Museums and Cultural Programs Collaborations

Museums & Cultural Programs Collaboration Program

The City of Austin Museums & Cultural Programs (MCP) initiates its programs in response to a community need. Non-profits, community groups and individuals may suggest a collaborative program that is relevant to MCP and Austin Parks & Recreations Department (PARD) mission, values, and audience. Collaborations are city-sponsored programs hosted by the MCP site and presented in tandem with the collaborator. All collaborations are to be offered to the public free of charge and collaborators “volunteer” their service at no cost to the department.

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Participating Sites

• Asian American Resource Center
• Dougherty Arts Center
• George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center
• Mexican American Cultural Center
• Zilker Hillside Theatre
• Elisabet Ney Museum
• O. Henry Museum
• Old Bakery and Artisan Emporium
• Susana Dickinson Museum  

Images: AARC- Archiving Your Family History | Carver- The Art of Manifestation | ESB MACC- Manuel Donley Tribute

How to Apply

Collaboration Application

To apply, please read the Collaboration Guidelines before completing the application, linked above. Individuals or organizations may submit the collaboration application to their preferred MCP site for consideration. Once your application is received, staff will review the form and will be in contact as soon as possible. Applications should be submitted at least 3 months in advance of the proposed program. The division utilizes a holistic review process to determine goodness of fit. This process may take up to 6-weeks. Please refer to the complete guidelines for more information. The City of Austin MCP division considers all applications, but only accepts a limited number of collaborations each year.

MCP Contact Information

Please email your collaboration request to one of the contacts below:

Collaboration Guidelines

Find the complete Collaboration Guidelines below as a PDF, or read exerpts below.

Collaboration Guidelines 

Application and Evaluation Process

• Submission of Collaboration Request: Interested parties must initiate the collaboration process by submitting a Collaboration Application to the selected site. This form serves as the initial step to propose a one-time or limited public program or service.
   
• Evaluation by Collaboration Review Team: Collaboration requests will be evaluated by our dedicated programming staff approximately every 3 weeks. This team comprises experienced Museum and Cultural Programming staff members with expertise in programming and community engagement.
   
• Approval/Denial Notification: Once the evaluation is complete, if the request has been approved, a designated staff member will contact the individual who submitted the Collaboration Application.
   
• Program Coordination Assignment: Upon approval, an MCP staff member will be assigned to coordinate the planning and execution of the approved program or service. This staff member will act as the main point of contact and collaborate closely with the proposing individual or organization.
   
• Six-Month Planning Horizon: Our site operates on a proactive planning approach, scheduling programs and services six months in advance. Approved collaborations will be slotted into a Museums & Cultural Program site's programming calendar in alignment with this planning horizon.
   
• Collaborative Program/Service Implementation: As the program or service date approaches, the assigned MCP staff member will work closely with the proposer to ensure seamless execution. This collaborative effort aims to deliver a high-quality experience to our community members and ensure compliance to city, department, and division parameters. Changes in the scope of proposed program, non-compliance to said parameters, or available resources may result in the delay or cancellation of the program. Program staff will work with applicant to refer them to other programmatic opportunities such as rentals.  
   
• Evaluation and Feedback: Following the conclusion of the program or service, an evaluation will be conducted. This evaluation process involves MCP staff and collaborating partners. Community feedback will be collected to assess the impact, effectiveness, and alignment with our goals.

Criteria for Consideration

• Mission Alignment
  - Does the request resonate with the mission and vision or the target site?
  - Will it cater to the site’s key audience and be accessible to our patrons?
   
• Community Impact
  - Does the request address a known unmet need or demonstrate a new need?
  - Is the impact broad or focused on a specific group?
   
• Capacity and Reciprocity
  - Can we accommodate the request within our current staffing and event space?
  - Does the collaboration offer mutual benefits to both parties?
  - Capacity considerations include: 
     Staffing, Parking, Space, Furniture, Equipment, Hours, Technology, Budget, Custodial
     Security, Accessibility, Marketing and Outreach
   
• Timeliness and Controversy
  - Does it address a contemporary or emerging issue?
  - If this request might be controversial, are there other factors to be taken into consideration such as security needs, communications plans, and executive approval? 
   
• Interest
  - Will the request attract an audience based on its appeal?
  - Have similar requests been successful in the past?
   
• Quality
  - Is there evidence that the presenter has expertise in their field and has experience delivering engaging and informative programs or library services?
  - Have they worked with a Museums & Cultural Program site previously or at other libraries in the area?

General Exclusions

In general, the following collaboraton requests will not be accepted:

• Marketing or graphic design: Services for marketing or graphic design services, which aim to create promotional materials, advertisements, branding campaigns, or similar initiatives, are not generally accepted.
   
• Commercial Promotion: Collaboration Requests that primarily aim to promote or advertise commercial products, services, or businesses.
   
• Personal Gain: Proposals seeking personal financial gain or personal profit for individuals involved.
   
• Partisan Political Activities: Programs or events that are directly affiliated with partisan political campaigns, candidates, or advocacy groups.
   
• Illegal or Unethical Activities: Proposals that involve or promote illegal activities, unethical behavior, or actions that go against a Museums & Cultural Program site’s ethical standard.
   
• Explicitly Religious Activities: Programs that are focused solely on religious worship, proselytization, or instruction in religious doctrine.
   
• Hate Speech or Discrimination: Proposals that involve hate speech, discriminatory content, or activities that promote intolerance or harm to any group or individual.
   
• Health Claims: Collaboration Requests that make unsubstantiated health claims, promise medical treatments, or present pseudoscientific information.
   
• Costs: Programs that entail costs or financial burdens for attendees, such as mandatory materials. Collaborations are free and open to the public.
   
• Conflict of Interest: Collaboration Requests that involve conflicts of interest or affiliations that might compromise a Museums & Cultural Program site's integrity or neutrality.
   
• Inaccurate Information: Programs that disseminate false or misleading information that could negatively impact the community.
   
• Infringement on Intellectual Property: Collaboration Requests that violate copyright or intellectual property rights without proper authorization.
   
• Explicit Content: Programs containing explicit, offensive, or adult-oriented content that is not appropriate for a general audience.
   
• Solicitation: Proposals that involve direct solicitations for funds, donations, or personal information from attendees.
   
• Unsafe Activities: Programs that involve dangerous or potentially harmful activities that could pose a risk to participants or attendees.

Other Resources

If your program doesn't fit into the collaboration program, please consider other avenues such as renting space at a city facility. There are related resources below:

• ACE Special Events Website
• ACE Special Events Planning Guide
• PARD Special Events Resource Page
• Sample Event Checklist
• EHSD Temporary Food Event Application
• Contractor Handbook 
• Parks Special Events, Picnic/Facility Reservations, and Filming