The Long Game: Aligning Values, Vision, and Vibrancy

Vibrant Spaces is back for Season 2! In this podcast we connect with the people and places doing big things to bring their cities and towns to life. Tune in weekly for new episodes and new insights!

We head over to Austin, Texas for this episode to sit down with Matthew Schmidt who takes us through the cultural reset currently developing in the City to create a community where culture and economy can thrive together. 

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As a leader in the City of Austin’s Business Development and Economic Expansion division, Matthew walks Emily and Tim through his strategy to a thriving cultural centre through community engagement and economic infrastructure. We dive into the history of cultural funding in Austin, the importance of financial  diversification within a civic ecosystem, and the role that the City plays in supporting artists and non-profit organizations to reframe creativity as business.

This episode covers:

• The current place-based cultural strategies being used in the City of Austin and how these initiatives have changed over time to bring continuous cultural value to the community
• The distribution of the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax to fund public spaces and the importance for cities to diversify their revenue streams early
• The evolution of economic development metrics to dedicated arts offices to accurately capture the cultural impacts in the City
• Tools which can be used by municipalities to deeply engage their community and how to use these tools to keep meaningful metrics
• What creators can expect from the City in the next 3-5 years

CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS: Emily Craven |  Tim Souza 

ABOUT OUR GUEST

MATTHEW SCMIDT - Economic and Cultural Development Manager, City of Austin (at the time of recording) - Leading the City of Austin's place-based economic development initiatives and business incentives teams. Identifying strategic investments that provide economic opportunities for all! Matthew thrives where culture and economy collide. Crafting strategies that help cities grow their stories as much as their bottom lines. Equal parts policy nerd and creative instigator, passionate about turning local character into lasting economic opportunity.EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: