Arts Commission Regular Meeting of the Arts Commission - This meeting will be held with some members attending IN PERSON and others ATTENDING REMOTELY.
REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION August 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001. 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the ARTS COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than Noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Jesús Varela at jesus.varela@austintexas.gov or at 512-974-2444. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Gina Houston - Chair, Acia Gray - Vice Chair, Keyheira Keys, Felipe Garza, Heidi Schmalbach, Muna Hussaini, Celina Zisman, Faiza Kracheni, Sharron B Anderson, Nagavalli Medicharla AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on July 21, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation of how fiscal sponsors optimize the experience of all parties involved in City granting where they live — plus fiscal sponsorship best practices by Carman Gaines of Local Color, San José, CA. 3. Presentation of how fiscal sponsors optimize the experience of all parties involved in City granting where they live — plus fiscal sponsorship best practices by Thaddeus Squire of Social Impact Commons, Philadelphia, PA. 4. Discussion of Annual Review and Report STAFF BRIEFINGS 5. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. 6. Staff briefing regarding update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. 7. Staff briefing regarding an update on Art in Public Places by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. 8. Staff briefing regarding ACME Funding Guidelines final draft, by Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, ACME DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Discussion and possible action on recommendation of the updated ACME funding guidelines. 10. Appoint new representative to the Downtown Commission. 11. Appoint new liaison to the Arts in Public Places Panel. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 12. Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Schmalbach, and Gray(chair). …
Fiscal Sponsorship Short Introduction & FAQs Austin Arts Commission | August 18, 2025 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License This means you can adapt this work and share its contents freely for non-commercial purposes, provided you credit Social Impact Commons. What’s fiscal sponsorship? What’s fiscal sponsorship? Fiscal sponsorship is an arrangement where an exempt organization, typically a 501(c)(3) public charity, furthers its mission by receiving and expending funds to support a mission-aligned “Project” while retaining discretion and control over the funds. Depending on the model, fiscal sponsors may also share their legal home, back office, and other resources with their Projects. Unlike a traditional program carried out by a nonprofit, fiscal sponsorship arrangements are typically memorialized in an agreement that defines roles and responsibilities. The leadership of the Project usually reserves the right to exit the relationship. Model “C” Pre-approved Grant Attributes ● ● Arm’s-length, re-granting relationship Complete corporate independence & separate tax treatment ● Only addresses contributed revenue receiving ● Independent earned revenue/expense streams ● Governance remain completely independent ● Independent entities raise tax considerations Uses ● Moving charitable funds to non-exempt receivers ● ● Access to charitable funds for nonprofits awaiting a ruling Access to funding for simple/small/temporary projects Model “A” – Comprehensive Attributes ● Operationally integrated program relationship ● ● ● ● ● ● Uses ● ● ● ● ● Solution for comprehensive shared services Legally a co-management relationship Project maintains an advisory body Sponsor responsible for all legal and compliance All revenue and expenses managed by sponsor Sponsor is employer of record for project staff Sharing back-office services and economies of scale Allowing established nonprofits to share infrastructure Incubating new nonprofits Access to funds for nonprofits awaiting a ruling Access to funding for simple/small/temporary projects Comparison of common models Costs (% of Revenue) Back Office Support Stand-alone Formation 17% - 27% Model “A” Comprehensive Model “C” Pre-approved Grant 10% - 15% 4% - 8% Project provides all finance, HR, legal, compliance, insurance, both staff and other direct costs. Sponsor provides all finance, HR, legal, compliance, insurance, both staff and other direct costs. Sponsor provides compliance for contributions only. Sponsee entity does the rest of the back office work. Identity & Relationships Project retains relationships with donors, patrons, funders, partners, etc. Project leads retain relationships with donors, patrons, funders, partners, etc.Project leads & Sponsor work together to report to funders …
