Long Center
Long Center Staff
Cory Baker

President & CEO of the Long Center

A Word from Cory

Thank you for believing in the Long Center! Your support keeps the arts free and accessible, while ensuring our nonprofit organization remains Austin’s creative hub.

Free programming was our major focus this year, and thanks to you, the results are worth celebrating. Your generosity guarantees 25,000+ Austinites have free access to the arts and chances to connect through the power of live performance. I invite you to explore all that you’ve made possible, here, in our 2025 Wrap-Up Report.

Above all, YOU fuel this creativity and connection. And as we approach the new year, we need your help to expand this essential, free programming. Will you help us keep the arts free and accessible in 2026?

Thank you for believing in the Long Center! Your support keeps the arts free and accessible, while ensuring our nonprofit organization remains Austin’s creative hub.

Free programming was our major focus this year, and thanks to you, the results are worth celebrating. Your generosity guarantees 25,000+ Austinites have free access to the arts and chances to connect through the power of live performance. I invite you to explore all that you’ve made possible, here, in our 2025 Wrap-Up Report.

Above all, YOU fuel this creativity and connection. And as we approach the new year, we need your help to expand this essential, free programming. Will you help us keep the arts free and accessible in 2026?

Make Your Year-End Gift Today

2025 at a Glance

Shows Presented

46
Inside, outside, and on our 3D-printed pavilion! We celebrated local music, dance, visual arts, theatre, and everything in between.

Artists Supported

389
From Austin's local rising stars to international headliners and beyond – we got you.

Free Community Events

17
Including another stellar season of The Drop-In and an unbelievable 3rd Annual Community Day, we welcomed over 25,000 folks for free events!

Photo: Sophia Lawson

In the Community

Community Partners

58
We hope you found a new place to volunteer, a cause to support, or a way to feel closer to your neighbors.

Subsidized Rental Discounts

$485k
One of the most important things we do is make space accessible to the wide variety of organizations that make Austin what it is.

Founding Resident Company Performances

78
The Long Center was created to be the permanent home of the Austin Symphony, Austin Opera, and Ballet Austin, and we’re proud to make their seasons shine.

Photo:  Maggie Boyd

Support Our Work

Here at the Long Center, creativity isn’t just a way of life, it’s a livelihood. That’s why we’re proud to be Austin’s go-to spot for performances, music, movies, hangouts, festivals, and countless other interests. With your support, we can do all this and more together in 2026!

Make Your Year-End Gift
Free Program Highlight

The Drop-In

This summer, more than 20,000 people gathered on our Hartman Concert Lawn for 12 weeks of free concerts, featuring a mix of incredible Austin artists and local musicians that were more than 55% BIPOC-led and 55% female-led, reflecting Austin’s unique and diverse soul. On top of that, we partnered with Austin’s own KUTX 98.9 to create another iconic summer of free music.

By the Numbers

The Drop-In

Total Free Tickets

20,978
We love this program because it's free, and that means we can keep local music accessible to all Austinites. Thanks for another unforgettable Drop-In season.

Artists Supported

128
That’s across 12 shows and 23 bands! Austin has a lot of artistic voices, and The Drop-In aims to highlight them all.

Photo: Brynn Osborn

Support Our Work

Austin lives and breathes creativity, and it’s our mission to support, uplift, and encourage that work all year-round. Your year-end gift helps bring accessible arts, experiences, and critical opportunities to all of Austin’s communities.

Make Your Year-End Gift

By the Numbers

Create Austin

Through Long Center’s partnership with the City of Austin, Create Austin connects local artists, musicians, historic sites, and creative nonprofits to vital funding initiatives, distribute grants on the City’s behalf, and provides tools and resources to these worthy recipients.

Total Grant Pool

$6.9M
Through our partnership with the City of Austin, we administered $6.9M across 5 grants in 2025, and more to come in 2026.

Total 2025 Grant Awards

144
Including artists, non-profits, musicians, historic sites, and creative businesses.

Photo: Sophia Lawson

Free Program Highlight

Long Reach for the Arts

We believe that free art changes lives, and since 2008 this program has introduced more than 23,000 children and families to the arts. In 2025, we welcomed 4,000 students for world-class dual-language programming. These events are many students’ first encounter with professional live performance and often spark lifelong inspiration.

By the Numbers

LONG REACH FOR THE ARTS

Student Participants

4,000+
This many students enjoyed performances from Ballet Folklorico de Mexico and Mariachi Herencia de Mexico in 2025, all for free.

