With summer fast approaching and projects in the works, the Austin Area Commission for the Arts has several exciting announcements.

The first half of the 2014 Paramount Movie Series brought to you by Knutson Construction wraps up this week at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday with “The Godfather: Part II.” This was the last film to be shown at the Paramount Theatre before the doors were closed in 1974.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the movie features several well known actors including Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and Robert De Niro. This film is actually both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, and was the first movie sequel to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Tickets for this legendary American crime epic are only $5.

The Austin Area Commission for the Arts is proud to announce that we received the 2014 Picture-It-Painted award. This award provides us with 87 gallons of paint for the new ArtWorks Center. Picture-It-Painted is a partnership with the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and Valspar Corporation in support of community beautification and restoration projects throughout southern Minnesota. A special thank you goes out to Andrew and Mike Hull, who have helped us coordinate the paint pick up and will volunteer their time to paint the entire Center with the help of some volunteers.

Helping paint is one of the many ways you too can help make the ArtWorks Center a reality. Please visit austinareaarts.org or call us at 507-434-0934 to find out ways you can help support this vital community project. Together we can make the art work.

We have determined the bands who will be playing at Marcusen Park during the ArtWorks Festival at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Due to the tremendous audience response, we have decided to bring Cloud Cult back to town. This year they will be sharing the bill with Twin Cities-based bluegrass band Pert Near Sandstone. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and will go on sale at noon on Tuesday, June 17.

Stay tuned for more information about both musical groups and all the other 2014 Festival participants.