Arts + Culture Plan

In 2022, The Trail Conservancy (TTC) partnered with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) and the City of Austin Art in Public Places (AIPP) program to create an Arts + Culture Plan for the Butler Trail that would contribute to the space and elevate the user experience, while not overwhelming, distracting, or complicating the environment.

Community Engagement Timeline

2019

Nov 20

Artists and Creative Outreach Event

2021

Jul 26

Community Brain Trust Meeting

Jul 28

Community Brain Trust Meeting

Oct 25

Community Brain Trust Meeting

Nov 13

Pop-Up at Brave Fest Community Event

Nov 22

Launched the "Share your Butler Trail & Lady Bird Lake Stories" campaign

Dec 4

Pop-Up at Holly Trail Groundbreaking Community Event

2022

Jan-Feb

Call for Artists, Designers, and Creatives

Feb 3 - Jun 1

Online Survey

Storymap and Survey

Spring/Summer

Trail & Community Intercept Surveys

Mar 6

Community Workshop

Watch the video

May 14

Arts+Culture Community Celebration - Common Waters Installation

See the Project

Oct 5

MACC Advisory Board Briefing

Oct 8

Arts+Culture Community Input Pop-Up at Fortlandia Opening

See documents

Oct 11

Virtual Community Input Meeting

Oct 12 - Nov 15

Online Survey

Oct 19

East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood C.T. Meeting Presentation (ECCNA)

Online Survey

2023

May 20

Arts + Culture Plan Open House

Arts + culture team and committee

The Trail Conservancy organized a talented team of art professionals, community engagement specialists, innovators, and a Brain Trust team of stakeholders from the Austin community to lead this exciting project. This is more than a visionary plan for art exhibits on the Trail. It’s a plan for the Trail and its users, a vital and complex place, and a community that supports arts and culture activities.

Arts + Culture Plan Team Leads

Todd W. Bressi is one of the nation’s leading public art planners. He has worked throughout the U.S. and Texas on numerous public art plans, including plans for art on multi-use trails. He provides strategic, program, and project guidance to several urban arts organizations through ongoing consulting. Todd managed the project and led in developing public art strategies, policies, and procedures.

Stacy Levy is one of the nation’s leading environmental artists, with a practice that explores how natural processes and urban places are intertwined. She led discussions about the relationship between public art, ecology, and urban spaces, as well as in public engagement and formulating public art opportunities.

Ellen Ryan is a national leader in developing arts and cultural initiatives within organizations with parks, recreation, preservation, and environmental missions. She brings experience in initiating arts programming at Brooklyn Bridge Park and Fairmount Park Conservancy, foundation experience, and deep involvement in national networks with these topics. She collaborated on developing arts and culture strategies, policies, and guidelines.

Public City - Meredith Powell, Miriam Conner - is an Austin-based firm with a unique focus on art-based community engagement and experience supporting community-led plans for trails in Austin. Public City played a lead role in developing community engagement strategies and was our team’s on-the-ground liaison for planning and managing that aspect of the project.

Arts + Culture Plan Committee

Heidi Anderson (TTC)
Todd W. Bressi
Christine Chute Canul (PARD)
Jamie Castillo
Hanna Cofer (TTC)

Miriam Conner
Maya Curtis
Taylor Davis
Marjorie Flanagan (AIPP)

Reynaldo Hernandez (PARD)
Susan Lambe (AIPP)
Stacy Levy
Sharon Maidenberg

Meredith Powell
Ellen Ryan
Charlotte Tonsor (TTC)
Jessica Wilson (WPD)
Mary G. Yancy

How can Arts + Cultural Strategies help?

Broadly serve Trail users and the surrounding communities.
Enhance the experience of users along the Trail.
Support the experience of the natural environment and resources.
Represent the character and diversity of Austin.
Align with other organizational and municipal plans and strategies that affect the Trail.
Increase diversity of Trail users through relevant art and cultural attractions — expanding on who is using the Trail and who feels welcome.
Assist The Trail Conservancy in meeting its broad goals as an organization.

ARTS + CULTURE PROGRAM faq

How will cultural, historic, recreational, and ecological values be balanced into the Arts + Culture initiative?

The Trail Conservancy convened a Community Brain Trust to advise the Art + Culture Plan. This group, created just for the planning process, worked alongside standing TTC committees that guide arts and culture activities, ecological planning, and project planning. Reflecting various interests of Austinites, the Brain Trust was a committed mix of neighbors, Trail users, equity advocates, cultural anchors, and business and community leaders from districts along the Trail and beyond. The purpose of the Brain Trust was to help shape the engagement strategy in a way that resonates with the Trail’s communities, and to educate the team on the cultural, social, and environmental context of the Trail from a diversity of perspectives.

What events will be hosted to educate and inform Trail users about the Arts + Culture exhibits?

The Trail Conservancy, in partnership with the Austin Parks and Recreation, will announce community engagement events where new information and updates will be presented to the community.

What type of funding is needed? How can I support this project?

Arts + Culture is a new focus for the Trail Conservancy. If you are interested in learning more about getting involved and investing in our Arts + Culture program, contact development@thetrailconservancy.org.

How can I be a part of the Arts + Culture Program?

The Trail Conservancy, in partnership with Austin Parks and Recreation, is always looking for community involvement in projects on the Trail. If you’re interested in being a part of this Program, please contact Mandi Thomas at mandi@thetrailconservancy.org.

arts + culture plan

SPONSORS & DONORS

advocates ($25,000)

The Bill Wood Foundation

Susan Vaughan Foundation

Mary and Howard Yancy

stewards ($10,000)

Art in Public Places

Still Water Foundation

Urban Land Institute

donors

Anne Elizabeth Wynn

Susan Zane

Arts + Culture Plan