Backup — original pdf

Backup

Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | December 15, 2025 Funding Programs: Overview Austin Live Music Fund • $5,000 - $70,000 • Music Industry (musicians, independent promoters, venues) Creative Space Assistance Program • $60,000 • Commercial creative spaces Elevate • Up to $30,000 - $80,000 • Arts organizations, individual artists, creative businesses Heritage Preservation Grant • $50,000 - $250,000 • Preservation projects and activities AACME is providing grant funding for activities that enrich the public, broaden tourism, and contribute to the cultural fabric of Austin. 2 AACME Funding Programs: Extension NEW DEADLINE: December 19th at 6:59 p.m. WHY? ▪ New funding process for our community. ▪ Applicants who submitted their intake forms on time have adequate support and time to complete a brand-new process. ▪ Commitment to accessibility, equity, and meeting the community where they are. 3 REVISED Application Timeline 1. Intake Form Deadline: 6:59 p.m. Thursday, December 4, 2025 2. Eligibility Form Due by 6:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 (includes any edits!) 3. Application Due by 6:59 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2025 (includes any edits!) 4 REVISED Funding Program Timeline December 19, 2025 February 2026 April 2026 REVISED Application Deadline REVISED Panel Meetings Occur 6:59 PM REVISED Funding distribution begins (Activities are still for calendar year 2026) REVISED Austin Live Music Fund and Creative Space Assistance Program scored REVISED Panelists trained and assigned (Elevate and Heritage Preservation Grant) REVISED Funding Decisions announced Nexus Application Opens Thrive, Elevate, Austin Live Music Fund, and Heritage Preservation Grant application cycle begins January 2026 March 2026 July 2026 5 Funding Programs: Application Status • 2,364 Intake Forms Submitted (2,333 EN; 31 SP) Eligibility Forms Sent Eligibility Forms Submitted Applications Sent Applications Submitted Austin Live Music Fund Creative Space Assistance Elevate Heritage Preservation EN SP EN SP EN SP EN SP 1,377 1,057 16 297 10 5 125 0 1,399 1,002 25 247 2 14 116 0 951 4 59 0 818 9 65 0 577 1 33 0 395 2 30 0 ALL PROGRAMS TOTAL 3,373 2,319 1,906 1,038 6 Funding Programs: Application Comparison NOTE: NOT FINAL DUE TO EXTENSION ▪ 2,319 Eligibility Forms Submitted ▪ 1,062 for Austin Live Music Fund (17.5% Increase from 2024) ▪ 125 for Creative Space Assistance Program (17.8% decrease from 2023) ▪ 1,016 for Elevate (83% increase from 2024) ▪ 116 for Heritage Preservation Grant (427% increase from 2024) ▪ Roughly 81% of submitted Eligibility Forms were deemed Eligible to move to Application ▪ 54% of Eligible applicants submitted Application Forms by original December 11th deadline 7 Funding Programs: Application Assistance ▪ 10 Workshops (6 In Person; 4 Virtual) ▪ 168 Attendees (18 total hours) ▪ Opportunities in English, Spanish, ASL; Recordings on website ▪ 11 Open Office Hour Sessions to date • 305 Attendees (35 total hours x 7 staff = 245 hours) • Additional dates added! • 10am – 4pm, December 15, 16, 17 (bit.ly/FundingOpenOffice) 374 hours of assistance to date! 2,681 people assisted to date! ▪ 142+ 1:1 Meetings via Booking Link ▪ 158 Attendees (71 hours) ▪ 20+ Community Events ▪ 2,050 attendees (40 total hours) ▪ The Long Center: Email ApplicationHelp@thelongcenter.org; (512) 457-5161 (M-F, 9-11am) ▪ 17,000+ Direct Messages sent to help shepherd potential applicants through pipeline 8 Panel Process Funding Programs: Panel Process Updates Austin Live Music Fund • $5,000 - $70,000 • Music Industry (musicians, independent promoters, venues) Creative Space Assistance Program • $60,000 • Commercial creative spaces Elevate • Up to $30,000 - $80,000 • Arts organizations, individual artists, creative businesses Heritage Preservation Grant • $50,000 - $250,000 • Preservation projects and activities Panel Process 10 Panelist Recruitment Process • Open Nomination process (newsletters/social) • Publicly accessible Form on City website • Form lives in Submittable (built out by TLC) • Rolling acceptance Step 1: Initial Interest (AACME-wide) Step 2: Secondary Form (Program-Specific) • Sent