Austin Museum of Popular Culture facts for kids
The Austin Museum of Popular Culture (also called AusPop) is a special group in Austin, Texas. It collects and shows art and items that celebrate Austin's unique contributions to popular culture around the world. AusPop especially honors artists who helped make Austin famous for being "weird" and creative.
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About AusPop: History and Goals
AusPop started in 2005. It was first called the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture. Its main goal was to collect and show concert posters made by a group of artists called the Armadillo Art Squad. These artists worked together around a famous music venue called the Armadillo World Headquarters.
The museum grew from a community art group that began in 2004. Over time, AusPop started collecting items from other live music places from the 1970s. These included Threadgills, the Vulcan Gas Company, the Austin Opry House, and Antone's.
Today, AusPop's main goal is to keep alive the history of Austin's unique culture and popular arts. It does this through special shows, collecting items, and studying the art. The museum has grown to collect and show photos, prints, and different kinds of art. It helps more people see and learn about Austin's cultural scene. The Austin Museum of Popular Culture is an independent place. It is not supported by the government.
The Armadillo Art Squad
The Armadillo Art Squad was a group of artists and cartoonists from Austin. They designed posters and flyers for Eddie Wilson's Armadillo World Headquarters. This was a time when Austin's music scene was very lively, known for its "Cosmic Cowboy" style.
Some of the artists in this group included Gilbert Shelton, Jim Franklin, Guy Juke, Kerry Awn, Michael E. Arth, Ken Featherston, Henry Gonzales, Danny Garrett, Sam Yeates, Micael Priest, Gary McIlhenny, and Jack Jaxon.
The Memorial Wall
AusPop has an outdoor memorial called the "Wall of Fame." It features photos of more than 150 people. This wall honors their important contributions to Austin's creative world. The outdoor wall includes both very famous people and those who were less known but still important. Some names you might see are Bill Hicks, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Janis Joplin. It also includes people like Bill Livingood, Bud Shrake, and Poodie Locke, who was Willie Nelson's stage manager.
How the Museum's Name Changed
The museum's name has changed a few times. It was first called the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture.
In 2010, its name changed to the South Austin Popular Culture Center. Many people in Austin started calling it SouthPop. Later, the name went back to South Austin Museum of Popular Culture.
In September 2019, the museum's director, Leea Mechling, announced another change. The museum would be renamed the Austin Museum of Popular Culture. It would also move to a new location on North Lamar, behind Threadgill’s restaurant.
Awards and Recognition
The museum has been featured in many articles in the Austin Chronicle. In 2004, the Austin Chronicle even called the museum the "Best Place to Art Trip."
The New York Times also included the museum in one of its travel videos.
See also
- List of music museums