Hotel Occupancy Tax Update Arts Commission Meeting August 18, 2025 Hotel Occupancy Tax – July 2025 Approved Budget Amended Budget June w/ Encumb Year-to-date w/Encumb Year-End Estimate Total Revenue $169,901,585 $169,901,585 Transfer to Cultural Arts Fund $16,217,879 $16,217,879 $ $ $ $ $ $ • Total HOT Collections July 2025 = $ • 70% of FY25 Approved Budget of $169,901,585 • Cultural Arts Fund July 2025 = $ C I T Y O F A U S T I N Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections – Significant Contributing Events • IHeart Country Festival – May 3 • Commencement Ceremonies – May 10 • University of Texas • Huston Tillotson • St. Edwards • Hot Luck Festival – May 22-25 • NCAA Softball First Round – May 16-18 • NCAA Softball Super Regionals - May 22-25 • IllFest – May 30-31 AUS Passenger Totals: 1,935,429 (May 2025) C I T Y O F A U S T I N HOT Cultural Arts Fund - FY25 C I T Y O F A U S T I N Approved Budget for FY25: $16,217,879 FY25 HOT Cultural Arts Fund to date: $11,321,678 HOT Collections (FY22 – FY25) C I T Y O F A U S T I N Questions? C I T Y O F A U S T I N
Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) Cultural Arts Funding Update August 18, 2025 Agenda 1.Contracts & Payments 2.Grant Funded Activities Contracts & Payments Contracts & Payments (As of 8/15/25) FY23 Elevate FY24 Elevate FY24 Nexus (Spring/ Summer) FY25-26 Thrive (Year 1) FY25-26 Thrive (Year 2) Total Contracts Signed & Processed Contracts Test payments issued & verified Payment 1 Issued Payment 2 Issued Payment 3 Issued 199 199 (100%) 199 (100%) 199 (100%) 198 (99%) 193 (97%) 230 227 (99%) 229 (99%) 227 (99%) 214 (93%) 43 (19%) 51 51 (100%) 51 (100%) 51 (100%) 49 (96%) n/a Total Dist. to date $6,219,250 (99%) $8,249,000 (90%) Total Allocation $6,250,000 $9,205,000 $245,000 (96%) $255,000 35 33 (94%) 34 (97%) 33 (94%) 31 (89%) 1 (3%) $3,128,500 (81%) See year 1 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (N/A) $3,850,000 $3,850,000 *Each grant has a different reporting deadline. Final Payments are issued upon successful close out of Final Report. Grant Funded Activities FY 24-25 Cultural Funding Grantee Activities Home Is Where The Art Is. July 21 – September 30 Imagine Art (District 3) – Imagine Art Kool-Aid's Backyard Comedy Jam Fridays, August 1 – 22 East Austin Creative Coalition (District 1) – Kenny Dorham’s Backyard Amy and the Orphans August 14 – 17, 21 – 24, and 28 – 30 Ground Floor Theatre (District 3) – Ground Floor Theatre C I TY O F A U S T I N FY 24-25 Cultural Funding Grantee Activities Community Mosaic Workshop Third Thursdays, August – November The Mosaic Workshop (District 1) – The Mosaic Workshop Creative Devotion August 21 Red Light Lit (District 2) – PROPAGANDA HQ I Scream Social August 22 Host Publications (District 10) – Alienated Majesty Books C I TY O F A U S T I N FY 24-25 Cultural Funding Grantee Activities Women in Jazz Festival August 30 Women in Jazz (MSA) – Austin PBS Sonic Transmissions Festival 2025 September 11 – 14 Sonic Transmissions (District 5) – Scottish Rite Theater Crown Act Festival September 14 FroFessionals (MSA) – Asian American Resource Center C I TY O F A U S T I N Questions Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) Thank You For Your Partnership
Art in Public Places Resolution Response August 18, 2025 Resolution No. 20250306-029 – Status Update 8/18 Phase 1 (March – May) Resolution + Program Assessment • • • Historical Data Benchmarking Reviewed current polices, contracts, programs Redlined current policies Review program needs • Phase 2 (June – August) Council Status Update Resolution • Establish Cross-Dept WG + action plan for implementation Review draft Ordinance, Guidelines, policies recommendations • Needs assessment plan • UT Landmarks benchmarking • ACME Leadership Updates • Legal coordination Phase 3 (Sept-Dec) Revised Polices Adopted • Ordinance update (Council) • Guidelines and policy updates • • (Panel + Commission) Develop new programs Launch Open Calls w/ changes from Phase 1 + 2 Phase 4 (2026) Announce New Programs Implement new programming • Targeted focus groups AIPP Panel Guidelines WG Targeted focus groups Stakeholder internal + external Community outreach Community outreach • • • • T N E M S S E S S A T N E M E G A G N E S N O I T A D N E M M O C E R + S E M E H T Themes Local artist participation Lack of understand of % for Art program Recommendations • Update policies for clarity + inclusion • Update communications + marketing for transparency + information Explore resources for artists • Themes Lack of understand of % for Art program Artist support Recommendations Transparency of process Process flow chart Resources for artists • • • • •
Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment 2025 - 2026 Grant Funding Guidelines & Process Presented by Morgan Messick Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) Art Commission Meeting | August 18, 2025 Some Major Improvements, Based on Feedback Guidelines Applicants competing against similar applicants (applicant type AND budget size) Ensuring avenues for all creative types: Two paths for individual artists; two paths for arts groups; two paths for state-level non-profits; two paths for 501 (c) 3 Fiscal Sponsorship available, but not required Single guideline document, with standardized definitions, formatting, and department processes/policies Cutting the originally proposed operation percentage caps from funding programs More funding levels are available for individual artists User Experience Improved Panel process Universal Appeals process for ACME programs Established policies on double dipping/conflict of interest, in response to Audit concerns Stacked application launch, with a single intake form Panels & Scoring Elevate/Thrive Panelist recruitment underway/training soon Assignments will be discipline specific (exhibition, performance, Arts Education/Arts Service/Arts and Music Therapy) Independent review by panelists with deadline to submit initial scores Panel day will be streamed, and private link available on YouTube after For score calculation > Olympic scoring is done by ACME staff/The Long Center Nexus Reviewer recruitment underway; training is soon; application assignments Independent review by Reviewer with deadline to submit scores/comments Score calculation Award Decisions Elevate/Thrive Award determination based on score Tentative awardee list provided to ACME leadership; internal review Award announcements made *Appeals process available Nexus award determination based on score Tentative awardee list provided to ACME leadership; internal review Tentative award announcements made *Appeals process available Measuring Program Impacts Category What the City Measures Metrics Reach & Engagement Community reach and public participation Attendance counts, demographic data Promotion Visibility and marketing efforts Event flyers, social media screenshots, VisitAustin.org listings, marketing plan analytics Impact Access Expression Resiliency Economic and cultural benefits for the creative workforce Number of jobs supported, amount of funding distributed Accessibility and inclusion for audiences and participants Diverse locations, ADA features, free/low-cost tickets/creative space, multilingual options Support for authentic artistic and cultural expression Artist reflections, new work created, creative risks taken Organizational growth, adaptability, or long- term community benefit beyond City funding New partnerships, diversified revenue, business training and professional development Cultural Funding Applicant Eligibility Thrive Elevate Nexus 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Arts Organization by time of Application submission (Federal designation only) At least five years operating in the City of Austin …
Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (AACME) _________________________ AACME Funding Guidelines 1 Updated 8/15/2025 Table of Contents Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 3 AACME Funding Goals ....................................................................................................................... 3 Funding Impacts................................................................................................................................ 4 Applicant Eligibility At-A-Glance .......................................................................................................... 5 State of Texas Funding Requirements .................................................................................................. 5 Expenses .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Applicant & Awardee Requirements .................................................................................................... 6 Grant Application .............................................................................................................................. 7 Evaluation & Review ........................................................................................................................... 8 Awardee Grant Agreements & Payments .............................................................................................. 9 Accessibility Statement ..................................................................................................................... 10 Questions About Funding Guidelines? ................................................................................................ 11 AACME FUNDING DETAILS ................................................................................................................ 12 Arts & Culture Funding ................................................................................................................... 12 Music & Venue Funding .................................................................................................................. 19 Heritage Events & Capital Improvement Projects .............................................................................. 25 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................... 32 Appendix A: Definitions .................................................................................................................. 32 Appendix B: Panelists .................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix C: Appeals Process ......................................................................................................... 