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People listen as a young child reads their story at the Austin Public Library.

What We Do

Austin PBS uses the power of media to enrich lives and transform communities. One of the most prolific public media stations in the country, Austin PBS produces more than 130 hours of original content each year. And as a nonprofit educational organization, we lead the way in using media to nurture curiosity and improve learning outcomes at every stage of life. With this in mind, Austin PBS strives to have measurable community impact in several ways.

Connect People with Resources.

A young child uses the PBS kids app on a smart phone.

Connect People with Resources. As a connector, Austin PBS proudly serves and brings together our diverse and changing community, connecting people to places, resources, experiences, and one another. We present 10,000+ hours of curriculum-based programming a year and provide access to PBS KIDS resources through educational workshops and outreach events particularly focused on serving parents, caregivers, teachers, and students. PBS LearningMedia is a free, direct access library of ready-to-teach curriculum aligned to national and state standards and it's relied on by thousands of educators every school week.

Amplify Community Solutions

A woman is filmed for an interview.

Amplify Community Solutions. As a trusted storyteller, Austin PBS can be counted on for the right balance of insight, information and enrichment that helps foster civic engagement as a tool for lasting change. Initiatives like ATX Together, town hall-style discussions led by Austin PBS, serve as a catalyst for respectful dialogue and mutual understanding on topics that matter most to Central Texans. Decibel, Austin PBS’s award-winning community journalism project, provides new and innovative ways to learn about the issues our community faces, sparking engaging conversations by amplifying diverse voices through first person storytelling.

Bring Communities Together.

Kevin Michael Foster, of Blackademics Television, speaks in front of an audience.

Bring Communities Together. As a convener, Austin PBS brings Central Texans together in a variety of ways to engage in meaningful conversations and bridge understanding among neighbors. Annually, Austin PBS produces Juneteenth Jamboree — a show that illuminates the significance of the Juneteenth holiday and shares stories about black culture and history—and Blackademics Television — a special that features top Black Studies scholars who share projects and research focused on education, performance and empowerment. Through Austin Revealed, an ongoing oral history project, Austin PBS viewers gain access to the real, untold stories of Austin’s past and present.

Celebrate Austin

Local Austin musician Jackie Venson performs on Austin City Limits.

Celebrate Austin. As an innovator, Austin PBS spotlights this vibrant city and shares what makes Austin special from its entertainment scene and arts and cultural communities to its rich and diverse history. The longest-running music series in American television history, Austin City Limits has been bringing Texas music to the world and the world’s music to Texas. For more than 20 years, Central Texas Gardener has brought ecology to life, with guests and fans helping each other tackle techniques, pick plants, and fill up kitchens with fresh food. Overheard with Evan Smith invites viewers to witness in-depth interviews and exchanges with today’s most fascinating public figures and celebrities.