Participating Schools

18+
Over 18 schools from Austin ISD & Round Rock ISD joined us, coming to the Long Center in more than 50 buses.

“This trip was amazing because I had never heard live mariachi music before, and that day I got to experience it… I loved being able to appreciate how each instrument sounded, especially when they let the player shine.”
— Student participant

Photo: Brynn Osborn

Support Our Work

Here at the Long Center, we create unforgettable experiences for tens of thousands of Austinites, while uplifting local artists and connecting the community groups that make our city thrive. Make a year-end gift today so that we can do all this and more in 2026!

Make Your Year-End Gift
Free Program Highlight

Community Day

In honor of our dear co-founder and visionary, Dr. Teresa Lozano Long, we partnered with 29 local organizations and welcomed 2,400 Central Texans to the Long Center for our 3rd Annual Community Day. A true celebration of what we do here, our campus was filled with free performances, activities, and cultural experiences for all ages. 

By the Numbers

Teresa Lozano Long Community Day

Community & Partner Organizations

29
Every organization that has been a crucial part of the Long Center's story & future. We're adding to the list daily.

Attendees

2,400+
You made this year's Community Day even bigger! Let's see what more we can explore next year.

Performances & Activities

12
Free performances in a range of scope & size, from Ballet Austin's Rhythm on Stage in Dell Hall, to the kids' drum circle by Creative Action.

Artists & Performers

60+
We love this number! The Long Center is the only place in town where you can see 60+ artists & performers in one day. For free.

Photo: Dusana Risovic

There you have it — our 2025 has been all about free programming initiatives, but we know that we can do even more to provide accessible artistic experiences to any Austinite that comes our way. But we couldn’t do it with you! Thanks for all you’ve done to support us this year. We can’t wait to continue this work with you!
Make Your Year-End Gift

Show Your Support

There are so many ways you can show your support of the Long Center and all that we do! If you’ve made your gift or have joined us for an unforgettable experience this year, spreading the word on social media or telling your friends is the most important thing you can do to make sure our impact continues into 2026 and beyond. Thank you!
 Vote for The Drop-In!

We need YOUR HELP to make The Drop-In a finalist for the Levitt Music Series Grant!

Your vote could help secure up to $120,000 in matching grant funds that will keep Austin’s favorite free summer concert series alive, thriving, and grooving for the next 3 years. Every voice counts, and with your support, we can keep bringing unforgettable music and community vibes to the Long Center lawn.

Let’s make The Drop-In a Levitt finalist together! Text AUSTIN to 877.409.5525 OR vote below!

VOTE TODAY
 Become a Member to get the most out of your Drop-In​

LC Members get first dibs on RSVPs, access to the Member Lounge, members-only bar, drink specials and other surprises!

JOIN TODAY
Be in-the-know for The Drop-In

Tickets for The Drop-In are FREE and artists are announced every Friday! Stay tuned for the full lineup dropping on May 5.

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Amplify Austin Day has officially started — help us reach our goal of $20,000 raised so that more students can access more art, free from barriers, through our Long Reach for the Arts program.

DONATE TODAY
Support the Soul of Austin with a Gift Today

Here at the Long Center, we believe that creativity is the center of community. That’s why we’re proud to be Austin’s go-to spot for countless interests that bring the community together. Your donation to the Long Center this season doesn’t just support this work, it celebrates it!

GIVE TODAY

We’re not just about moments like these… we’re also a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the creativity they create! On this Giving Tuesday, we want to thank you for all the support you’ve given the Long Center in 2024. Your year-end gift today will help us do even more in 2025! 

DONATE TODAY

Too stuffed for savings? Get $20 tickets to select shows at the LC! Get ’em now before the sale ends on Cyber Monday 12/2 at 11:59pm

SEE TICKETS

Go all out — take advantage of our Black Friday sale NOW by getting a Friend Level Membership for only $95! These year-round benefits usually start at $120.

Year-End Gift 2023 | Long Center
Your Support Today, Transforms Tomorrow

We’ve made it our mission to support creativity in all its forms, and we hope this season you’ll join us and do the same. Your donation doesn’t just support our work, it’s a declaration that creativity belongs to everyone. 

Give Today

LEVEL UP YOUR DROP-IN

Become a LC member today and and get first dibs on RSVP before the public, early entrance into the venue for you and your guests, members-only bars, and other surprises!

JOIN TODAY

Amplify Austin is here – and we need your help to provide free arts experiences for K-12 students through our Long Reach for the Arts program.  Because the kids need art! 

Donate Now