39 Appendix D: Insurance Requirements ............................................................................................. 41 Appendix E: Reporting Requirements .............................................................................................. 41 Appendix F: Conflict of Interest Policy ............................................................................................. 43 2 Updated 8/15/2025 AACME OVERVIEW ______________________________________ Overview In February 2025, the City of Austin established Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (AACME) to better support the City’s ongoing work with Austin’s creative community, making the city a stronger place for arts, culture, and music. AACME goals include: • Meaningful direct support for artists and cultural groups • Local economy growth and development to attract visitors and build stronger communities • Enduring partnerships between artists, cultural groups, and businesses • Open and accessible spaces that connect residents and tourists through arts and culture to strengthen community identity and promote collective storytelling • Further build Austin’s identity as a global city for creativity AACME is committed to Building a Collaborative, Vibrant City. AACME Funding Goals Austin is home to many creatives that draw tourists and locals alike to the community. A central initiative of AACME is to invest in the creative economy and expand access and participation in arts, music, and heritage by providing grant funding for activities that enrich the public, broaden tourism, and contribute to a vibrant community. AACME supports our community by prioritizing the preservation of creative space, the elevation of arts and arts nonprofits, and through events, projects, and music that contribute to the cultural fabric of Austin. Our programs support all Austinites with a focus on historically underrepresented communities in funding. Our goals and measures of success align with city wide plans, such as Imagine Austin and the City-Wide Strategic Plan. 3 Updated 8/15/2025 Funding Impacts Performance Measures to Support Funding Goals To measure the impact of AACME …
Thrive Thrive Category Creative Work Capacity Public Connection Criteria Available Points • Mission or artistic vision is culturally significant and • community-rooted Activities reflect the people, places, histories and cultures of Austin • Creative work reflects clear intent, authentic perspective, and meaningful cultural expression • Organization has clear plans and goals for long-term • sustainability Leadership or team demonstrates understanding of and connection to the communities served • Budget, staffing, and support systems are suited to the • project’s scope and goals Programs are welcoming and accessible to a wide public • Organization contributes to Austin’s identity as a creative city Up to 30 Up to 40 Up to 30 Max: 2,500 characters per question Creative Work (30 pts) 1. What is your organization’s mission and what is the programming you do to support that mission? Your answer should include: Share your organization’s mission statement and the creative programming it supports. Explain the artistic traditions, focus, or values that guide your work. Explain how your programming serves or centers historically underserved communities or cultural identities. • • • • 2. What is your proposed activity and how does it reflect the people, places, or cultures of Austin? Your answer should include: • Describe your programming and how it reflects Austin’s people, places, or cultures. • Explain how your work elevates underrepresented histories or emerging cultural forms. Draft You may upload 1 file up to 3 pages. Suggested uploads: event flyers, program brochures, or audience-facing materials Capacity (40 pts) 3. Describe your organization’s goals to sustain and grow. Your answer should include: • Outline your 2-year goals and how this funding will help you reach them. • Describe your staff and board’s experience and how they align with your goals and community. • Share how you plan to remain financially stable and adaptable beyond the grant period. You may upload 1 file up to 3 pages. Suggested uploads: brief staff/board bios, or strategic plans. 4. What is your proposed Year One organizational budget? Your answer should include: • Explain how your budget supports your project • Describe other resources beyond city funds that will allow you to successfully complete this activity including in-kind support and other funding sources. [This is the budget form that will be in Submittable] Public Connection (30 pts) 5. How will you market your proposed activities? Your answer should include: • Describe how you connect with residents, …