to all via Submittable • Specific date availability • Pre-emptively identifies conflicts • Specific questions about other languages, special skillsets, discipline expertise • Applications scored based on • Subject matter expertise • Arts: Community knowledge and geographic representation • Absence of Conflicts of Interest Step 3: Staff Review & Assignments 376 Panel Interest Forms Submitted 11 Panelist Training & Expectations Panelist Responsibilities Required Training • Complete required training • Read and review ALL assigned applications thoroughly • Score based on program rubric (not personal preference) • Provide constructive written comments for each application • Participate in virtual panel discussion • Look beyond grantsmanship to evaluate merit • Do NOT contact applicants of other reviewers during process • Maintain confidentiality and professionalism • AACME Mission and Creative Reset background • Funding Source requirements (HOT regulations) • Program guidelines and scoring rubrics • Conflict of Interest Policy and Procedures • Submittable portal technical training • Best practices for constructive written and spoken feedback • Panel day logistics and expectations 12 Avoiding Conflicts of Interest W h a t i s a C o n f l i c t o f I n t e r e s t ? • Any financial association or relationship with an applicant • Any situation where panelists feels they cannot be unbiased • Immediate family member or organization applying • Own organization applying to the same program track ▪ Required Actions by Panelists (built in at every step of process) ▪ Disclose all potential/actual conflicts BEFORE receiving assignments (Secondary Form) ▪ After receiving assignments, notify staff if conflict found ▪ Complete Conflict of Interest attestation before reviewing EACH application (in Submittable) ▪ Recuse themselves from reviewing/scoring any conflicted application ▪ Cannot serve as panelists if they or immediate family member is applying to the same grant track Permissible Service: Consequences: Applicants CAN serve as panelists if they are in a DIFFERENT track (e.g. an Elevate applicant in the Nonprofit track may serve as a Reviewer in the Individual Artist track or Arts Group track) Panelists who fail to disclose conflicts may be dismissed Disqualified from future review opportunities 13 Elevate Panels: 30-40 Panels (based on applications received) Applicant Type 501(c)3 Arts Groups Individual Artists Discipline Exhibition Performance Art Service, Arts Education, Art/Music Therapy Exhibition Performance Art Service, Arts Education, Art/Music Therapy Exhibition Performance Art Service, Arts Education, Art/Music Therapy Budget Size Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget Large Budget Mid- Size Budget Small Budget 14 Panels: REVISED Key Dates ▪ REVISED Panel Trainings ▪ Wednesday, January 7th, 6:00 PM ▪ Thursday, January 8th, 1:00 PM ▪ Saturday, January 10th, 11:00 AM ▪ REVISED Panel Independent Review ▪ Elevate: January 2026 ▪ Heritage Preservation: January 2026 ▪ REVISED Panel Meetings (Zoom Webinar) ▪ Elevate: February 2 - 28, 2026 (~30-40 panels total; 5-7 panelists per panel) ▪ Heritage Preservation: February 17 – 27, 2026 (~3-5 panels total; 5-7 panelists per panel) 15 Recent Panel Enhancements ▪ Streamlined Panelist Recruitment ▪ Two-stage application process (initial + program specific) ▪ Enhanced Training Content ▪ Comprehensive training with specific guidance on providing constructive feedback in both writing and verbal assessments (samples of good vs less helpful feedback) ▪ Olympic-style scoring ▪ Highest and lowest scores for each application are removed before averaging the remaining scores. This approach helps reduce impact of outliers and ensure fairness. ▪ Applicant Introduction Statement (not scored) ▪ Narrative or video to provide additional context about proposed project or creative work. ▪ This is an opportunity to share additional context they think may be helpful to Reviewers. ▪ Required Comments ▪ Required written comments for each application (within Submittable) ▪ Required verbal comments for each application by all panelists (not just primary and secondary) 16 Questions? www.austintexas.gov/acme/grants-funding