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Austin has a big week coming up, culminating in the 13th annual Austin Artworks Festival on Aug. 24 -25 in downtown Austin.

There are a number of events this week leading up to the two-day festival, including the 10-year anniversary of the Austin ArtWorks Center at its downtown location in what was known as the old Bank Building.

Some other events include a student art show, which starts Monday at the Austin Public Library, Poet’s Open Mic Night at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the SPAM Museum Plaza, the movie “Barbie” at 3 and 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Paramount Theatre and an author talk with Minnesota author William Kent Krueger at 4 p.m. in the St. Olaf Dining Hall.

And that’s just this week with so many things to see and do on Saturday and Sunday at the festival itself.

We highly encourage taking part in these events because in a lot of ways, art has come to define Austin, whether that is creating a more welcoming diversity or simply by opening up the world of art to those who maybe hadn’t walked through that landscape before.

Art has added color to Austin and brings visitors to our community through the festival, concerts and plays. It has created opportunity and that’s not something to be taken lightly or for granted.

So take some time, visit the center on Wednesday, take in a family-fun movie, talk with an author or take part in a festival. You’ll be glad you did.