The Julia C. Butridge Gallery, within the Dougherty Arts Center on Barton Springs Road, has put out a call for artists for its 2026 gallery season. Both emerging and established artists are encouraged to apply for a chance to showcase their work in a city-owned space known for its vibrant and diverse exhibitions. “This is your chance to have your work featured in one of the city’s premier cultural spaces—with no submission fee,” a press release from the city reads. “The gallery welcomes proposals from all artistic disciplines, and selected exhibitions will be presented to the public free of charge.” Submissions will be accepted through March 16. To submit an exhibit proposal, visit doughertyartscenter.submittable.com/submit.

Opportunity Austin, in collaboration with Con Mi Madre and Dress for Success Austin, will host the HER Power Summit from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Austin Energy Headquarters, 4815 Mueller Blvd. The event aims to provide 100 women from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to connect with employers and explore career development options. The agenda includes networking sessions with employers and breakout sessions featuring presentations from Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s Infrastructure Academy and career spotlights by Capital Metro and Austin Energy. Participants will rotate between employer networking and breakout sessions. Complimentary food will be available for all attendees. The HER Power Summit is intended to support women seeking career opportunities and professional development. Registration is available online.

The Austin Chamber of Commerce’s next Area Business Connections event will focus on the expansion program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The event is scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Galaxy Theatres Austin on Middle Fiskville Road. Ghizlane Badawi, CEO of AUS, will provide updates on upcoming projects, timelines and business opportunities associated with the airport’s development. The airport’s multiyear expansion is seen as essential to accommodating the region’s rapid growth. Key projects include the construction of a new Concourse B with at least 20 gates, connected to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal via an underground pedestrian tunnel. The design phase is underway, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and completion anticipated by 2030. City Council has authorized $72 million for engineering and architectural services and $1.031 billion for pre-construction and construction services for this project. A new Arrivals and Departures Hall is planned to enhance passenger processing capabilities. The design contract, valued at $45 million, has been awarded to Skidmore Owings and Merrill LLP, with construction costs estimated at $820 million. The project aims to consolidate ticketing, security and baggage claim areas, with construction slated to begin in late 2025 and completion targeted for 2030. Tickets for the event are available online.

The city’s Capital Delivery Services will hold another quarterly “Building Austin” event to address ongoing city projects. This quarter, the department will look at transportation, water and park projects in Northeast Austin from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. Attendees, whether virtual or in-person, will be able to learn about the various projects and ask questions. The event is free and open to the public, with RVSPs available here.

Applications are almost open for the 2025 Nexus Grant, which promises to award up to 100 $5,000 grants to support new and emerging artists. According to a press release from the city, “Eligible applicants must have a minimum one-year history of cultural or arts programming in Austin, and be headquartered in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area.” More information about eligibility, how funds can be spent and applications can be found here. After some community feedback, the application process has been streamlined and will take place only once a year. Anyone needing help with their application can reach out via in-person or virtual information sessions, during virtual office hours from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays or check out the resources here. Applications open on Jan. 28 and are due by 7 p.m. March 6.

Travis County is asking the public to weigh in on a new comprehensive parks plan that is currently in the works. The county has 27 public parks totaling 13,000-odd acres, and the plan will cover all of them, guiding investments over the next 10 years. In order to accurately reflect what residents want and need out of county parks, there is an online survey that will be open through Feb. 13, and two virtual community meetings that will take place on Jan. 29 and 30 (more information here). “Community input is crucial in shaping the future of Travis County Parks,” Joanna Wolaver, executive director of Travis County Parks Foundation, said in a statement to the press. “By sharing ideas and priorities, we can help guide decisions that will impact our parks and green spaces for years to come. Together, they can ensure these spaces meet the needs of a growing community – now and in the future.” Questions can be emailed to TCParksCompPlan.2025@traviscountytx.gov.

CapMetro is bringing tap-to-pay to Austin’s buses and trains in March and is seeking community feedback on these upgrades at an in-person meeting at 5:30-6:30 p.m. today, Jan. 14, at Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 2910 E. Fifth St., in the Rosa Parks Boardroom. The proposed changes with new machines will allow riders to tap-to-pay with debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay on buses and trains. The CapMetro app will be retired and riders will be able to use the new Umo app to pay for fares and the Transit app to plan their trips. Selected cards and passes must be swapped for new CapMetro Reloadable Fare Cards starting February 2025. More information is available on CapMetro’s website. “These proposed changes are going through a Title VI Analysis to determine if there would be disparate impacts to the community,” a news release from CapMetro says. “The results of the analysis will be shared with the CapMetro board before they decide to approve the proposed fare payment system changes.” The CapMetro Public Hearing is scheduled for noon Wednesday, Jan. 15. The live stream link and more information on the Public Hearing are available online. The public is encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the proposed changes. Attendees can take bus Routes 4 and 300 to get to the meeting. Register to attend at publicinput.com/fare-updates.

