With the apocalyptic muses of 2012 raging in the liberal air, an art collective in Austin, Texas is raising the bar for economic restraint and creating social value in the city’s pulse. From the eclectic mix of creative genres lurking in most of the southern parts of the city, the social art scene has become a catalyst for positive change. Welcome to The South Austin Social Club.
On the fourth Tuesday of each month, different groups of artists from across the city meet for two hours at the Convention Center on South Avenue. Of course they socialize. Austin bands play, and are exchanged in orders. This is called “putting social media into networking.” Throughout the evening the ubiquitous Texas cowboys hat is passed around the room, and the participants fill it with money. That money is then given to an artist who works hard to make a positive impact on the city. These artists typically work with children in some capacity.
In a state where there is not much gratification in arts education, many rely on area schools. a network of artists and non-profits to help bring art to students who would not otherwise be exposed to it. More than just an academic fluff, these artists teach children to be socially responsible citizens who know how to communicate in a less idealistic world.
Much of what the South Austin Social Club is trying to accomplish is inspired by the Maryland College of the Arts Institute. it says on his website:
The study showed 25,000 students middle schools and students who participate in school and outside. Arts school activities show significant increases in grades and test scores compared to their peers who do not. The same study found that students who participate in the arts are less likely to drop out of high school or watch more than 3 hours of television per day; they are more likely to define community service as important to them. Teachers report that students engaged in the arts are ahead of their peers in terms of creativity, vision and imagination. Other studies have found that skills-based learning increases student achievement by promoting a sense of competence in reading and math.
What else does The South Austin Social Club do than the many meetings happening around billboards across the city? It’s going to be a lot of fun. It is light. It’s O.K. Have a drink and a breeze with a dancer or an actor, you will never meet. Societies are formed and enterprises are founded without a single bylaw in the mix.
Art is active by nature. Artists who put the social order in flesh and blood, knowing how to walk, give access to creative and social artists who may not otherwise feel able to share their gifts. It takes more work than a few Facebook messages to make meaningful connections, and members of the South Austin Social Club understand this. If you happen to turn up on South Congress Avenue on the fourth Tuesday of the month, bring it to Bar Cornice and get social The ancient way.
