Austin Creative Alliance today announces participating candidates and CultureMap Austin editor Kevin Benz as the moderator for the “Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum for the Creative Sector.” The event—which CultureMap will video and stream live via their website—is designed to give voters an accurate understanding of the position of each candidate on issues concerning the sector. Addressing issues such as affordable housing, funding sources, public policy, job creation and economic development, and the creation of durable community institutions—the questions will be culled from the co-presenting organizations’ leadership as well as input from their constituents at the event and on Austin Creative Alliance and CultureMap Austin's Facebook pages.

Mayoral Candidates

Mayor Lee Leffingwell - Incumbent

Brigid Shea

Clay Dafoe

Place 2 Candidates

Mike Martinez - Incumbent

Laura Pressley

Place 5 Candidates

Bill Spelman - Incumbent

John Duffy

Audrey “Tina” Cannon

David Conley

Dominic M. Chavez

Place 6 Candidates

Sheryl Cole - Incumbent

Shaun Ireland

The creative sector in Austin is a $2.2 billion industry that contributes over $48 million annually to the City tax base and over 44,000 jobs. 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.

As community based nonprofit organizations representing an extensive and diverse constituency, Austin Creative Alliance, Austin Music People, and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts of Central Texas (TALA believe it is their responsibility to raise awareness of and facilitate discussion concerning issues deemed important by community residents and creative industry. Community members can submit questions in advance at www.facebook.com/events/164979496958188/ 

The “Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum for the Creative Sector” is open and free to all, but an RSVP is requested.

• 5:30-6:00pm Happy Hour: Mix, Mingle, and share a beverage with your community and fellow candidates
• 6:00-6:30pm Mayoral Candidate Forum
• 6:30-7:30pm City Council Candidate Forum - Please note that 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.

About Austin Music People

The AMP Project is founded on the fundamental belief that in the Live Music Capital of the World, music and the creative class are a crucial part of what binds us, supports us, drives us, and makes Austin special. Our Austin music culture is unique and world renowned, and it represents both our future and our past. The AMP Mission is to protect and grow our music culture and our reputation as the live music capital of the world. www.austinmusicpeople.org

About Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA) 

TALA was formed in 1979 to help meet the legal and accounting needs of artists and arts nonprofits across the State of Texas. TALA volunteers throughout the state handle more than 350 matters per year. This amounts to more than six hundred thousand dollars annually in donated services to the arts and cultural community. TALA’s pro bono legal and accounting services are offered to artists from all creative disciplines, including visual artists, musicians, actors, dancers, filmmakers and writers. Over 600 attorneys and accountants volunteer their time each year, assisting in legal and accounting matters that might otherwise remain unresolved and unrepresented. www.talarts.org

About Austin Creative Alliance

The mission of the Austin Creative Alliance is to advance, connect, and advocate for Austin’s arts, cultural, and creative communities in order to nourish and strengthen the character, quality of life, and economic prosperity of our region. Austin Creative Alliance (ACA) was established via the transformation of an existing arts service organization, Austin Circle of Theaters (ACOT), which had been operating since 1974. ACA is poised for growth and innovation, inspired by the community-led CreateAustin Plan which forged a pathway for invigorating Austin’s “culture of creativity” and recommended establishing ACA as a top priority. ACA has successfully expanded its core services, launched important programs and initiatives to better assist individuals and organizations in the creative sector, serving both for- and non-profit entities. ACA is committed to providing the critical support, advocacy, and tools to excel. Find out how you might benefit at www.nowplayingaustin.org and www.austincreativeallliance.org