Council OKs bond money to preserve Museum of Human Achievement arts space
Thursday, July 25, 2024 by
Chad Swiatecki City Council has allocated $5.1 million of bond money to the Rally Austin economic development entity, which is expected to use some of the money to purchase and preserve the Museum of Human Achievement (MoHA) arts space in East Austin.
Council approved the transfer of funds last week in a resolution that named MoHA and arts or music space planned for redevelopment of two blocks on East 11th Street as the intended recipients of the creative space bond money approved by voters in 2018. The resolution didn’t specify a purchase price for the 1.3 acres MoHA occupies, but the latest data from the Travis Central Appraisal District values the property, which is owned by Bluedale LLC, at just over $2 million.
Credit: Erica Nix
The facility includes a 1950s-era warehouse and assorted accessory structures used by visual artists, musicians and other creatives to pursue concerts, exhibitions and other events throughout the year.
It has operated since 2012. According to the Council resolution, MoHA will purchase its property and give a 40-year ground lease to Rally Austin (until recently, known as the Austin Economic Development Corporation), with Rally Austin then subleasing the property back to the MoHA organization. The resolution also calls for unspecified “improvements to the existing main building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades, remodeled interior spaces, and related site improvements.”
Representatives from MoHA, Rally Austin and Bluedale declined comment until the purchase process is approved by the Rally Austin board of directors next week.
Once completed, the deal will mark the third high-profile transaction in a year for Rally Austin. Last August, it helped to secure a 20-year lease for the Hole in the Wall music venue using $1.6 million from money designated by Council to preserve iconic music venues. And in December, it used $4.5 million from the creative bond funding to help Austin Playhouse begin the process of constructing a new dual-theater facility.
The 40-year lease will provide a new level of stability for the arts space located in a fast-changing portion of Austin.
Thor Harris, a renowned local musician and artist who frequently takes part in events held at MoHA, said he was floored by the news.
“I love that MoHA isn’t just a regular venue. It is such a unique space and I’m often just shocked and surprised at the things that they pull off there, just the strange different kinds of events,” he said.
“It is, to me, one of the maybe two or three weirdo cultural centers of Austin now, and one that we just cannot do without. It just brings me tremendous comfort to know that that place is there. When people ask me – and they do – ‘Is Austin still weird?’ I tell them, ‘Absolutely, yes. … You have to know where to look.’”
This isn’t the first time the city has stepped in to assist MoHA and its artists, with the venue receiving $50,000 last year from the Creative Space Assistance Program.
John Riedie, CEO of Austin Creative Alliance, praised the move as an effective use of some of the $12 million in creative space bond money.
“This is the ideal use of the creative spaces bond money, and I’m super happy to see it happening. MoHA does really just have this connection to the improvised warehouse spaces that we’ve lost, and it’s a real through line to the do-it-yourself vibe of the old Austin creative scene,” he said. “There’s so many possibilities that arts organizations in Austin rarely have the chance to pursue. I don’t know what (executive director) Zac Traeger and his team are going to come up with, but I’m sure it’s going to be awesome. And the fact that they don’t have to worry about being displaced next year or the year after is just liberating for them and everybody in the community who participates in MoHA.”
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