Friends of the Dougherty Arts Center

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Friends of the Dougherty Arts Center

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Friends of the Dougherty Arts Center supports rebuilding a bigger, better Arts Center at or near it's current location in Butler Park.

09/27/2024

Have you signed yet? The new Dougherty Arts Center is at risk due to rising construction costs and proposed changes. Sign the petition to let City Council know that you believe Austin deserves a complete arts center with theatre, gallery, and arts school; fully aligning with the original design. Link in bio!

09/13/2024

Leslie Kell shared with us why the has played an important role in her career.

From Leslie:
As an experienced Austin artist, my career has been profoundly shaped by the Dougherty Arts Center. I’ve had the privilege of participating in numerous shows, including a solo exhibit, while also enjoying inspiring exhibitions and taking classes over the years. This iconic center, with its galleries and theater, has been an authentic and accessible platform—a true rite of passage—for local artists and performers. In a city that prides itself on its cultural spaces, is sacrificing the essence of our art really what we want for our new art center?

Thank you for your support !

08/23/2024

Be sure to tune into Art Spark TX Radio Hour on KOOP 91.7FM this Monday 8/26 at 2pm to hear about the current state of the Dougherty building project. Hear from former Museums & Cultural Programs Division Manager and current FODAC member, Laura Esparza as she discusses the challenges the new building faces and why Austin deserves a FULL arts center.

08/21/2024

Anuradha Naimpally of Austin Dance India shared with us why the Dougherty Arts Center is important to her practice and why Austin needs performance spaces. It has recently been suggested by City officials that the new Dougherty be a phased construction, cutting the theatre and gallery programs. Please read below and find out how you can tell City of Austin Government that Austin deserves a full arts center!

From Anu:
I have been a dance artist in Austin for over 30 years. During this time I have not only produced full length works for my company, Austin Dance India, but I have also attended many of my colleagues’ productions. I have partnered with the DAC on workshops and conducted sessions for numerous other organizations like MindPOP. I consider the DAC not only a vital landmark, but also an arts hub for so many artists, both visual and performing. For the past four years I have used the DAC Theater through the Artist Access Program and would not have been able to produce elsewhere. There is currently a creative space shortage that has reached a crisis point. With the African American Cultural Center and the MACC closing down for renovations at the same time and many other venues shutting their doors due to a surge in their rents, we cannot close a multi-use arts space that is so crucial to so many creatives. I urge the City of Austin to give careful consideration to their decision on the redevelopment of the DAC as this will impact countless artists and arts organizations like myself.

08/18/2024

ATTN: THE FINAL DESIGN IS AT RISK!!!

On April 25th, 2022, PARD presented the FINAL DESIGN of the new Dougherty Arts Center, to be located at Butler Shores Park adjacent to the PARD Headquarters office. The new design features greatly improved facilities with twice the space for art classes, theater productions, exhibitions, and public gatherings, and a focus on further empowering the Austin arts community in a bright, open building with many connections to the surrounding parkland.

So where is the new Dougherty?

On March 19th, 2024, the Parks Department made a presentation to City Council during a work group meeting suggesting that the facility now be phased to accomodate the budget short fall and to start the design process over, essentially scrapping $1M+ investments into the current design.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more and see ways you can support. Austin deserves a FULL arts center!

08/09/2024

What is Friends of the Dougherty Arts Center (FODAC)? Founded in the 1990’s, we are an award-winning volunteer, community-based non-profit support organization dedicated to protecting, promoting, and improving the Dougherty Arts Center’s facilities and programming through active advocacy, community involvement, and financial support.

The Friends of the Dougherty Arts Center’s primary strategic goal is to increase awareness, foster advocacy, and secure funding for the rebuilding of the Dougherty Arts Center.

Find out more, including ways to support our mission of giving Austin a new and COMPLETE arts center, at the link below.

https://www.friendsofdougherty.com

07/31/2024

Hold City Council to their promise!!!

After the Final Design of the new Dougherty was presented in April of 2022, the project stalled due to a budget shortfall from increasing construction costs and a Council mandated underground parking garage. As the end of 2022 neared, City Council adopted Resolution NO. 20221208-068, which directed the City Manager to proceed with the construction without a reduction in the scope of proposed work and to include funding needed to complete the work in the 2024 City of Austin General Obligation Bond election. However, in April of 2023, the interim City Manager and staff declared there will be no bond elections before 2026, essentially halting the new Dougherty. The final design is now at risk, as Parks officials have recently recommended a phased construction, which will require the closure of the theatre and galleries for an undetermined amount of time.

Go to the link in our bio to learn more and find out how you can tell City Council that Austin deserves a FULL arts center!

Address

1110 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX
78704

Website

https://www.friendsofdougherty.com/

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