The Austin Lima Sister Cities Organization was founded on November 1981 during the term of Mayor Carol Keeton McClellan when the City Council passed a resolution establishing the sister relationship "for the purpose of interchanging cultural, historical and peaceful thoughts, concepts and beliefs".

Late First Lady Violeta Correa de Belaunde and Mayor Eduardo Orrego, requested to Austin Mayor Carole Keeton Rylander, Sister ties between Austin and Lima, it was approved and recorded in the Resolution of the City on November 12th, 1981. Along the years many projects have been carried following the Mission Statement of Sister Cities International. The records are housed in the Archives of the Austin History Center., 810 Guadalupe St.

Cultural and Humanitarian Exchanges

The Austin Lima Sister Cities Committee has sponsored a variety of exchanges since its founding among them:

• Cultural Exchanges
  • Patterns of Peru and Texas Art Exhibition, Oct. 4 - 31, 2007,
    featuring Peruvian and North American painters and sculptors at the
    International Center of Austin 
  • The Inca Trail: Qhapaq Nan El Gran Camino Inca, April 29 - May 3,
    2006, an exhibition of photographs, sponsored by Austin Community College and Sr. Eduardo Rivoldi, Counsel General of Peru in Texas
  • Photo exhibit of Perúvian scenes at the Benson Latin American Collection at the University of Texas In 1991-92, was co-sponsored.
  • The organization facilitated the participation of 30 dancers from Houston, "Grupo Folklorico Mi Perú," in the Native American Heritage Festival and Powwow and in the grand opening ceremonies of the Austin Convention Center.
  • In cooperation with the Austin Chamber Music Center, three young musicians from the Costa-Ornano Academy in Lima participated in workshops and performed at Bauer House, residence of the Chancellor of the University of Texas System.
  • In fall 1999, organization members sponsored a handicrafts booth at the International Childrens Festival.
  • The Sister City Committee has sponsored or co-sponsored Austin visits of distinguished Peruvians, including Felipe Buendia, artist/writer/journalist; Rep. Francisco Diez Canseco Tavara, Congress of Perú; Alida Elejalde, Ministry of Communications and Transportation; Senator Luis Bustamante Belaunde; Mayor Rafael Lopez Mobilia of La Molina; and Luis Morante Alvarado, Lima City Council. These visitors met with various government, business, and academic leaders
    The organization arranged for a trade and commerce delegation from Lima to meet officials from the Greater Austin and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and the Texas Departments of Agriculture and Commerce.
  • In 1992, it helped organize the visit of President Alberto Fujimori, then in his first term of office.
• Humanitarian Exchanges
  • The medical project of bringing burn victim Beatriz Amaro Baylon to Austin for several months for reconstructive facial surgery. The organization worked with the Ministry of Public Health of Perú, Austin Smiles, and Seton Hospital Sisters of Charity and supported Beatriz's recovery with hospitality and companionship.
  • The development projects "Caminar" for leadership training to prevent social problems, with the Ministry of Justice and the Catholic Archdioceses of Lima, and grassroots agricultural and artisan's projects with the Women's Association for Community Development in Chilca, Lima.