AUSTIN, Texas —
The Red River Cultural District (RRCD) has asked a City of Austin commission for funding.
The organization says the funding is crucial for them to be able to continue their work, and it would go towards helping pay for new campaigns to spread the word about what the venues in the area have to offer and to give them additional support.
The RRCD's request came right after a busy Free Week brought a lot of people to the area.
Nicole Klepadlo, the interim director of the RRCD, requested funding from the Austin Music Commission, noting that other cultural districts in the city get funding. She said Free Week was a prime example of what the area has to offer and why the RRCD deserves funding as well.
"I know the City is working diligently on more of a larger policy framework for districts. And so, we're saying, you know, while you work that out and try to determine how the city can best support districts, we'd love just to receive some gap funding while you figure that out," Klepadlo said.
She said the RRCD would use the funding for new marketing and promotions campaigns to help their venues with improvements and rental assistance and to get a much-needed economic study to show the impact the district has on Austin.
"We're just seeing continued pressures on our live music community. And with the live music industry being so foundational to the Austin brand, to our tourism strategy, is to being an economic and cultural generator. And receiving this funding would allow us to continue this really great work,” Klepadlo said.
The economic impact report would also help the district be able to apply for future grants and funding opportunities.
The RRCD did not ask the Austin Music Commission for a specific amount – it only asked for consistency with what other organizations have received, which would be around $120,000 to $300,000.
Klepadlo said the RRCD has also requested a meeting with the City's Tourism Commission and the Downtown Commission and has begun to seek meetings with city councilmembers. Klepadlo said a city councilmember would need to bring a resolution to the full council and various other councilmembers would need to support that resolution before the RRCD could receive any money.
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