Item 09 - MEASURE 2024 Hotel Occupancy Tax.pdf — original pdf

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Maximizing Impact Evaluating Austin’s Hotel Occupancy Tax- Funded Programs TABLE OF CONTENTS Who We Are Purpose of the Evaluation Methodology Quantitative Findings Qualitative Findings Theory of Change Wrap Up W E A R E A B L A C K W O M A N - L E D Research & Data Activism Organization that transforms the stories of impacted communities into data that drives real change. Founded in 2015 by Jameila "Meme" Styles, Measure was created in response to the disconnect between the performance measures tracked by police and the day-to-day experience of her community. Measure grew out of a desire to bolster the Black community’s lived experiences with the power of data. W H Y W E E X I S T Lived Experience is Powerful Data that remains underutilized in the fight to eliminate social disparities in Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. Systemic racism and a lack of equitable data tools prevent these communities from effectively leveraging their own stories and data to drive change. This creates an environment where critical voices are oppressed, and solutions lack the foundation of lived experience. THE EVALUATION TEAM At Measure, we are proud to be an organization that works hard to showcase excellence in the advocacy, research and tech industry. We are proud to present our team of leaders, which includes a wide range of professionals with unique experiences and perspectives. MEME STYLES Founder & President PAULETTE BLANC Co-founder & Chief of Research LACOLE FOOTS Measure Evaluator DR. TIFFANY RICKS Measure Evaluator HANNA CHUN Measure Evaluator PURPOSE Evaluate the broader impact of Austin's Hotel Occupancy Tax-funded cultural programs through comprehensive assessment Combine community input with quantitative analysis to measure program effectiveness in addressing inequities and supporting underrepresented communities Generate actionable insights to optimize program investments and enhance cultural vitality across Austin METHODOLOGY How did we conduct our evaluation? QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS Conducted analysis of three HOT-funded programs in 2023, examining representation across race, gender, LGBTQIA status, and age categories Compared program applicants and awardees to the city’s population to spot any under- or overrepresentation. Created visual data comparisons tracking program outcomes by technical assistance utilization and council district distribution, highlighting key demographic patterns METHODOLOGY QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS Focus Groups: Conducted focus groups with individuals who have firsthand experiences of city-funded programs to gather detailed, qualitative feedback. Equity-Focused Research Tool: Used the Measure Equity Focus Group (EFG) Tool, a participatory research method co-designed with participants, ensuring a racial equity lens and input from historically impacted communities. Thematic Analysis: Used thematic analysis to explore personal stories, adding depth to numbers by highlighting program awareness, community impact, and access barriers. FOCUS GROUP RECRUITMENT The outreach and selection process for focus group recruitment aimed to ensure diverse representation across several factors: Experience with HOT-funded programs Representation across different programs Demographic diversity to capture a range of perspectives A mix of organizations and individual artists/practitioners The City of Austin and Measure recruited participants through targeted outreach methods like fliers, emails, social media, and network referrals, carefully vetting registrants to ensure a credible candidate pool. The focus groups achieved data saturation with 31 participants across eight diverse groups, validating the findings' insights despite the small sample size. PROGRAM INSIGHTS We identified patterns of inequity in district-level participation and award rates, highlighting a need for targeted outreach to less-engaged areas. Technical assistance providers, such as the Long Center, play a pivotal role in applicant success, underscoring the value of resources and guidance. Overall, the data underscores the importance of intentional investment in historically marginalized communities and the continued refinement of funding processes to address gaps in representation, accessibility, and equity. These insights will inform efforts to build a more inclusive and vibrant cultural landscape for Austin. FINDINGS SUMMARY We learned that Austin’s cultural funding programs are making strides toward equity and inclusion but still face challenges in fully representing the city’s diverse communities. Programs like Elevate, Thrive, and the Live Music Fund Event Program reveal both progress and disparities. For instance, Asian and Black/African American applicants often exceed their population proportions in applications and awards, while Hispanic/Latino and younger applicants remain underrepresented. LGBTQIA applicants consistently show higher acceptance rates, demonstrating some success in prioritizing marginalized groups. DEMOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION Asian and Black/African American applicants often overperform relative to their city population proportions in applications and awards. Hispanic/Latino applicants are generally underrepresented compared to their population size, but their acceptance rates are competitive. LGBTQIA applicants show higher acceptance rates in several programs compared to non-LGBTQIA applicants. PROGRAM INSIGHTS Supports culturally diverse arts and prioritizes projects that engage marginalized communities. It demonstrates a higher acceptance rate for underrepresented groups, such as Black and Asian applicants. Elevate Thrive Long-term investment in marginalized arts organizations, with a focus on racial equity. Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino applicants form a significant proportion of awardees. Live Music Fund Shows a balanced representation in awards but highlights areas for improvement in demographic inclusivity. RECOMMENDATIONS HOW CAN WE BETTER SUPPORT AUSTIN CREATIVES? 1. Simplify the Application Process: Provide clearer guidelines and templates to reduce applicant burden and promote equity. 2. Build Capacity with Resources and Training: Offer workshops, grant-writing support, and resource access to level the playing field for smaller organizations and individuals. 3. Foster Collaboration and Genuine Outreach: 4. Track and Measure Long-Term Impact Creatively: Position the City as a facilitator of connections, Implement real-time observation and sustained using multilingual communications. evaluation methods to ensure accountability and capture deeper effects of funded programs. RECOMMENDATIONS HOW CAN WE BETTER SUPPORT AUSTIN CREATIVES? 5. Advance Cultural Equity and Inclusion: 6. Prioritize Equitable Distribution of Funds: Acknowledge historical injustices and promote Set aside HOT funds for underrepresented inclusive funding that ensures equitable groups, particularly BIPOC communities, to access for marginalized communities; Provide address past inequities and ensure fair resource multi-year support allocation. 7. Establish Community Advisory Panels: 8. Fund Restorative and Reparative Initiatives: Form diverse panels to guide grant decisions, Support projects that address historical damage, ensuring funding reflects community needs and revitalize neglected communities, and promote fosters accountability. long-term sustainability. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THEORY OF CHANGE If the City of Austin provides funding to artists and cultural organizations, then the community will be enriched and affected. If the City of Austin provides funding to artists and cultural organizations Then the community will be enriched and affected Creates programs Advertises programs Receives applications Approves applicants Provides funding Funds received and used by artists Predictions of impact will be made by artists Artists will create art and artistic expressions in Austin Actual impact will be documented City of Austin analyzes program impact City of Austin communicates the impacts TAKE AWAYS Communicating Our Progress Staff are already working to make strides on some community recommendations and that needs to be illustrated Multi-Year Data is Needed to Track Effectiveness Clean, consistent data and data definitions are vital in the understanding of what’s happening in the respective programs Need Community Impact Metrics This framework will help in making sense of how to measure program success Q&A THANK YOU!