The Austin Improv Collective

The Austin Improv Collective is a non-profit improv association based in Austin, Texas.

Mission Statement

The mission statement of the AIC is as follows:

The mission of the Austin Improv Collective is to promote improvisational theatre in Central Texas and develop sustainable performance, practice, management, and teaching skills for Austin's improvisational theatre community. We believe that improvisation is a vital and viable art form which provides unique and invaluable benefits to the individual and the community and we strive to raise awareness of improvisational theatre through performance, teaching, and community outreach.

Organizational Details

The AIC's Executive Director is Brad Temple, and its treasurer is Matt Pollock. The AIC has access to 501(c)(3) status via the Greater Austin Creative Alliance as a sponsored project of theirs. This means that donations to the GACA marked for the AIC are tax-deductible and can be matched by many employers.

After spirited discussion, the organization settled on a "kitchen-sink" logo.

History

The AIC began as the Austin Improv Co-op circa 2004, as a loose coalition of the improv theaters in town. A name change was proposed at their 10/22/2005 meeting, and they quickly settled on "Austin Improv Collective".

In its early days, the AIC organized shows, events, and activities to promote and spread improv in Austin. Some long-running shows, such as The Cagematch and The Threefer started out life as AIC-produced and -branded shows. Other AIC shows included The Double Barrel, Thursday Night Awesome, and The Blank Show. The AIC also initiated regular Austin-improv events such as Same Year's Eve and The Annual AIC Potluck.

By about 2008, the individual theaters had taken on much of the show/event/activity organization, leaving the AIC largely inactive, but still an active part of The Annual AIC Potluck.