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Mayoral And Council Candidate Forum For Creative Sector

Updated: Friday, April 20 2012, 08:24 AM CDT
The Austin Creative Alliance will join forces with Austin Film Society, Austin Music People and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts to host a Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum for Creative Sector on Monday April 30.  The happy hour event starts at 6 p.m. at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center.
    
The conversation with candidates on public priorities is designed to give voters an accurate understanding of the position of each candidate on issues such as affordable housing, funding sources, public policy, job creation and economic development, and the creation of durable community institutions.  Questions posed to the candidates will be culled from the co-presenting organizations’ leadership, as well as input from their constituents.
    
 “The creative sector in Austin is a $4.35 billion industry that contributes over $48 million annually to the City tax base and over 44,000 jobs," said Marcy Hoen, Executive Director of Austin Creative Alliance.  "We invite the mayoral and council candidates to the table to address critical issues for this city that our boards, member organizations and artists, and partner groups agree are pivotal factors this coming election.”
   
“This sort of exchange is essential - both for the cultivation of those individuals who work in the creative sector and for the development of the sector itself," added Rebecca Campbell, Executive Director of Austin Film Society.  "We all must make it a priority to make our voice heard clearly.”
    
As community-based, non-profit organizations representing an extensive and diverse constituency, Austin Creative Alliance, Austin Music People, Austin Film Society and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts of Central Texas believe it is their responsibility to raise awareness of and facilitate discussion concerning issues deemed important by community residents and creative industry. 
    
The event is free and open to the public open and free to all, and community members can submit questions in advance at www.facebook.com/events/164979496958188/. 

The event schedule includes:
-5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Happy Hour "Mix and Mingle" to and share a beverage with community and fellow candidates.
- 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Mayoral Candidate Forum.
- 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - City Council Candidate Forum; questions will be posed at large so that candidates who need to leave early for another engagement or those who arrive late will all have an opportunity to participate fully in the forum.
- 7:30 p.m. - Decamp to discuss at a location TBA.
    
The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is located at 600 River Street.  To RSVP, visit http://votecreateatx.eventbrite.com.

(Image courtesy City of Austin)
Mayoral And Council Candidate Forum For Creative Sector