Community Support Defines Spaces in KUT Public Media Studios
AUSTIN, Texas – May 4, 20112 – The KUT Public Media Studios, a new broadcast center that will become a daily destination for robust discussion, unique live musical performances and cultural experiences, will feature the Robin Ratliff Shivers Artist Greenroom in recognition of her outreach to and longtime advocacy for the music community. This is one of several signature spaces in the KUT Public Media Studios underwritten by members of the Austin community.
The Robin Ratliff Shivers Artist Green Room will provide a welcoming and comfortable space for artists, authors, scholars, politicians and newsmakers to prepare for their appearances. The room is named for Shivers who was an Austin music business consultant and philanthropist who founded the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM). She died in 2009. The greenroom was underwritten by her husband, Allan “Bud” Shivers Jr.
Other named spaces in the KUT Public Media Studios include:
- The Bob Schenkkan Founders Room, a conference room named for the founder of KUT, where staff can conduct internal meetings and host guests, underwritten by Phyllis Schenkkan, Dirk Schenkkan, Gerard Schenkkan, Pete Schenkkan and Robert Schenkkan Jr.
- John L. Hanson Jr. Staff Green Room, a staff break room named in honor of longtime KUT employee and host of KUT’s In Black America, underwritten by Carolyn and Jack Long
- The Barbara and Kevin Barry Editorial Briefing Area, a meeting area adjacent to the producer commons where KUT News staff will conduct daily news meetings, underwritten by Barbara and Kevin Barry
- The Carl and Claire Stuart Lobby, a staffed-lobby from where KUT’s thousands of annual visitors can see music, news and other content being produced and prepared for broadcast, underwritten by longtime donors Carl and Claire Stuart
- The Cantilo Grand Staircase, a saffron-colored staircase that glows at night in homage to classic radios, underwritten by Patrick Cantilo
- The Niland Foundation Studio 1A Entry, which connects the Carl and Claire Stuart Lobby and the community room to Performance Studio 1A, underwritten by Dr. Nona Niland
- The Charles T. Dennis Performance Studio 1A Artist Entry, which will provide secured artist access to the studio control room and Performance Studio 1A, underwritten by Bonnie Mills
- Three professional-grade student intern workstations integrated throughout the entire facility to triple KUT’s intern capacity, underwritten by Julie Tereshchuk and Trevor Richards, Ann Phipps and Michael Cannatti, and Bonnie Mills in honor of her son Charles T. Dennis
- The George Huntington Family Library and Producers Lounge, which will house KUT’s music library and a lounge area where KUT Music staff can audition and discuss new releases for consideration, underwritten by George Huntington
- The O’Hare Newsmaker Studio 1B, an interview studio located in the center of the KUT Public Media Studios where newsmakers of all sorts can participate in interviews with media outlets around the world, underwritten by Kacy and Scott O’Hare
- The MFI Foundation Host Workstation, a workstation in the producer commons where on-air hosts can conduct research, create content and contribute to the editorial and creative process, underwritten by the MFI Foundation
- Performance Studio 1A Vintage On-Air Light, a more than 50-year-old vintage on-air light from the original KUT studios, will be restored and used in the new Performance Studio 1A, linking KUT’s past and future, underwritten by Elizabeth Christian and Bruce Todd.
- Session Studio On-Air Light, an on-air light alerting passersby to live performances and recordings by small groups and singer-songwriters in the KUT Session Studio, underwritten by the Ben Bentzin Family Fund.
During the past three years, KUT has raised money from foundations, businesses and individuals to construct the two-story, 20,000-square-foot space on the northeast corner of Dean Keeton and Guadalupe.
On Monday, May 7, KUT will — for the first time — invite listeners to participate in the capital campaign through a one-week on-air fund drive to raise close to $1 million to complete construction.
The KUT Public Media Studios, on the northeast corner of Dean Keeton and Guadalupe, were designed to emphasize collaboration and increase community interaction by bringing together creative and editorial production, and content delivery in one interactive space. The KUT Public Media Studios will open to the public this fall. A KUT Public Media Studios fact sheet is available online.
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Contact: Erin Geisler (512) 475-8071
