http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:534926
"In the Nineties, Austin's cultural scene could afford to dream big. The city was riding high on high tech, and so much money was flowing that even arts groups were seeing the green.
"More than a dozen of them took advantage of the opportunity to imagine new buildings for themselves: expansive, expensive buildings that would catapult them to new levels, creatively and organizationally. Between 1994 and 2002, plans were hatched for nine new or newly renovated museums, two new performing arts organization headquarters, one new theatre and one renovated theatre, a new cultural center, and a new three-venue performing arts center – almost all of them within a few square miles in the heart of the city. By the end of 2003, they would transform Central Austin into a cultural wonderland.
"Of course, by the time 2003 rolled around, the dot-com economy had jumped the rails, leaving those big dreams of a cultural makeover stalled in their tracks. (...)
"But a lot can change in 3½ years. The local economy has rebounded with a vengeance, and a flock of construction cranes is perching on our skyline once more. Austin's building again, in a big way, and with it the cultural makeover is back on track. One museum was finished in 2004. Another opened one building in 2006 and will open a companion facility next summer. Two facilities that were in limbo at the time of the previous story celebrate their grand openings this month, while a third will open next March.(...).
"The following update reiterates the long struggle that local arts groups have endured in their efforts to build, literally, a new future for themselves. But it also documents the perseverance of these organizations and the individuals working in them. What Austin's cultural community may lack in its ability to generate financial support for realizing its big dreams it makes up for in patience and persistence. By the look of things, the cultural makeover of Austin envisioned 10-15 years ago may be complete by 2013. That's 10 years after we thought, but, hey, better late than never."
