In the summer of 1969, Austin artisans began
congregating on the sidewalks of Guadalupe Street, or "The
Drag."
This spontaneous gathering grew quickly into hundreds of sellers
who lined the sidewalks and sold a variety of unique handcrafted
items. Due to the rising popularity of the
area, an election was held that formally created the Market
in
1973. The Market was then established as the People's Renaissance Market, which is and continues to be
maintained and promoted by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation
Department. Further renovations including trees, benches and
flowering
planters were accomplished from private donations from the Phogg
Phoundation, individual artists, and the University Co-op.
Beginning in 1974, a group of local artists created
the mural on the wall of the market. Kerry Awn, Rick Turner and
Tom Bauman created this testament to Austin's culture, with contributions
from Michael Priest and Jim Franklin. In November of 2002, the
mural was refurbished and updated to include more recent Austin
icons.
In 1982, a $20,000 bond was proposed to improve the street.
In 1985, the street was permanently closed to traffic, and a Capital
City Improvement Project led to what has become the Plaza at 23rd Street.
Today, artisans are licensed by the City of Austin
Parks and Recreation Department. The Renaissance
Market Commission meets once a month and reviews the artists'
work for license. This Commission inspects and verifies the authenticity
of the goods before licensing, oversees the operations of the
Market, makes requests for maintenance and manages the budget
for advertising and brochures.
The Renaissance Market, which now has approximately
90 licensed artists and artisans, has become the only continuously
operated,
open-air arts and crafts market in the United States. The area
continues to attract savvy shoppers and talented artists and
craftsmen,
who showcase their wares in this unique outdoor setting.
