Boyd Vance AUSTIN– Austin residents are celebrating the launch of the African American Cultural Heritage District (AACHD) recently at the George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center at 1165 Angelina St. The city’s first African-American district was selected by the Texas Commission on the Arts as one of seven designated communities with the first official State of Texas Cultural District Designation on Sept. 3, 2009.

ProArts Collective, founded by Boyd Vance, along with its community partners, submitted an application in June 2009 that contained more than 1000 pages showcasing the cultural significance of central east Austin. The District boundaries are Manor Road to Huston-Tillotson University from north to south and Airport Boulevard to IH-35 from east to west.

The launch celebrated state designation and a public announcement of the first phase of the AACHD. The second phase will involve gathering community input on the types of programs offered in the District.
ProArts Collective is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that serves as an incubator of artistic expression representing the African Diaspora. The organization was founded in 1993 and is dedicated to the production of transformational and accessible works of art for the enrichment of the African-American community in Austin. For more information, call (512)236.0644.