press releases
first night austin - december 31, 2006
FIRST NIGHT AUSTIN NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The First Night Austin board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of its new executive director Dave Sullivan, who has been with First Night International since 1996; where he served as the organization’s vice president and currently holds the top position of executive director. Prior to his role with First Night International, he was director of corporate relations for First Night Boston. Mr. Sullivan brings more than thirty years of First Night experience to Austin and begins his new role on July 1, 2008.
H-E-B presents First Night Austin, was founded in 2005. It is a family-friendly, affordable, and alcohol free New Year's Eve festival. Join us on December 31st and contribute to the growth of this creative Austin tradition, which celebrates the culturally rich and artistically diverse place we all call home.
According to First Night Austin board president Albert Cantara, “The strong support of the City, the strong support of sponsors like H-E-B, and the depth of artistic community means we have been able to lure the best of the best to take this event to the next level.”
Media Contact:
Patricia Paredes, Interim Executive Director
First Night Austin / 210.602.4023
patricia@firstnightaustin.org
Click on the links below to view each release:
- H-E-B Presents FIRST NIGHT AUSTIN 2008
- Save The Date! First Night 2008 Media Kickoff
Dec 1, 2007 - H-E-B PRESENTS FIRST NIGHT AUSTIN 2008 (view pdf)
Explore the Artist in You this New Year's Eve in Downtown Austin
AUSTIN, TX On Monday, December 31, 2007, come and be a part of Austin's New Year's Eve celebration and Explore the Artist in YOU! This year's H-E-B Presents First Night Austin 2008, will offer a festival of performing and visual arts unlike no other. FREE and accessible to everyone in the city of Austin and surrounding communities, and without the provision or promotion of alcohol, this family-friendly event will transform downtown Austin into a commemoration that reflects Austin's cultural richness and artistic diversity.
From Congress Avenue to Cesar Chavez continuing to Auditorium Shores including City Hall and the Second Street District, First Night Austin 2008 is offered as a gift to the entire community, through the generosity of presenting sponsor H-E-B as well as a multitude of many more such as AT & T, the City of Austin, Arts + Labor, and the Seton Family of Hospitals to name just a few. First Night Austin 2008 will showcase artistic performances and installations including newly commissioned works by more than 60 artists in and on downtown plazas, sidewalks, balconies, building facades, lobbies, storefront windows, theaters and more.
First Night Austin's mission is "to provide Austinites and Central Texas with a free, family-friendly, alcohol-free, public celebration, showcasing the unique culture of Austin through expressive, creative traditions of performing and visual arts.ˇ¨
According to First Night Austin board president Albert Cantara, "A city of Austin's caliber simply must celebrate the New Year as a community. We can think of no better way to do this than to ask our established and aspiring artists, performers, and musicians to use their creativity to awe and inspire us to set aside our differences and turn our attention to our common humanity with hope for the coming year."
The event begins with a Family Festival, sponsored by the Seton Family of Hospitals, from 3 to 6 p.m. Families and New Year's Eve revelers can, among many other activities, participate in AT& T ˇ§Digital Portraits Austin,ˇ¨ where attendees can have their photo taken and uploaded to a computer, allowing digital artists to transform it into a beautiful portrait that can be later downloaded and shared with family and friends;
From 6:30 to 7:30 pm, the public is invited to join in the Grand Procession as it parades down Congress Avenue from Seventh Street to City Hall with an eclectic mix of giant puppets, art cars, stilt walkers, costumed dancers, masked musicians and more.
At 7:45 pm the Family Finale at City Hall enables families with young children to experience their own ringing in of the New Year. Evening programming continues until 11:30 p.m. with large-scale projections on buildings, outdoor poetry and dance performances, interactive sculptural installations and opportunities for patrons to share their New Year's Eve reflections and resolutions. At the stroke of midnight, a pyrotechnic event over Lady Bird Lake celebrates the official start of a new year, underwritten by Chris Mattson.
Volunteers are still needed: visit www.firstnightaustin.org or email Volunteer@FirstNightAustin.org or call 512-374-0000 and leave a message for the Volunteer Committee.
Nov 27, 2007 - Save the Date! (view pdf)
You're Invited to the H-E-B Presents First Night Austin Media Kickoff Event!
When: December 6, 2007, promptly at 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Austin, TX 78701
Who: Local Media, Sponsors, Donors, Board Members, and Artists
What: A Kick-Off Media Event to Showcase this yearˇ¦s upcoming performing and visual artists and the sponsors who make First Night Austin happen.
Light refreshments will be served! Please keep this date on your calendar as you are one of our valued supporters of this outstanding Austin tradition!
