'Hot Summer Nights,' other events in limbo as Red River Cultural District warns of funding woes

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A "critical crossroads." That's what the Red River Cultural District said is happening to the organization. It said it's running out of money and needs help to keep some of its most popular annual events alive.

It was in May when Austin City Council approved $150,000 for the Red River Cultural District. Fast forward to October and the group says it still has not received the money from the city.

In a post on Instagram, the group said "Times are tough and our small-but-might non-profit is struggling to maintain the same level of advocacy, fundraising, promoting, preserving, and festival-producing without additional financial support."

"I love the music scene around here," one man told KXAN on Saturday. "We are the live music capital of the world. It's a really great place to find small bands, and even the big acts."

Having some of those events disappear means money goes along with it.

"Dollars that are otherwise spent in Oklahoma, Oregon, Canada, Mexico, it doesn't really matter, they're now being spent in Travis County," said Matt Patton, Executive Vice President of Angeloueconomics.

Some of the other issues the organization said it faces include the convention center expansion, parking, homelessness, the I-35 expansion and rising rents.

It warned popular events like "Free Week" in the winter and "Hot Summer Nights" during the summer could be on the chopping block.

"It's part of the culture here in Austin. One of the ways they develop community here is around the music, around the live performance and if a part of that goes away, part of the city is slipping away, too," an Austin resident in the area told KXAN.

By posting the plea for help, the organization hopes it can drum up support so the beat will go on.

The group said it is interested in people sponsoring events, and would also consider a philanthropist to help. It said to contact them via Instagram if you'd like to learn more.