The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, a division of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, was founded in May of 1978 by a group of citizens dedicated to furthering the arts in Abilene. The Council has nine project committees/boards which assist with the implementation of the following activities: Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Broadway in Abilene Series, Paramount Theatre Children’s Performing Arts Series, Abilene Arts Alliance, Grants Assistance Program, Cultural Incentive Program, Cultural Tourism, Cultural District and Young Audiences performances.
| Bob Allen, III | Jennifer Murphy |
| Grady Barr | George Nichols |
| Lawrence Bertsch | Bob Nutt |
| Leigh Black | Helen Onger |
| Greg Blair | Anca Pacuraru |
| Ron Butler | Randy Piersall |
| Donna Dougherty | Kay Price-Hawkins |
| Patty Gass | Billye Proctor-Shaw |
| Jason Groves | Clint Rosenbaum |
| Carol Haynes | Gail Russey |
| Jill Heaven | Leo Scott |
| Darrel Knight, Jr. | Dick Spalding |
| K. O. Long | Cody Stites |
| Mishi Mathur | James D. Tittle |
| Vance McCracken | Trish Trifilo |
| Mike McMahan | Mike Warren |
| Laura Moore | Marielsa Weidanz |
| Bill Wright |
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Abilene Cultural Affairs Council 2009-2010 Business Plan |
| Darrel Knight Chair |
MISSION
To promote, encourage and support the Arts for Abilene, to marshal and adapt the community's resources to the needs of the artists of the community; to work with and advise officials, agencies, organizations, schools and committees in supporting activities; to seek to encourage the establishment of new art forms to develop publicity and educational programs to carry out those other functions necessary to enhance the image of Abilene as a center for the Arts.
PROGRAMS AND OBJECTIVES
- Broadway in Abilene - Sponsor a performing arts series, sold on subscription, to provide Abilenians with an opportunity to view outstanding Broadway shows.
- Young Audiences - Provide quality arts-in-education programs to young people to develop their potential as creative and productive individuals. Train and support 13 performing ensembles, serve 16,000 children.
- Paramount Children’s Performing Arts Series - Sponsor a performing arts series for children 4 – 10 years of age, to provide children with an opportunity to see and enjoy some of the best children’s theatre groups in the country, to build audiences for the arts by getting very young children accustomed to going to the theatre, and to donate tickets to agencies that serve children.
- Grant Assistance Program/Cultural Incentive Program - Assist local organizations in program development through a financial assistance program to provide Abilenians and West Texans with a variety of quality arts programming. Events supported attended by more than 300,000 people.
- HeArts for the Arts - Continue to solicit Hearts for the Arts donations to augment the Grants Budget…annual goal $20,000.
- Cultural Tourism – Artfully Abilene Marketing Platform - Develop the Artfully Abilene Marketing Platform to attract an increasing number of cultural visitors through information disseminated through: Artfully Abilene emarketing newsletter; Artfully Abilene quarterly magazine; Abileneroadtrip.com website; promote artists and art institutions through the Airport Exhibition Initiative.
- 30th Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition - Coordinate the 30th Annual Sculpture Exhibition. James Surls will participate and curate this show that will mark Abilene’s 30th year of continuous sculpture exhibition. He will select mid-career artists whose art he has influenced to participate with him in this show.
- Artfully Abilene Art & Culture Weekends - Collaborate with art organizations and downtown businesses to promote quarterly Art & Culture Weekends to encourage visitors on weekends that include special art happenings.