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CAST asks Arts Commission to back $515,000 boost for Latino theater incubator at MAC
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Summary
CAST, a coalition for Spanish‑language theater, requested the commission recommend a $515,000 annual expansion to turn the MAC LAB into a full incubator supporting Latino theater through staffing, technical upgrades and expanded cohort capacity; commissioners expressed support and asked ACME staff to relay recommendations to council.
Ivan Davila, chair of CAST (Coalition for Austin’s Arts and Spanish‑language Theater), told the Arts Commission April 20 that Latino organizations receive far less city funding than their share of the city’s population and proposed a targeted investment to strengthen Latino theater infrastructure.
Davila presented data compiled from the city’s economic development records showing Latino‑led organizations received roughly $6 million across fiscal years 2015–2021 compared with $37 million to predominately white‑led organizations, despite Latino residents making up about a third of Austin’s population. He proposed expanding the MAC’s LAB program into a production‑ready incubator grounded in language equity and artist sustainability and asked the commission to recommend a $515,000 annual increase to support two full‑time staff positions (technical support and marketing/revenue development), lighting and sound infrastructure upgrades (budgeted at $300,000 in the proposal), expanded cohort support and organizational development services.
Davila emphasized that the proposal builds on an existing program rather than creating a new agency: "This isn't about creating something new. It's about strengthening something that already exists, so it can actually sustain the artists it was meant for," he said.
Commissioners responded favorably: several praised the proposal’s focus on production readiness and cultural equity, encouraged coordination with ACME and the Mac advisory board, and asked ACME staff to help craft a recommendation to send to Council. Commissioner Maldonado agreed to prepare a recommendation for the next Arts Commission meeting; staff noted the request is likely too late for the current budget cycle but can be submitted for council consideration and for future budget cycles.
What’s next: Commissioner Maldonado will prepare a recommendation for the Arts Commission to consider at the next meeting; ACME staff said the Mac advisory board had already included some of these budget items in its budget request to Council and that commission support would bolster the request.
