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About the Applause Foundation |
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The Applause Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization serving the east side of San Antonio, Texas. It was established in 2005. The Applause Foundation’s mission is to create and maintain an African American Cultural Arts Museum to preserve, collect and exhibit African American artifacts, art, and to promote African American history by means of exhibitions, lectures, workshops and other related activities.
The Foundation was formed by a group of civic and community leaders with a desire to educate the San Antonio and South Texas communities, particularly the youth in those communities, about the contributions of African Americans as well as the historic connection between the African American and Hispanic Communities in South Texas and Mexico. Since its inception, the Applause Foundation has partnered with various public and private organizations on exhibits and other community outreach and educational efforts. Examples of those efforts include: development of a traveling photographic history collection that has been on exhibit in various venues and schools throughout San Antonio and black history programs at Karen Wagner High School and Martin Luther King Academy. The Applause Foundation is in the Project Development, Planning and Site Acquisition Phase of identifying both temporary and permanent exhibit and classroom space for an African American Cultural Arts Museum. The East Side of San Antonio is an historically underserved community, both economically and educationally. Per capita income is less than $10,000.00 per year and over 40% of East Side residents lack a high school diploma. The area is characterized by economic blight, unemployment and above average rates of crime. Furthermore, no African American museum or research libraries exist in the city of San Antonio, which is the eighth (8th) largest city in the nation. Opportunities for area youth to see positive images and contributions of African Americans will foster improved educational levels, cultural awareness and self-esteem. The project’s anticipated outcome will be a detailed plan which will move the museum project from the conceptual stage to the museum’s opening. Success will be measured by establishing specific objectives to meet museum project goals and a timeline for completion of those objectives. In addition, success will be measured by surveying the level of support and buy-in from community stakeholders. |
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updated November 25, 2008