Nexus Scoring Rubric Creative Work (up to 30 points) 1. What is your proposed project? 10 points 5 points Describe your artistic vision and the creative focus or traditions that shape the work. Applicant clearly describes the artistic vision and creative focus of the proposed activity. Their is a clear connection to a tradition or art form. 10 points Describe what makes your project unique, bold, or culturally important. Applicant provides a detailed explanation describing why thier project is unique, bold, or culturally important. 10 points Applicant provides adequate details to understand the artistic vision/creative focus of the proposed activity Applicant's artist vision is connected to traditions or art forms, but missing some critical details. 5 points Applicant provides an adequate explanation as to why their project is unique, bold or culturally important, but some critical details are missing 5 points Describe how the public will experience or engage with your project Applicant clearly describes the proposed activities and how the public will be engaged with the project Applicant provides adequate details to understand event description but missing some critical details. 1 point Applicant does not sufficiently describe their artistic vision/creative focus. Or applicant's activity is not connected to a tradition or art form. Or applicant's activity is not a public facing activity 1 point The explanation is not clear how the activity is unique, bold, or cultually important. 1 point Applicant does not sufficiently describe their proposed event. The description is not clear or no description is provided Capacity (up to 30 points) 2. Describe how the public will experience or engage with your project . 15 points 7 points 1 point Introduce your key team members, their expertise and their role in the proposed activity. Applicant clearly describes their creative and administrative contributers and their experience or connection to the work 15 points Highlight one or two examples of similar work you’ve completed successfully in Austin Application clearly describes their past experience producing creative work in Austin and how it realates to proposed activity Applicant or administrative/creative contributors are named, but roles, relevance, or experience are unclear. 7 points Some experience in producing creative work, but may lack public-facing or Austin-based examples. Potential is visible, but alignment with proposed activity is unclear. minimal details on roles and experience of applicant or administrative/creative contributors is provided. 1 point Examples provided have no connection to the proposed activities; Or no …
AACME Funding Program Updates What’s New? The AACME team undertook a rigorous community engagement effort during the Spring-Summer 2025 with an aim to improve funding programs that impact the creative community in Austin, TX. Our community input via “The Creative Reset” showed us great opportunities to enhance, align, and maximize our program goals. See the highlights of what’s new below Unified Funding Goals & Improved User Experience • Familiar grant programs, with enhanced eligibility, transparency, and processes to build community trust • A new guideline format creates one set of funding program guidelines vs. individual guidelines with ACME priorities elevated, creating alignment across all funding programs • Application improvements include streamlined intake processes and enhanced supports • Funding priorities are clearly defined and include a focus on creative space preservation, arts nonprofits, and artist resiliency • Enhanced transparency and accessibility will be a focus as we move through our funding process Eligibility, Scoring, Evaluation & Grant Awards • Eligibility - groups like applicants together where possible, to create more alignment in the competitive categories (e.g. nonprofits with space compete as a category, nonprofits without space compete as a separate category, etc.) • Universal Appeals process adopted across AACME programs • Operating budget size determines grant award category, optimizing investments • Strengthened policies to prevent conflicts of interest and double dipping of grant funds, ensuring equitable distribution of funds to more individuals and organizations • Fiscal Sponsorship is an available avenue, remaining optional for select programs • Award amounts have changed across programs, reflecting community and commission feedback • Panel Process Improvements include the use of “Olympic style scoring” and an “applicant introduction” opportunity to share more about the organization, project, and goals (non-scored) The next round of ACME Funding Program applications open in Fall of 2025. AACME Funding Programs: Eligibility At-A-Glance FUND SOURCE Cultural Arts Fund (HOT) APPLICANT CATEGORY Thrive Elevate Nexus Live Music Fund (HOT) General & Incentive Funds Austin Live Music Fund Creative Space Assistance Program Historic Preservation Fund (HOT) Capital Projects (Historic designation with activities highlighting site’s local history) Heritage Events (History- informed activities highlighting site’s local history) 501 (c)(3) Arts Nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Arts Nonprofit w/ Creative Space 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit (non-arts) State of Texas Designated Arts Nonprofit For-Profit Arts Group For-Profit Individual Artist For-Profit Professional Musician For-Profit Independent Promoter Organization w/ Eligible Creative Space For-Profit Business Fiscal Sponsor Allowed - - - - - - …
