The weeklong celebration of the arts in conjunction with the Austin ArtWorks Festival officially kicks off this weekend.

On Saturday, Aug.16, we are presenting the second annual 5K Color Dash at 9 a.m., in partnership with The Hormel Institute.

Registration is still available online at austinareaarts.org/Pre-Festival_Events.html.

With sadness we will be celebrating this year’s ArtWorks Festival without two key community members. Sound and production expert Joel Nelson passed away a couple of weeks ago. He was a dedicated supporter of the arts, always offering his sound and production services to the nonprofit arts organizations in our area.

Additionally, he was integral in the early stages of the Austin Area Commission for the Arts. A long time board member, he helped renovate the Historic Paramount Theatre and helped the AACA grow into the organization it is today.

Last Friday, on Aug. 2, painter Bonnie Lee passed away. Bonnie was extremely passionate about keeping the visual arts alive in Austin.

She was active in the Austin Area Art Center, which was located in the Oak Park Mall.

Additionally, she was an AACA Board Member, and helped facilitate the merging of the Austin Area Art Center into the AACA.

She was also assisting in moving to the new Austin ArtWorks Center.

Her artwork will be on display at this year’s Austin ArtWorks Festival. We appreciate everything Joel and Bonnie have done for the arts in Austin. They will both be greatly missed.