Creative Action and its partners have officially commenced construction on the Community Arts Collaborative, a significant shared arts facility in Austin’s Mueller neighborhood. This ambitious project, which boasts a budget of $15 million, will serve as the headquarters for Creative Action and will also accommodate Art Spark Texas, Austin Bat Cave, Austin Soundwaves, and Studio A Piano. The facility is slated to open its doors next fall.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Creative Action’s executive director, Joe McIalwain, expressed excitement about the collaboration. “We’ve been looking forward to moving in together for so long now,” he remarked, emphasizing the sense of community among the organizations. “We’re going to be roommates.”
The land for this initiative was acquired decades ago through a public-private partnership with the city, aimed at creating a beneficial space for the school district and the youth in the East Side community. The vision for a shared facility was initially proposed by Karen LaShelle, the former executive director of Creative Action, who believed in the power of collaboration among organizations committed to the arts.
“What if we can build something that none of us, including Creative Action, could do alone?” LaShelle reflected. “That was a no-brainer for me, because when we work together, we really do lift all boats.”
Collectively, these organizations impact thousands of students annually, offering a diverse array of programs in writing, theater, visual arts, music, dance, and filmmaking, according to Patrick Slevin, the executive director of Austin Soundwaves. “Now as a collective of organizations, we are all in on creating something much bigger than any of our organizations could do alone and building a national model for arts education in collaboration, right here in Austin, Texas,” he stated.
LaShelle conveyed her enthusiasm for the future of the space, highlighting the potential for personal growth among young people. “The friendships that will form, the confidence that will grow, the young people who will discover their voices, find their people and realize that they are capable of things that they had never imagined,” she said. “And we will all have a stable home from which we can reach even more young people and more people in the community.”
To date, the nonprofits have successfully raised $11.5 million toward their $15 million goal and are actively seeking philanthropic support to secure the remaining $3.5 million needed to complete the project. LaShelle hopes the Community Arts Collaborative will serve as a tangible representation of Austin’s commitment to the arts.
“That arts education is essential,” she asserted, “and that creativity, self-expression, and belonging deserve a permanent place in the lives of our young people and in the fabric of our city.”
The anticipated opening of the facility is scheduled for next fall, marking a significant milestone in the enhancement of arts education in Austin.
