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.
| Kay Alexander | Vance McCracken |
| Bob Allen | Mike McMahan |
| Greg Blair | Glen McWilliams |
| Paul Brower | Mark Maberry |
| Michael Burke | Joann Martucci |
| Harriet Connor | Joan Neill |
| Donna Dougherty | George Nichols |
| Mike Dunnahoo | Bob Nutt |
| Marilyn Gullett | Billye Proctor-Shaw |
| Carol Haynes | Gail Russey |
| Mike Hernandez | Leo Scott |
| John Hill | Dick Spalding |
| Charlie Hukill | James D. Tittle |
| Darrel Knight, Jr. | Trish Trifilo |
| Karolyn Kosanke | Mike Warren |
| K.O. Long | Bill Wright |
| Jan McCaslin | Mike Young |
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Abilene Cultural Affairs Council 2007-2008 Business Plan |
| Bob Allen 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.
OBJECTIVES
- Broadway in Abilene
Sponsor a performing arts series, sold on subscription, to provide Abilenians with an opportunity to view outstanding Broadway shows. The 2007 - 2008 season will include RING OF FIRE: The Music of Johnny Cash, November 6, 2007; CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy, January 2, 2008; EVITA, February 20, 2008; CATS, March 24, 2008; GYPSY, April 6, 2008; and CHICAGO, April 25, 2008. Develop cross promotional marketing program with Abilene restaurants. - Young Audiences
Continue both the After School Drama Residency at College Heights and the Fine Arts Residency at Thomas and Bonham. Initiate nine week Dance Residency at Bassetti. Continue to train and support the 13 performing ensembles on the roster, nine of which are local. Serve approximately 16,000 school children during the 2007-08 school year through performance demonstrations. - Abilene Arts Alliance
Assist in the development of a stand-alone non-profit foundation for the arts to support art organizations to enable them to provide high quality artistic events. The endowment now stands at $750,000. - 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. The three performances scheduled for the 2007-2008 series include: Junie B. Jones, September 30, 2007; Joe Scruggs, January 27, 2008; and Beauty and the Beast, May 4, 2008. - 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. Encourage applications that make it possible to do joint marketing and programming, promote the development of new and emerging organizations that provide additional support of art education, encourage outreach, programs to residents throughout Taylor County and stimulate activities throughout downtown. Events supported will be attended by more than 300,000 people. - HeArts for the Arts
Grants fund more than 30 cultural arts groups each year. The Tax Increment Finance District (TIF), the City of Abilene, and Taylor County have generously provided these funds. The TIF will sunset soon, cutting a third of the amount from the grants available. These grants supplement the organizations in Abilene who provide quality of life incentives to business development. HeArts for the Arts is one program initiated to replace TIF funds. The fundraising goal for this year is $20,000. - Cultural Tourism
Develop a program that will make Taylor County a destination for cultural heritage tourists though implementation of the cultural tourism plan created by Bill Moskin and Sandy Guettler. A "roadtrip" marketing campaign to encourage people in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex to drive to Abilene for a weekend began in early September. A website, www.abileneroadtrip.com outlines three different fun itineraries for "hipsters", "families" and "couples".