Paint the Town Pink has spread throughout Austin, Minnesota. The entire downtown is even plastered in pink. Just like the historical version of the marquee on the historical Paramount Theatre from years back, it was now draped in pink fabric. While the color is more than likely different it did look like an old time photo but with modern cars in front of it. Pink has even hit the Austin Area Art Center. What is all this pink about and how does it relate to the Austin Area Arts Examiner?
The historical Paramount Theatre, which is now a part of the National Historical Registry, opened for business in September 1929. Since then, it has had many different uses. Today, it houses many of the performing arts shows for Austin and houses the Matchbox Children’s Theatre performances. On top of that, it houses the offices for the Austin Area Commission for the Arts which hosted the SWOT Meeting previously reported on here on Examiner. Each of these organizations put their backing to one of the largest fundraisers ever under taken in a week in Austin--the Paint the Town Pink Event!
The Hormel Institute, a leading cancer research arm of Hormel Foods, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota, is located right here in Austin. Last year, the Austin Bruins, a local hockey team, raised about $22,000 at one game for the Institute. This year, thanks to the direction of a few people on the Austin Conventions and Visitors Bureau board, this fundraising effort has spread throughout town including the arts. Funds have been collected all week through business ventures donating a certain percentage of sales to the institute. It will be exciting to see what all is collected for this vast effort underway in small town Austin. The Riverland Community College, Austin High School, and the Bruins, have also collected funds at the doors to their sporting events in the last week. The big event, the Bruins hockey game, has been sold out since Tuesday of this week! What a game to be at!
The Austin Area Art Center is even collecting donations in support of the Hormel Institute. They have put a box at the front of the center’s gallery to collect money this coming weekend while the students Creative Valentine Class and the Ellis Middle School Show Open house is taking place. All money collected at these events in this donation box will go to the institute which is going to be expanding in the next year! Therefore, more funds are needed as the research areas expand.
It is a great weekend to be in Austin! Stay tuned to find out what all took place this weekend!
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