The History, Arts & Nature Division (H.A.N.D.) generated $24.9 million for the local economy through its museums, arts centers, schools, public spaces, gardens and theaters. In 2010, it employed 19,250 local artists and provided 1,841 classes. Over 687,000 people attended H.A.N.D. programs, events, classes, tours and camps. H.A.N.D. is comprised of 11 leading cultural institutions that provide historical, cultural and aesthetic education through a wide array of programs.

1. THE HISTORY, ARTS, &
NATURE DIVISION
$24,930,340 was generated for our local economy by H.A.N.D. museums, art
and nature centers, schools, public squares, gardens and outdoor theatres!
19,250 Austin artists found in employment in the H.A.N.D. sites in 2010!
1,841 classes were provided in H.A.N.D schools, art and nature centers in 2010.
687,307 Austin artists, students, youth, adults and Central Texas visitors attended
and participated in H.A.N.D. programs, events, classes, tours, and camps in 2010!

2. HISTORY, ARTS, & NATURE
DIVISION • THE ELIZABET NEY MUSEUM
• THE O’HENRY MUSEUM
• THE SUSANNA DICKINSON MUSEUM
The H.A.N.D. division is comprised of eleven (11)
leading Austin museums, theatres, art schools, galleries, • THE DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER
nature and education centers. • THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
Collectively, they provide a wide array of historical, cultural and aesthetic MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER
education and experience, which significantly:
• THE EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN
• Impacts the development of Austin youth, AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER
• Sustains and maintains Austin seniors and families,
• Honors Austin’s cultural diversity. • THE PEOPLE’S RENAISSANCE MARKET
• Inspires the vitality of every Austin neighborhood, and
• Raises the quality of life for every Austin citizen. • THE AUSTIN SCIENCE AND NATURE
CENTER
• THE ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATRE
• THE ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDENS
• SPLASH! SHEFFIELD EDUCATION
CENTER

3. THE FIRST MUSEUM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN 1941!
ELISABET NEY MUSEUM
East 44th St., Austin, TX 78704
One of the country’s most significant historic artists’ homes
and studios of the cultural icon Elisabet Ney. The museum
and its restored prairie is maintained for historic, artistic and
educational purposes. Houses 503 piece collection of Ney
portraits and personal artifacts.

4. •2000 Selected by The National Trust for Historic Preservation for its Historic Artists’ Homes & Studios program.
•2003 Restoration Plan initiated by the City of Austin.
•2008 Partnered with Germany’s STADTMUSEUM MUNSTER MUESUM for an international exhibition on
Elisabet Ney.
•2011 Celebrated 100 years of service to the Austin and world community!
A new and innovative summer
camp!
• History, Arts and
Environmental Science
Inspired by 19th Century history &
a study of the natural environment
that Elizabet Ney so loved,
the museum staff and the
Austin Nature Center collaborated
to create hands-on art projects
of Elisabet Ney’s life and time.
New development: this fall the museum will get a new roof!
ELISABET NEY MUSEUM

5. The DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER
1110 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
THE DAC THEATRE
•Coordinates over 30 Austin theatre, music & dance
productions a year for a total of 190-200
performances and over 20, 000 Austin audience
members attend these productions.
JULIA BUTRIDGE GALLERY
• Coordinates an average of 350 Austin adult & youth
exhibits each year.
•In addition to being booked two (2) years in advance, the
exhibits generate an average of 22,000 Austin and
Central Texas visitors a year!
THE DAC SCHOOL
•Registered over 13,477 students in low-cost arts
education in 2010 and employed over 60 full-
time
and 65 part-time Austin arts educators!
•10,691 Austin artists were provided free or low cost
access to performance and rehearsal space.

6. • The National Recreation and Parks Association recognizes
Austin’s Parks & Recreation Dougherty Arts Center Summer Camp
for “Best Video of a Flash Mob performed by a Recreation
Department, on U-Tube!
The DAC school provides summer
camps for Preschoolers,
“Best Video of a Flash Mob” Kids, Tweens, & Teens
•
New development: in 2011, the DAC school brings “Creativity Club” to afterschool program on site!

7. The GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM &
CULTURAL CENTER
1165 Angelina St., Austin, TX 78702
Dedicated to documenting and celebrating African and African-American culture, history and
heritage through music, dance, the visual arts and theatre for all ages, over 600 events are
hosted in the CARVER theatre, gallery and drum for 15,554 Austin adults and youth.

8. THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER
•In 2009, the Museum staff planned, designed and curated a
record of 15 exhibits in one year!
Newest developments: In 2011-12 a new permanent exhibit of Anderson High School
and completing the new renovation to the Carver’s new Genealogy Center!

9. THE O’HENRY MUSEUM
409 East 5th St., Austin, TX 78701
In 1934, Sidney Porter’s home was deeded to the City of Austin, making
the O’HENRY the first museum the City acquired.
The first Texas National Literary Landmark!
•Built in1891 in downtown Austin, William Sidney Porter’s Queen Anne Cottage. The home of legendary
writer, O’HENRY and one of Austin’s legendary events: THE CHAMPIONSHIP PUN-OFF.

10. A Short Story The O’HENRY MUSEUM hosts a permanent exhibit and conducts educational tours
Master Class and creative writing workshops for Austin and Central Texas adults and youth.
An annual two- •O’HENRY lived and wrote in this house from 1893-1895 and published his
part workshop ROLLING STONE NEWSPAPER.
where Austin
writers of all • Award-winning authors such as Amanda Eyre Ward, Mary Helen
levels come with Specht, and S. Kirk Walsh mentor short-story master class participants.
an idea and leave
•Featured on KLRU’s Emmy Award-Winning “Downtown” series!
with a story. The
story deemed the
best by an
appointed judge,
is published
through various
channels offered
by the O. Henry
Museum and
Texas Book
Festival.
IN 1999
THE O’HENRY
NAMED A
NATIONAL
LANDMARK Newest development: partnering with Texas Book Festival!

11. The Only Exhibit Devoted to the Story of All The Survivors of the ALAMO!
•
“Messenger of the Alamo”
THE SUSANNA DICKINSON MUSEUM
411 East Fifth Street, Austin, TX 78701
Friends of the
O.Henry & Susanna
Dickinson Museums
assisted with the
completion of the
Susanna Dickinson
Museum.
OPENED MARCH 3RD, 2010
•March 8, 2007, $500,000 bond funding is awarded by the citizens of Austin to restore the museum.

12. The SUSANNA DICKINSON MUSEUM
Celebrate Texas Independence Day by seeing the historic quilts !
The Joseph and Susanna Dickinson Hannig Museum present an exhibit of 19th
century quilts and the women who made them. The exhibit will feature ten quilts at
a time, and explore their origins through the context of immigration into Texas.
March 2 -
September
23, 2012
Guest Curator Marcia Kaylakie, International
Society of Appraisers, Certified Quilt
Appraiser, American Quilter’s Society,
member Professional Association of
Appraisers - Quilted Textiles, and author of
Texas Quilts and Quilters: A Lone Star
Legacy.

13. 23RD STREET RENAISSANCE MARKET
23rd Street and Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78705
Founded in 1970, adopted by ordinance in 1980, the open-aired market is home
to a collection of murals that tell a unique story of Austin, enhances a common
area and brings visitors from all over the world!
THE OLDEST ARTISAN CRAFT MARKET IN CENTRAL TEXAS!
Nestled in the heart of the University of
Texas community, the market features a
wide variety of handcrafted items for sale by
local artisans, including jewelry, original
art, apparel, candles, leather goods and
whimsical items.

14. The market has been a mecca for local artisans since the early 1970s.
23RD STREET Many well known central Texas artists began their careers at the
market, and it continues to provide a foundation for beginning artists.
RENAISSANCE
In 2009, after extensive
MARKET
renovations the market
celebrated a GRAND
Local artists who create their own work! OPENING &
HOLIDAY HAPPENING!
Listed in the
New York
Times as a
"Place to Visit
in Austin" and Newest development: proposed lower fees for student artists and veterans!
on CITY
SEARCH as the
"Best Offbeat
Find of 2001!"

15. The oldest open-air musical theater in the United States! In operation for over 50 years!
ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATER
2206 William Barton Drive, Austin, TX
Each year over 100,000 Austin and Central Texas
audience members attend the FREE performances!

16. •Beginning in 2008, the Zilker Hillside Theater received a major donations of capital funds and
volunteer labor to install running water, a new loading dock, new HVAC systems, renovated
dressing rooms, a new stage, new electrical system and a new lighting booth! Donations were
shepherded by Zilker Theater Productions, PARD’s partner for over 50 years in producing the
summer musical.
ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATER
Each year an average of 5,450 local artists are provided space at ZHT with many
talented high school and college performers work alongside seasoned professionals!
Newest development: expanding the backstage and loading dock space!

