After more than 20 years of proudly serving the Austin arts community, Big Medium’s Board of Directors has made the incredibly difficult decision to shut down operations. This has not been an easy choice, but it comes after many years of financial hardships and tireless efforts to renew and rebuild Big Medium with limited resources. 

Over the past few years, Big Medium has faced an increasingly difficult financial landscape. Major sponsors, including the City of Austin, have redirected their funding priorities, leaving significant gaps in our budget. Despite our best efforts to secure alternative funding and sustain operations, the financial hurdles have become insurmountable. Retaining staff and raising the necessary funds to sustain Big Medium in a healthy way has proven untenable. As a result, we have decided to cease all programming and close our current location. 

The Austin Studio Tour, our flagship program and the start of this organization, will continue in some form or fashion. We are committed to exploring every avenue possible to continue this Austin tradition, which is a critically important economic driver for artists, while creating strong cultural bonds that define our creative sector and community at large.

The 2024 Texas Biennial will continue, thanks to the generous support of our artists, curators, and partners. This edition of the Biennial will be completed this June as originally planned. The Texas Biennial has been stewarded by Big Medium since 2009, and we remain hopeful in its future evolution under new leadership.

More than anything, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of you—our artists, supporters, and community members—for being a part of the Big Medium family. Your support over all these years has meant everything to us and we could not have accomplished what we have without you. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve built together.

While this chapter closes, we believe in the power of art and remain committed to fostering and uplifting our creative community. We hope you will continue to support the arts and our city. Austin’s cultural identity was shaped by artists, and as the city rapidly changes, we desperately need meaningful investment in artists and creative spaces to preserve that identity and the soul of our city. 

Thank you for your understanding, your love, and your unwavering support.

With sincere appreciation,

The Board of Directors