Austin To Relaunch 'Creative Ambassadors Program'

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The city is reinstating its Creative Ambassadors Program, a program providing stipends to artists traveling outside of Texas in promoting their creative projects.

The initiative is part of the city's Cultural Arts and Music Entertainment Divisions, which falls under the Economic Development Department. First launched in 2014, the program was temporarily suspended as the city explored how best to incorporate it into its broader cultural tourism strategy.

The retooled program launching Oct. 1, will run on an annual cycle and will now provide $1,000 grants for ten artist recipients. In its last iteration, the program operated monthly.

“We are pleased to reinstate the Creative Ambassadors Program,” Meghan Wells, Manager of the Cultural Arts Division, said. “This initiative opens new avenues of dialogue between Austin and markets worldwide, and increases the international presence and reputation of our local artists.”

Added Eric Shamaly, manager of the Music and Entertainment Division: “The Music Office is excited to work with the Cultural Arts Division on this collaboration providing capacity for our artists to share their art with the widest audience possible, while fostering new networks with other cities around the world.“

The Creative Ambassadors program is open to artists of all disciplines, including, but not limited to: musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, and performing artists. Austin-based individual artists and arts organizations who have confirmed plans to travel nationally or internationally to present or promote their work.

Applicants will be evaluated on their level of expertise in their chosen discipline, including the number of years they have been working in their artistic area and any prior awards or recognition they have received for their work. The selection panel will also consider how the artists and their proposed project will support the Creative Ambassador Program goals of enhancing Austin’s global profile as center of creativity; supporting the local creative community; and facilitating dialogue between other regional, national and international arts agencies and their communities.

The Panel will select a diverse cohort, reflective of many artistic disciplines by artists from all cultural communities, including ALAANA (African American, Latinx, Asian American, Arab American, Native American) artists and arts organizations, plus applicants who identify as members of the LGBTQIA community or the differently-abled community.

Selected ambassadors must fulfill the following requirements:

• Attend a training session with City of Austin staff before travel.
• Represent Austin in at least one meeting with a government, arts agency or anchor creative organization in the destination city, as approved by the City of Austin.
• Meet with national and international delegations visiting Austin, as needed.
• Forward any press coverage related to the project/travel/ambassadorship to the City of Austin.
• Submit a post‐trip report to the City of Austin.

Applications for the Creative Ambassador Program will be accepted from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1. Complete program guidelines and a link to the application system may be found at www.austintexas.gov/department/creative-ambassadors. Selected applicants will be announced in January 2019. The Creative Ambassador designation is valid for one year and all required activities and reports are due at the end of the year-long cycle.

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