The Downtown Austin Alliance will host an Issues Over Lunch event titled “Our Future 35: Vision to Reality” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Austin Marriott Downtown on East Cesar Chavez Street. The event will focus on the Texas Department of Transportation’s plan to lower Interstate 35, and the city’s plan to cap the lowered highway with parks and public spaces. Speakers at the event include representatives from the city of Austin, TxDOT and the Downtown Austin Alliance, who will provide updates on the progress of the project and address these pressing concerns. The event is free, but registration is required. The discussion comes as City Council recently debated significant budgetary allocations and policy priorities for the I-35 expansion project including questions over how much city funding should go toward realizing elements of the vision for the cap-and-stitch projects that aim to reconnect neighborhoods divided by the highway. Council members have raised concerns about state support, cost-sharing mechanisms and the potential displacement of residents and businesses during the project. More information and registration are available online.

The city’s Development Services Department is inviting residents to a Brown Bag Lunch & Learn session, intended to shed light on the city’s Environmental Inspection processes. Amanda Wyrick from the Environmental Inspections team will discuss erosion and sedimentation controls, tree protection and the inspections needed during development. It’s scheduled for noon to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr. Registration is open now. For more information, email DSDCommunications@austintexas.gov.

With cold weather and the threat of a hard freeze having descended upon Austin, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center (ATCEOC) remains activated and at the ready to coordinate response. The cold weather shelters will be in operation until Friday morning, then reopened for another overnight shift this evening. In addition, Austinites in need of a warm space can access warming centers throughout the day. More information about the shelters can be found by calling 512-972-5055, and general information will be posted at austintexas.gov/alerts and @AustinHSEM social media accounts. Information on preparing for and coping with cold weather can be found at ReadyCentralTexas.org. Officials ask that Austinites refrain from calling 911 unless they are experiencing an emergency. Nonemergency help can be found by calling 311.

People interested in serving on the Community Development Commission – a 15-member board that “advises (City Council) in the development and implementation of programs designed to serve the poor and the community at large with emphasis on federally funded programs,” according to a press release – can apply for a role on this board with Austin Public Health. Applicants must be 18 or older, live within the geographic area assigned for that seat and want to serve people living in poverty. Seven members of the board are nominated by a Council committee and appointed by Council, and eight are democratically selected to represent low-income people who are eligible to be served under the Community Services Block Grant. Applications will be accepted for representatives in the following areas:

• North Austin – Gus Garcia Recreation Center – 1201 E Rundberg Lane, Austin, 78753
• St. John – St. John Community Center – 7500 Blessing Ave., Austin, 78752
• Colony Park – Turner-Roberts Recreation Center – 7201 Colony Loop Drive, Austin, 78724
• Rosewood-Zaragosa/Blackland – Givens Recreation Center – 3811 E. 12th St., Austin, 78721
• East Austin – East Austin Neighborhood Center – 211 Comal St., Austin, 78702
• Montopolis – Montopolis Recreation and Community Center – 1200 Montopolis Drive, Austin, 78741
• South Austin – South Austin Recreation Center – 1100 Cumberland Road, Austin, 78704
• Dove Springs – Dove Springs Public Health Center – 5811 Palo Blanco Lane, Austin, 78744

Each election site will have paper ballots available with the names of the candidates for each area.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Austin chapter will host its next Building Equitable Communities Exchange from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 506 Congress Ave. The event is free and open to the public, aiming to connect professionals in the built environment industry with initiatives supporting equity and inclusivity. The series, organized by ULI Austin’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Steering Committee, highlights projects and programs that foster equitable outcomes across Austin. The event will feature presentations on the Palm School, Equidad ATX, Colony Park and the Mexican American Heritage Corridor. Attendees will have opportunities to interact with project leaders during a networking session following the presentations. The DEI Steering Committee’s mission includes amplifying diverse voices, building a pipeline of young leaders, fostering a culture of inclusiveness and empowering allies through partnerships. By providing a platform for community-driven projects, the Exchange aims to increase awareness and collaboration, encouraging Austinites to participate in shaping a more inclusive city. For more information and to register, visit the ULI Austin website.