Are you a member of the arts community in Austin? What does it even mean to be a member? Do you have to be an artist or does it include art appreciators?

In the case of the Austin Area Commission for the Arts, we have defined one method of financial support as ‘membership.’

At the AACA, members are those individuals, families and businesses that give an annual gift which is used to support our operations. These members receive benefits as a token of our appreciation.

We define membership for several reasons: to build a sense of community among our supporters, to build supporters’ sense of investment and stewardship in the organization, to create a framework for thanking our supporters and to attract new supporters. Membership donations also help document our ties to the community and public support which helps us maintain our non-profit tax-exempt status and boosts the scores on some grant applications.

Membership is open to any individual, household, business, non profit organization or any other entity making a membership donation. Over the past five years, our membership has exploded from 13 members in 2011 to over 200 in 2016.

We run our membership on a rolling basis so that a member receives member benefits for the entire 12 months following a membership donation.

What are the benefits of membership? They include knowing that you support vibrant and thriving arts in the Austin area, being part of a community of like-minded arts lovers, receiving invitations to gallery opening receptions and other special AACA events, recognition in the AACA newsletter as a member, discounts on some class registration, a punch card for free popcorn at the Paramount Theatre, an Austin ArtWorks Festival tote bag and free admission to any Open Studio at the ArtWorks Center.

Memberships are affordable at $5 a month for individuals, $10 a month for families and $21 a month for businesses and can be paid on a quarterly or annual basis. Memberships also make great gifts for that person in your life who isn’t looking for any more ‘stuff.’

To find out more about membership, go to our web site at www.austinareaarts.org/membership/.

While you are at the web site, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement about movies at the Paramount Theatre. We are working on offering a weekly $5 movie but details are not confirmed as of press time for this article. We won’t show first-run movies and will focus on the classics that play best on a big screen. Stay tuned for more information as it is available!

Paramount Theatre

Paul McCartney Tribute by Let Em In with D.C. Drifters, June 22  at 7 p.m.

ArtWorks Center

Cartoons Unlimited with David Lenz, four-week season, June 9 at 2 p.m.

Family Art Studio, June 10 1 to 3 p.m.

Kids Studio: Everything Nature Art Camp, June 27-30 at 10:30 a.m.