Austin City Council Approves Developer Selection for Blocks 16 and 18 in East Austin
IT'S OFFICIAL!
Your friends at the East Austin Creative Coalition are celebrating a recent
decision by the City Council to approve a final Development Team (Pleasant Hill Collaborative)
who will soon create a new mixed-use vision for Blocks 16 & 18 here in East Austin.
This project is the culmination of work begun 30 years ago by Harold McMillan and DiverseArts.
Many thanks to our EACC Board and volunteers for their hard work and tireless effort.
Read the city's press release:
https://www.austintexas.gov/news/austin-city-council-approves-developer-selection-blocks-16-and-18
MAJOR UPDATE:
The team behind the Kenny Dorham Center is announcing a major achievement! With the support of Rally Austin, and a strong team of community arts leaders, we have won an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) which allows the city to access lower-cost bond financing and a greater capacity to dedicate space to cultural arts production in the development. This is a major milestone in the effort to construct an large-scale mixed-use cultural arts institution that specifically address historic inequity and serves the interests of the community in East Austin's African American Cultural Heritage District. With this agreement comes the opportunity to share more about the project. We're looking forward to a big announcement (with a big celebration) for the Kenny Dorham Center!
“You’re talking about over a decade in the making of us getting to this place where saying that we have an African American Cultural Heritage District actually means something,” said Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison, who sponsored the resolution."
THE KENNY DORHAM CENTER
"An arts complex including an amphitheatre, recording studio, rehearsal space, art gallery, indoor venue/cafe, and museum, as well as affordable housing partially reserved for artist residencies for up to three years. The new resolution directs city staff to solicit plans and cost estimates for development of the “multi-story mixed-use development,” which integrates street-level retail. The facility would be called the Kenny Dorham Center, after the legendary jazz trumpeter who grew up nearby on East 12th Street, and will be a destination for the Austin Black Music Archive and Kenny Dorham Museum.
Read the city's press release here:
Check out this sneak peek on the project:
Past, Present & Future Projects
The Dorham Center Proposal
In September 2021, the Austin City Council adopted an EACC-authored Resolution with 16 action directives, calling for renewed investment and support in the African American Cultural Heritage District, and establishment of an East 11th Street professional cultural center/music hub. The proposal has been accepted by Austin Cultural Trust/AEDC and is in the pipeline to become reality.
The Dorham Center concept was the blueprint for the Council Resolution regarding the African American Cultural Heritage District and Creative Spaces Cultural Trust. Read the Council's Resolution here and latest press release here.
Austin Black Artists and Professional Creatives Registry
EACC is creating an online resource, the Austin Black Artists and Professional Creatives Registry, set to launch in 2025, which aims to become Austin's most comprehensive listing of Black arts, culture, and preservation professionals.
You can complete the Registry Form here at your convenience: https://forms.gle/7y1LaZ2hdvFYYwxKA
Mapping The African American Cultural Heritage District
We are also continuing our work in the Cultural Heritage District of mapping long-lost venues, churches and residences of Austin's once-thriving East End. Volunteer researchers and photographers are always welcome to get involved with this long-term preservation project.
Austin Black Music Archive
Building upon our previous archival work (The Blues Family Tree project, portions of the Cultural Heritage District mapping project), EACC is currently developing a Black Music Archive portal. Featuring content from both past and present musicians who created at least some of their work here in Austin, we hope to educate and enlighten visitors with performances, biographies, and current event listings.
Honoring Dr. Beulah Agnes Curry-Jones
In February 2024, we produced Jazz Legacy: A Community Tribute to Dr. Beaulah Agnes Curry-Jones, honoring her lifetime achivements in music, education and community service. The evening also includes a special presentation to Eva June Lindsey,
our 2024 Cultural Heritage District Trailblazer and longtime manager of the Historic Victory Grill We were honored to have Dr. Polk in attendance. The Austin Villager published a headlining article on Dr. Curry-Jones here.
Honoring Dr. James Polk
In February 2023, we produced Jazz Legacy: A Community Tribute to Dr. James Polk, honoring his lifetime achivements in music, education and community service. With this event, Dr. Polk becomes the first recipient of our annual Austin Cultural Icon Award. The renowned Elias Haslanger Quartet was featured as house band, Pamela Hart was emcee, and a long list of friends and family provided stories from his life & career. We were honored to have Dr. Polk in attendance. Women In Jazz Founder and Jazz musician, Pamela Hart posted a lovely video of the event on YouTube, and our friends at KUTX 98.9FM published an in-depth article on Dr. Polk here.
In September 2021, the Austin City Council adopted an EACC-authored Resolution with 16 action directives, calling for renewed investment and support in the African American Cultural Heritage District, and establishment of an East 11th Street professional cultural center/music hub. The proposal has been accepted by Austin Cultural Trust/AEDC and is in the pipeline to become reality.
The Dorham Center concept was the blueprint for the Council Resolution regarding the African American Cultural Heritage District and Creative Spaces Cultural Trust. Read the Council's Resolution here and latest press release here.
