2017 ends and 2018 begins. It’s a great time to look back at the accomplishments of the arts in our community over the past 12 months.

In January, the city of Austin donated the former Parks and Recreation office property to the Austin Area Commission for the Arts. The site will support our goals to expand the Paramount Theatre by adding performing arts support spaces including dressing rooms, loading dock, set shop and rehearsal space as well as ADA access to restrooms and the stage.

After years of hiatus, the Paramount re-opened to tour groups in 2017 in partnership with Discover Austin. We were proud to host nine tour groups in the historic theatre and treat them to Austin’s best popcorn.

Official open hours of the theater were also established in October. Now locals and visitors can stop in to check out one of the few remaining atmospheric theaters in Minnesota from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday.

In April, a gallery show featuring Tom Hormel and Chad Augustin opened at the ArtWorks Center. Both natives of Austin, Hormel and Augustin’s art ranged from representational to abstract.

Hormel’s art then went on exhibit in five community locations and was reunited at the Paramount Annex during the Austin ArtWorks Festival as the Featured Artists. Mr. Hormel is generously donating all proceeds from the sale of his prints and books to the Austin Area Commission for the Arts. You can still purchase a print or book at the ArtWorks Center.

A new state-of-the-art projector was installed at the Paramount Theatre in May and weekly Wednesday movies started in June with Kevin Costner’s “Field of Dreams.” Just like in the movie, if you build it, they will come… to the movies. If you have a favorite title that you’d like to see, email us at info@austinareaarts.org. Or schedule a private movie viewing for the guests of your choice for $250.

With grant support from the South East Minnesota Arts Council as well as private donor support, we were able to offer $5 Kids Studio classes during the school year and two $5 per day arts summer camps. This program served over 200 children in 2017 with 38 percent of class sessions sold out. On average, students attended more than two sessions throughout the year with some students attending 15, 19 or even 29 times. Thanks to the 11 artists who lead the sessions. If you are interested in teaching 90-minute Kids Studio for ages 4-14, please contact our Education Coordinator Lana Kenyon at lana@austinareaarts.org. It is a paying gig!

2017’s Austin ArtWorks Festival had many shining moments at the new downtown Austin outdoor location. The 7,500 visitors were treated to 55 exhibiting artists, nine authors, 10 demonstrating artists and 15 music acts on three stages. In addition to the usual free Family Arts activities, two classes were offered with skateboard artist Mark Rivard which both sold out. We plan to bring Mark back in 2018! Patrons were also treated to the interactive arts and music experience — Artrageous at the Dick Schindler Celebration concert at the festival. Thanks to Mayo Clinic Health System Austin for sponsoring the show. Without your support, we would not be able to bring in such an exciting act and keep ticket prices reasonable. Thanks to our community for supporting the festival with $12,000 in-kind and $61,000 in cash contributions. The festival also received grant funding from the Hormel Foundation/city of Austin, the Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services Operation Round Up and the Minnesota State Arts Board.

The highlight of the fall season at the Paramount was the St Andrew’s Sisters, a show by local talents Penny Kinney, Alice Holst and Coni Nelson. The trio’s original comedy and music act where they play three nuns drew crowds and rave reviews. If you missed it, you can get a DVD of the performance at the Austin ArtWorks Center. Thanks to ViDeyo Arts for putting it together.

Thank to all those who supported the Austin Area Commission for the Arts as volunteers, patron and contributors in 2017. Here’s to making the arts work for Austin in 2018.

Coming soon at the Paramount Theatre

•Jan. 3: $5 movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” 7:30 p.m.

•Jan. 10: $5 movie, “Citizen Kane,” 7:30 p.m.

Coming soon at the ArtWorks Center

•Jan. 12: Gallery Opening: Julie Falkler and Ian Hanson, 5 p.m.

•Jan. 13: Family Open Studio: Special bench painting at the Paramount Annex, 1 p.m.

•Jan. 26: ArtRocks Jam Session, 7:30 p.m.

Find out more at www.austinareaarts.org