17. The EMMA S. BARRIENTOS
MEXICAN AMERICAN
CULTURAL CENTER
600 River Street, Austin, TX 78701
•In 1999, after 30 years of community activism, a $5 million dollar bond was dedicated to creating the Mexican American
Cultural Center.
• In 2010 the City of Austin Council
renamed the center, In 2007, over 5000
after the sudden death of community Austin and Central
Texas Visitors
arts advocate Emma S. Barrientos. attended the Grand
Opening that
included 56 theatre,
dance, music,
performances on 16
stages!

18. In 2010, the new educational wing was
Since its The EMMA S. BARRIENTOS completed providing a black box theater and four
opening MEXICAN AMERICAN new classrooms to serve an additional 20,000
CULTURAL CENTER patrons per year with low-cost classes and
the
events.
MACC
Theater,
Gallery
and Arts
education
programs INAUGURATED as the
serves an Official Diez y Seis de
average of Septiembre!
50,000
Austin
citizens Newest development: H.A.N.D is developing a Latino Arts Incubator Program
each year!
SXSW: Bellas Artes/Crossroads
Black Box Theater – Pastorela, Teatro
Vivo, Teatro Proyecto, movies, classes,
Citizens of Austin vote The Emma Barrientos
panel presentations.
Mexican American Center
Bi-lingual Theatre & programming
as the “Best Zocalo” in the Best of Austin Chronicle award, 2010.

19. SPLASH! SHEFFIELD EDUCATION
CENTER
2201 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AUSTIN, TX 78704
An interactive and live exhibit for children and adults that teaches them about the Edward’s Aquifer and how Central Texas
replenishes its important water resources. Additionally it educates the public about the endangered and unique salamander.
The Grand opening of a new historical exhibit in the architecturally unique rotunda pertaining to
12,000 years of human history at Barton Springs
Located in the historic Barton Springs Bath house built in 1947.

20. AUSTIN NATURE AND SCIENCE
CENTER
301 Nature Center Drive, Austin, TX 78704
The Austin Nature and Science Center was recognized for 50 years of
connecting families to nature with an award from Children in Nature for
“enduring dedication for getting kids outdoors” in October 2010. The
Nature Center served almost 42,000 children in 2011-2012 .

21. Austin Science and Nature Center
Each year the ANSC serves on an average of
42,000 Austin citizens!
The ANSC provides hands-on educational
exhibits and recreational activities that increase
awareness and appreciation of the natural
environment. CELEBRATE EARTH DAY,
APRIL 21ST, FREE MUSIC AND KID’S
ACTIVITIES!
.
•Wildlife Exhibits
•Dino Pit
•Naturalist Workshop
and Trade Counter

22. ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704
Zilker Botanical Garden's mission to promote the education and love of gardening
among people of all ages. Since 1955, it has partnered with Austin Garden Clubs
to create projects that support the beautification of the gardens visited yearly by
half a million people from around the world. Its education programs reach
thousands of school children and adults every year.
Newest development: new roof and HVAC system.
Featured Gardens
• Taniguchi Japanese garden
•Green Garden demonstration garden
•Rose garden
•Cactus garden
•Seasonal bedding displays
•Floral display garden
•Butterfly trail and garden
•Herb garden
•Escarpment trail
•Hartman Prehistoric Garden
The gardens are on parkland that is magnificently endowed by nature with handsome trees, natural grottoes
and aquatic features that have been integrated into a design of spectacular beauty and tranquility.

23. H.A.N.D. NEWEST DEVELOPMENTS:
An interdepartmental collaboration between H.AN.D, and the City of Austin’s Music
Department, Austin Energy, and Communications and Technology Management to
promote the Social and Environmental, Cultural, Health, Education and Economic
Benefits of Leisure and Recreation campaign. Twenty-one concerts featuring Austin
bands are coordinated throughout Austin neighborhood parks, district parks, recreation,
cultural and nature centers from December 2011 through September 2012.
H.A.N.D. recognized for producing the PARKS AND
RECREATION STAGE at the annual 2011 ANY New
Year’s Eve celebration on December 31st, which drew a
record number of 25,000 Austin citizens to auditorium
shores. The success of PARD’S stage and the extent of
the Division’s collaboration with the City of Austin’s
Economic Growth and Redevelopment Department
(EGRSO)

24. The HISTORY, ARTS & NATURE DIVISION celebrates and promotes Austin’s
diverse history and culture, through community events, exhibits, classes, programs
as well as by providing low-cost or free access to performance, rehearsal and
meeting space for the purpose of enriching the quality of life for every citizen in
Austin.
THE HISTORY,
ARTS, & NATURE
DIVISION