Austin Black Artists and Professional Creatives Registry
EACC is creating an online resource, the Austin Black Artists and Professional Creatives Registry, set to launch in 2025, which aims to become Austin's most comprehensive listing of Black arts, culture, and preservation professionals.
You can complete the Registry Form here at your convenience: https://forms.gle/7y1LaZ2hdvFYYwxKA
Mapping The African American Cultural Heritage District
We are also continuing our work in the Cultural Heritage District of mapping long-lost venues, churches and residences of Austin's once-thriving East End. Volunteer researchers and photographers are always welcome to get involved with this long-term preservation project.
Austin Black Music Archive
Building upon our previous archival work (The Blues Family Tree project, portions of the Cultural Heritage District mapping project), EACC is currently developing a Black Music Archive portal. Featuring content from both past and present musicians who created at least some of their work here in Austin, we hope to educate and enlighten visitors with performances, biographies, and current event listings.
Honoring Dr. Beulah Agnes Curry-Jones
In February 2024, we produced Jazz Legacy: A Community Tribute to Dr. Beaulah Agnes Curry-Jones, honoring her lifetime achivements in music, education and community service. The evening also includes a special presentation to Eva June Lindsey,
our 2024 Cultural Heritage District Trailblazer and longtime manager of the Historic Victory Grill We were honored to have Dr. Polk in attendance. The Austin Villager published a headlining article on Dr. Curry-Jones here.
Honoring Dr. James Polk
In February 2023, we produced Jazz Legacy: A Community Tribute to Dr. James Polk, honoring his lifetime achivements in music, education and community service. With this event, Dr. Polk becomes the first recipient of our annual Austin Cultural Icon Award. The renowned Elias Haslanger Quartet was featured as house band, Pamela Hart was emcee, and a long list of friends and family provided stories from his life & career. We were honored to have Dr. Polk in attendance. Women In Jazz Founder and Jazz musician, Pamela Hart posted a lovely video of the event on YouTube, and our friends at KUTX 98.9FM published an in-depth article on Dr. Polk here.
Past Events
A Community Tribute Honoring
Dr. Beulah Agnes Curry-Jones
2024 Austin Cultural Icon
Dr. Beulah Curry-Jones event video © 2024 Michael Emery, all rights reserved.
Dr. Beulah Agnes Curry-Jones
2024 Austin Cultural Icon
Sunday, February 25th, at 5pm,
at KMFA Classical 89.5FM's
Draylen Mason Music Studio.
41 Navasota Street, Austin, Texas
Celebrating the Lifetime Achievements of Dr. Curry-Jones
in Education, Music, Civic Engagement and Community.
The evening also includes a special presentation to Eva June Lindsey,
our 2024 Cultural Heritage District Trailblazer and longtime manager of the Historic Victory Grill.
Produced by Women in Jazz, East Austin Creative Coalition and DiverseArts.
This project has been financed in whole or in part by the City of Austin's Elevate Grant Program.
2024 Austin Cultural Icon
Sunday, February 25th, at 5pm,
at KMFA Classical 89.5FM's
Draylen Mason Music Studio.
41 Navasota Street, Austin, Texas
Celebrating the Lifetime Achievements of Dr. Curry-Jones
in Education, Music, Civic Engagement and Community.
The evening also includes a special presentation to Eva June Lindsey,
our 2024 Cultural Heritage District Trailblazer and longtime manager of the Historic Victory Grill.
Produced by Women in Jazz, East Austin Creative Coalition and DiverseArts.
This project has been financed in whole or in part by the City of Austin's Elevate Grant Program.
WEPA Cumbia Roots Festival
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Kenny Dorham's Backyard
1106 E. 11th Street, Austin Texas
Doors open at 3pm
Austin's very own internationally renowned Afro-Colombian festival of music, dance and culture.
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Kenny Dorham's Backyard
1106 E. 11th Street, Austin Texas
Doors open at 3pm
Austin's very own internationally renowned Afro-Colombian festival of music, dance and culture.
Kenny Dorham Annual Tribute Concert*
with Mike Sailors Quintet Tuesday, February 9, 2023
*We will celebrate Kenny Dorham's 100th Birthday in February 2024 – in partnership with Texas Empowerment Academy – featuring a small big band led by Willis Noel, comprised of professional African American jazz musicians, band leaders and college jazz professors. Click here for an in-depth Austin Chronicle review of Kenny Dorham's life and musical works Click here for JazzProfiles' archive of selected articles about Kenny Dorham |
Community Tribute to
Dr. James Polk* Sunday, February 19, 2023
*Event presented in partnership with the Women In Jazz Association. Dr. Polk was designated as the first recipient of the Austin Cultural Icon Award, commemorating lifelong excellence and achievements in the service of Austin's African American Arts and Culture community. Click here to view Michael Corcoran's article on Dr. James Polk's life and legacy |
