ArtWorks Week in Austin has finally arrived! The flags are hung downtown, storefronts are painted, and We Are Austin posters are on display. This week is jam-packed with activity.

Here is a quick breakdown of the schedule:

Tuesday: Historic Walking Tour of Austin at 11 a.m. starting at the Hormel Historic Home, and 2 and 6 p.m. starting at St. Augustine’s Church.

Wednesday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. — Grant Blackwood Seminar: The Secrets of Writing Best-Selling Thrillers presented by the Friends of the Library, and will be hosted by the Austin Public Library. Blackwood will share secrets based on these elements as well as various techniques he’s developed over his 27-year career. This will be an expanded and in-depth exploration of concepts from Grant’s popular “Seven Elements of Big Thrillers” class, which he teaches each year at ThrillerFest (the annual International Thriller Writers conference). The cost for the Austin seminar is just $25 per person and includes snacks and lunch. Visit the Austin Public Library or their website to register.

Thursday, 6-8 p.m. — Grand Opening of the Austin ArtWorks Center. Ribbon cutting will begin promptly at 6 p.m. followed by opportunities to tour the space and listen to music by the quartet La Bella Vita.

Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Open hours at the new Austin ArtWorks Center. We will be featuring artwork by Zane York, Joseph Sand, and Angela Pipkorn.

Friday, starting at 8:30 p.m. — Spare Arts Alley Party 2014 featuring Frankie Lee and BB Gun behind Dusty’s Bar. No charge but we are taking donations for the Holton Art Program. Only 21 and older can attend.

Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. — Austin ArtWorks Festival at the Historic Downtown Power Plant. This event is free. Lots of visual arts, music, demonstrations, children’s activities, and so much more!

Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Spare Arts Bike Show along Main Street in downtown Austin featuring custom built motorcycles, activities, and a DJ spinning vinyls.

Please stop down and join us for all the fun. We are excited with all the fantastic support we have received from our community in making this happen. However, we are still $120,000 short of our fundraising goal, and the Center will not survive without it. Donate online at www.austinareaarts.org or mail your check to 300 N. Main St.