Austin History Center

The Austin History Center recognized the need to document, as stated by curator Audray Bateman in the “Austin Seen” exhibition catalog, “our rapidly vanishing recent heritage.” To encourage this documentation, the “Austin Seen” photo competition was created. The general public was invited to submit a piece of history as seen through the lens of their own cameras. The contest criteria for photos submitted was that each “show a recognizability of people, places, and events, or an essence of life in this area.”

Three men distinguished in the field of photography formed the jury: Russell Lee, the internationally renowned photographer; Stanley Farrar, director of photography for the Austin-American Statesman, news photographer, and picture editor; and Roy Flukinger, Curator of the Photography Collection, Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas. Mr. Flukinger, also the author of many books and articles, contributed the article “Some of Their Magic” to the exhibition catalog.

Ninety-four people submitted a total of 530 photographs. Of these, 114 photographs were chosen to be included in the exhibition, representing the work of 54 photographers. Of the original 530 photographs, 368 were donated to the Austin History Center and are now a part of the Center’s permanent collection.

The exhibition catalog, a Waterloo Publication, was published by the Austin History Center and compiled by Carolyn Baker. The exhibition curator, Sharmyn Lumsden, also contributed “Portrait of a City” to the exhibition catalog, an article describing the evolution of photography in Austin.

Besides photographs, the Austin community provided other contributions to make the exhibition a success. Sponsors of the exhibition were Custom Photographic Labs, Inc.; Texas Commerce Bank; and the Austin History Center Association. Contributors were Austin Prints for Publication, Book of Days, Capitol Camera, and Miller Blueprint Company. Assisting in production and planning were Carolyn Baker, Jeanne Baker, Audray Bateman, Bill Clark, Sharmyn Lumsden, Robert Haslanger, and Danny Schweers.

From the guide to the “Austin Seen” Photograph Collection. AR. 2000. 016., 1939-1984., 1969-1984., (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, 810 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78701.)

The Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts (CMACA, Inc.) was founded in April of 1997. The Board of Directors for CMACA evolved from the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) Task Force members appointed by the Austin City Council. This was done on the advice of City staff, in order to create the legal entity that could plan, develop, and manage the future Mexican American Cultural Center to be located at 600 River Street in downtown Austin, Texas. These records, 1997 and 1998, document the development, planning, and management organization of the Mexican American Cultural Center. One fulltime staff person [Thomas Salas] was hired and given an office at 600 River Street on the 6.2 acres of land that the City designated, by ordinance, as the future site for the cultural center. Mr. Salas’s responsibility was to raise funds to cover the costs of operations and maintenance, once the center was built. Construction financing for the facilities was to be provided in large part through the City Bond Election package approved in 1998. The dollar amount approved by the citizens of Austin for the Mexican American cultural Center was 10.9 million dollars.

• 1981 - 1985 : Efforts by the community garner City of Austin support for a facility.
• 1986: A task force is appointed by the City Council. A preliminary analysis was created for a Mexican American Cultural Center at Fiesta Gardens which included plans for a theater/auditorium, a museum and community facilities.
• 1988: A study is commissioned by the City of Austin to address project feasibility and site selection. The report addressed market study and analysis, program operations, financial feasibility funding, and operations strategy. Several potential sites and evaluated them against criteria such as costs, neighborhood setting, proximity to Hispanic community and others. The report concluded with a proposal for a 70,000 square foot facility with a 22, 500 square foot plaza and an estimated construction cost of $9,579,500 located at 600 River Street.
• 1988: City Council adopted a resolution designating the River Street site for the Mexican American Cultural Center on the August 1992 bond election ballot.
• 1988: The City of Austin Bond Election ballot included a Mexican American Cultural Center facility for the River Street site, which was narrowly defeated, receiving 47 percent of the vote.
• 1988: The City Council directed the City Manager to explore the possibility of renovating the existing Public Works facility for use as the Mexican American Cultural Center, which resulted in the recommendation that selected buildings could be re-used.
• 1995: A consulting architect team developed a Phase I program and the concept of reusing as much of the existing structure as possible and to work with the Mexican American Cultural Center task force to identify a building program, a master facilities plan and a proposed budget. Only two of the six buildings can be adapted for use for proposed theatre, classroom and service building for $4.8 million.
• 1995: The study contained a proposed budget without sources for funding. The study stated that this phase only began to address the needs of the community. It included additional facility needs that have been identified previously, which included a museum/gallery and support functions, plaza space, and performing and visual art classroom space. The study stated that these needs would be addressed in later phased development.
• 1996: The project is at a standstill without funding sources. The Consortium intended to use these past studies and development of the Latino Arts Organizations to produce an expanded version of the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) that will fit the facility needs of the Latino Arts Consortium.
• 1997: Approximately $200,000 is available for relocation costs for departments currently utilizing the River Street site. Approximately $47,000 remains available from unused funds from the 1995 feasibility study conducted by the consulting architects. The MACC Task Force has successfully secured the necessary Charter from the State of Texas and is awaiting final word regarding the 501 3 status.
• 1997: December of 1997 the MACC Task Force in conjunction with La Peña and the Latino Arts Consortium of Austin hosted a historical first performance at the MACC site. (La Pastorela: A Shepard’s Story).
• 1998: February of 1998, the MACC Task Force moved into the former Parks and Recreation Forestry Offices at the River Street Site.
• 1998: In February of 1998 Parks & Recreation Board, votes to recommend the MACC as part of their Bond Package Proposal.
• 1998: Mayor Pro Tem, Gus Garcia, and Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez forward a memorandum to Mayor and Council and the Citizen’s Bond Committee requesting the MACC be formally included in their Bond Package recommendations.
• 1998: During the first weekend in April stakeholders at the Waller Creek Charity (?) identify the MACC as an anchor toward the success of the redevelopment of Waller Creek.
• 1998: In April of 1998 the Planning Commission votes to recommend the MACC as part of their Bond Package Proposal.
• 1998: On April 8, 1998 the Austin City Council is scheduled to consider adoption of a resolution requesting that the City Manager negotiate a long-term agreement regarding occupancy and use of the MACC site with the Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts, Inc. (CMACA) and to further negotiate a contract with CMACA to utilize the remaining funds previously appropriated for the development of the MACC.

From the guide to the Austin (Tex. ) Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts Project Records AR. 2002. 011., 1987-1988, 1996-1999, 2000, 2001., 1998, 2000., (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, 810 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78701.)