Austin’s music scene has always been powered by the people who work behind the bar, run soundboards, edit visuals, and keep Red River’s venues alive long after the crowds go home. In January 2026, that behind‑the‑scenes workforce finally received a dedicated support system: the Dick Chalmers Music Venue Program, a SIMS Foundation initiative honoring one of Red River’s most beloved contributors.
DOWNTOWN
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Red River sits on the eastern edge of Downtown Austin and packs a dense run of independent venues, bars, and clubs that collectively define much of the city’s live‑music identity.
This program isn’t a new venue or a physical space. Instead, it is a mental‑health and recovery support fund designed specifically for Austin’s venue workers—one of the city’s most overworked, uninsured, and culturally essential communities, as highlighted in coverage from KUT’s report on the program launch.
INSIDE THE PROGRAM’S PURPOSE
The Dick Chalmers Music Venue Program expands access to SIMS Foundation services for venue staff, including counseling, psychiatric care, substance‑use recovery, and crisis support. The official program overview from SIMS details how it’s tailored to Austin’s nightlife workforce. While these workers have always been eligible for SIMS services, many didn’t realize help was available or didn’t know how to access it.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify, reach out to the SIMS Foundation directly—they can quietly walk you through eligibility, sign‑up steps, and what services make the most sense for your schedule.
The program creates a clearer, more intentional pathway—one that matches the real working conditions of venue teams: late hours, inconsistent income, high stress, and constant proximity to alcohol and substances, challenges explored further in Austin Chronicle’s feature on the SIMS expansion.
WHY DICK CHALMERS’ NAME MATTERS
Richard “Dick” Chalmers, who passed away in November 2025 at 41, spent decades shaping Austin’s modern venue culture, especially through Empire Control Room & Garage on Red River.
Culture-focused outlets like Austin CultureMap’s profile of Chalmers highlight his role as an archivist and creative force during key Red River moments. Known for his creativity, generosity, and skill at making venues feel alive, he designed drink menus, managed operations, and edited visuals that became part of Empire’s identity.
Institutionalizing his legacy through this program signals something significant: Austin’s music scene is maturing, and the community wants to preserve its culture not just through buildings, but through the people who make the nightlife ecosystem work, a theme echoed by venue staff in Austin Chronicle’s in‑depth column.
TIMING WITH RED RIVER’S FREE WEEK
The program’s launch arrives just as thousands of locals head to the Red River Cultural District for Free Week (January 9–10, 2026). The Red River Cultural District’s official site provides a broader look at the neighborhood’s venues, festivals, and Free Week schedule. With music fans pouring into the neighborhood Chalmers helped define, this is an ideal cultural moment to look at how the district supports its workers and how its history continues to evolve.
During Free Week, Red River gets shoulder‑to‑shoulder busy and parking evaporates quickly—plan to rideshare, bike, or use transit if you want to hop between venues without stress.
If you’re planning a full weekend around Free Week, you can pair a Red River night with other immersive music experiences like Austin’s Beatles Full Moon Concert in the Dark.
HOW WORKERS CAN ACCESS SUPPORT
Eligible venue staff simply contact the SIMS Foundation directly. There is no physical program site; all services are coordinated through SIMS' existing network of mental‑health professionals, as outlined on the official Chalmers Program page.
If you or someone around you is in immediate crisis, call 988 or 911. The SIMS Foundation and the Chalmers Program offer ongoing support, but they are not a replacement for emergency services.
Fundraising for the program is ongoing and includes venue donation drives, benefit shows, and a January mocktail collaboration across multiple Austin venues, which is a focal point of KUT’s coverage of the Dry January fundraiser. For readers interested in wellness‑forward ways to experience the city, Austin’s sober‑friendly culture also shows up in events like Zouk & Lambada in the Park and retreats such as Canyon Ranch Austin’s ultra‑luxury wellness opening.
INSIDER INTELLIGENCE
• If you’re covering Red River history, pair this topic with a profile of Empire Control Room & Garage, the venue most closely linked to Chalmers’ legacy, and consider embedding SIMS’ own video overview of the Chalmers initiative for additional context.
• January’s Dry January mocktail fundraiser is quietly becoming one of the biggest early‑year fundraisers in the district—several venues are using it to honor Chalmers publicly, which local outlets like Austin Chronicle have started to spotlight.
• SIMS is expected to expand venue outreach in 2026, including on‑site staff sessions during high‑stress events and festivals, alongside its broader slate of music‑adjacent wellness offerings that complement experiences like Inner Oasis at Hotel Magdalena or even quieter getaways like Austin’s nature preserve escapes.
Related Austin Data
Inside the Dick Chalmers Music Venue Program: The Insider Guide to Red River’s Newest Legacy‑Building Initiative
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