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Lora Lee Bauer said that she started at age eight as a volunteer at the Paramount Theater. It seems her beloved uncle was eight years her senior, and he had an after school job cleaning the Paramount movie theater. Lora Lee was recruited to “volunteer” to pick up trash from the theater floor. She got to keep any coins she found and was rewarded by her uncle for her service with burgers from The Tendermaid.

Fast forward to her adulthood. Matchbox Children’s Theater was the focus of Lora Lee’s volunteerism for about 10 years when her children were at home. She helped on set building, served on the board, and was chair of the reading committee who perused catalogues of plays to find what to choose to perform and then make the arrangements to use the play. At one of these committee meetings, Lora Lee recalls that the idea of buying the Paramount Theater and remodeling it for live performances was suggested.

That was the seed that grew into the first renovation and the current expansion and renovation. Lora Lee has been an active advocate for the Paramount since then, as well as volunteering in many capacities. She spent lots of time on the first renovation, and worked at the box office before the current ArtWorks Center took over ticket sales. Eventually scheduling volunteers for performances and cleaning (bringing her full circle) also became her responsibilities.

Besides these important contributions to the enterprise, Lora Lee was on the board of directors for Austin Area Commission for the Arts, 2009-2014, and a member and secretary for Austin Area Arts before and during the merger with the newly formed art center under the umbrella of Austin Area Council for the Arts.

Among her current activities is filling in part time for the Paramount manager, as well as her work for the Austin ArtWorks Festival. For the 14th year, she will be working with Alice Holst to recruit and schedule, and support the many volunteers needed for that three day event. During the festival, she and Alice also present hospitality bags to the artists and make sure the volunteers and artists have snacks all day.

This strong supporter of the arts is an artist in her own right. She paints in watercolors and acrylics, and works in pottery and stained glass. She sells her greeting cards at the Artworks Center.

Asked about her motives for all her activities, Lora Lee says, “ I love being busy! I am a better person when I am busy!”

Kelsey Ritchie, Operations Director of Austin Area Arts said: “Lora Lee has been a dedicated volunteer for Austin Area Arts for decades. Her commitment to the arts has made a lasting impact and we are incredibly grateful for everything she has done, and will continue to do for us. She is hardworking, energetic and most of all, funny. I truly enjoy working with her!”

In her faithful manner, this modest, hardworking woman has done, and is doing much, to contribute to the rich fabric of our community. Thank you Lora Lee Bauer!