our Vision
Austin Arts Foundation was established in 2024 to build a supportive artistic community. Founded by local artists dedicated to addressing the challenges of sustaining a creative career who recognized barriers faced by underrepresented artists, such as economic pressures and a lack of mentorship, our founders have brought together artists in the community with a variety of events resulting in the work hundreds of underrepresented artists being exhibited. We aim to make Austin a place where every artist can succeed and positively impact the cultural landscape.
Metrics
Our vision is to ensure that local artists are valued and supported and that their contributions are at the heart of social justice efforts in our community. We see this happening through partnerships with nonprofits, public agencies, private entities, and artists passionate about creating spaces where artistic expression thrives and helps build a strong community. We’re committed to fully supporting artists from underrepresented backgrounds by offering resources, mentorship, and opportunities. By working together and promoting diversity, inclusion, and social justice, we aim to spark cross-cultural conversations, build a connected and fair creative community, and contribute to a more inclusive and empowered artistic presence, both in Austin and beyond. In a city with rising living costs, we want a future where art is not just a passion but a sustainable way of life for everyone, regardless of their background.
Primary Metric: Income to Artists and Attendance
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Artists get paid for their work: Money matters for artists, too. We’re committed to creating more paid opportunities so artists can focus on their craft instead of juggling side gigs. The more art they make, the more we all benefit. More art means more community building and communication, which we’re all about. So yes, we’re tracking those dollars and cents to ensure our artists thrive.
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Attendance: Butts in seats matter as well. Growing attendance at our events means we’re doing something right. We will constantly organize forums, meetings, workshops, and events to draw diverse crowds. By keeping an eye on attendance, we can fine-tune our offerings and ensure we’re meeting the needs and interests of our community.
Secondary Metric: Equity Metric
Identities we want to serve
Equity is more than a metric—it's part of our core mission. We track the representation of various identities within our programs to ensure we live up to our promise of inclusivity. We want artists from all backgrounds and the diversity of our audiences to grow. By tracking this metric, we will spot gaps and areas for improvement and ensure we’re serving the communities we aim to support.
Who We Serve
Austin Arts Foundation serves the diverse population of Austin, Texas. Our programs support and empower the following communities by providing resources, opportunities, and inclusive spaces for artistic expression:
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Artists and Performers
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LGBTQIA+ Community
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Women and Female-Identifying Individuals
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Ethnically and Racially Diverse Groups
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Economically Disadvantaged Individuals
Our Initiatives
1
Opportunities for Emerging Artists
We provide opportunities for emerging artists from diverse backgrounds through grants, residencies, and showcases. Our goal is to help artists grow their careers and highlight their talents.
2
Public Art Projects
We bring together artists, business owners, sponsors, and the community to beautify Austin, make art accessible, and transform public spaces with murals, sculptures, and installations that reflect the city’s diversity.
3
Events and Festivals
We organize events and festivals that celebrate local artists. From gallery shows and studio tours to music festivals and film screenings, our events give artists a platform to share their work and invite the community to experience Austin's culture.
4
Collaborative Spaces
We offer collaborative spaces where artists can work, learn, and grow. With our partners, we provide studios, galleries, and performance spaces designed to support artists at every stage of their careers.
Meet Our Leadership
Our Leadership Team is dedicated to steering Austin Arts Foundation Inc. toward achieving its mission and vision. This team includes both our Board of Directors and our Advisory Board.
