2016-08-11

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin is looking to the community for help identifying creative and cultural assets in each of the city’s 10 Council districts.

Users have already mapped better known places like the French Legation Museum and lesser known places like the Austin Herb Society.

The Cultural Asset Mapping Project, or CAMP, will provide data that will help the city address the growing crisis of affordable space for Austin’s creative community.

“Austin became a magnet for creativity because of the affordable housing, buildings that were cheap fixer-uppers, and a stimulating creative environment that supported artists and musicians,” said Meghan Wells, City of Austin Cultural Arts Division Manager.

“Now that the city’s population and developments have exploded, inexpensive creative space is at a premium or non-existent, and our creatives are being forced to make hard choices or leave altogether.  We need to find ways to preserve and protect our cultural assets and producers before they’re all gone,” Wells said.

The data collected will help point out creative sector gaps and “clusters” for future planning and development of economic development strategies.

The city received funding for the project form the National Endowment of the Arts and ArtPlace America to support the development of cultural resource maps and strategies to engage directly with Austin residents.

Information about CAMP can be found online at austintexas.gov/culturemapping. View the city’s map here, where you can see points submitted by others, comment on existing points and submit your own. Are you not sure in which council district you live? See the city’s district map.

Upcoming District Community Meetings:

Saturday, August 20, 2016 (District 5)

11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Manchaca Road Branch Library

5500 Manchaca Road, Austin 78745

Saturday, August 27, 2016 (District 3)

11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Montopolis Rec Center

1200 Montopolis Dr., Austin 78741

Monday, August 29, 2016 (District 8)

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Hampton Branch Library

5125 Convict Hill Road, Austin 78749

Saturday, September 10, 2016 (District 7)

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Northwest Rec Center

2913 Northland Drive, Austin 78757

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 (District 4)

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Grant A.M.E. Church

1701 Kramer Lane, Austin 78758

Thursday, September 15, 2016 (District 2)

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Dove Springs Rec Center

5801 Ainez Dr., Austin 78744

Saturday, September 17, 2016 (District 10)

10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Old Quarry Branch Library

7051 Village Center Drive, Austin 78731

Tuesday, September 20, 2016 (District 6)

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Spicewood Springs Library

8637 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin 78759

Wednesday, September 21, 2016 (District 1)

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Carver Branch Library

1161 Angelina St., Austin 78702

Saturday, September 24, 2016 (District 9)

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Division Offices / Training Room

201 E. 2nd Street, Austin 78701

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