Item 10 - Arts Commission_June2026_Funding Update.pdf — original pdf

Backup

Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | June 15, 2026 Funding Disbursement Status (as of 6/15/26) Program Total Awardees Total Funds # of Awardees Paid % of Awardees Paid $ of funds disbursed % of funds disbursed ALMF Elevate CSAP HPG Thrive 396 277 22 22 35 $7,045,000 $12,616,773 $1,320,000 $3,000,274 $3,850,000 356 222 16 12 27 77% 80% 73% 55% 77% $3,358,500 $5,037,799 $480,000 $626,242 $2,713,500 TOTAL 752 $27,832,047 633 84% $12,216,041 48% 40% 36% 21% 70% 44% 2 2027 Guideline Enhancements 2027 Enhancements ▪ Last month: Overarching priorities and enhancements related to ▪ Eligibility, Three-Step-Process, Communication, Tech, Documentation, Training, Timeline, Support, Marketing/Awareness, Language Access ▪ This month: Details on Guideline Enhancements ▪ Added minimum award amounts and structured ranges ▪ Added new or expanded scoring rubrics and tie-breakers across programs ▪ Added project summary question for all applications ▪ Strengthened definitions → especially “Applicant Entity,” “Arts Group,” and “Annual Expenses” ▪ Clarified anti-duplication rules (one application per program; no aliases) ▪ Maintained existing tourism marketing requirements but improved clarity, consistency, and alignment across programs. ▪ Deepened rigor across heritage and capital project requirements to strengthen preservation outcomes and documentation standards. ▪ Updated reading level of applications to 8th grade level for accessibility 4 Award Amounts for Thrive & Elevate ▪ What changed: ▪ FY27 Guidelines introduce structured award ranges with minimum and maximum award amounts for Thrive and Elevate. Previously it only included maximum cap. ▪ Thrive: Fully tiered award amounts by annual expenses with clear minimums per tier ▪ Elevate: Introduction of minimum award floors, creating structured, predictable ranges for all applicants ▪ How this enhances the Guidelines: ▪ Introduces transparency and predictability ▪ Reduces confusion and subjective interpretation by eliminating the ambiguous “up to” structure ▪ Aligns award amounts more closely with applicant capacity and operating size through tiering ▪ Set award amounts reduce administrative burden and helps with budgeting to know how many awards can be made within the amount of money available in the fund 5 Award Amounts for Thrive & Elevate Thrive Applicant Total Award over 2 years Annual Award 501 (c)(3) Arts Nonprofit with Creative Space Annual expenses of $125,000 or greater Annual expenses of $85,000-$124,999 Annual expenses of $60,000-$84,999 501 (c)(3) Arts Nonprofit without Creative Space Annual expenses of $85,000 or greater Annual expenses of $60,000-$84,999 $250,000 $125,000 per year $200,000 $100,000 per year $170,000 $85,000 per year $170,000 $85,000 per year $160,000 $80,000 per year Elevate Applicant 501(c)(3) Arts Nonprofit Annual expenses $300,000 or greater Annual expenses of $100,001 to $299,999 Annual expenses of $50,000 to $100,000 Annual expenses of $30,000 to $50,000 Annual expenses under $30,000 State of Texas Nonprofits / Arts Group Annual expenses of $50,000 to $500,000 Annual expenses of $30,000 to $50,000 Annual expenses under $30,000 Individual Artist Annual expenses of $30,000 to $500,000 Annual expenses under $30,000 Award Amount $80,000 $60,000 $50,000 $30,000 $15,000 $40,000 $30,000 $15,000 $30,000 $15,000 6 Eligibility Definitions & Category Alignment ▪ What changed: ▪ “Annual Expenses” introduced with calculation tips (new) ▪ “Arts Group” now requires an EIN (updated) ▪ “Applicant Entity” added (new) ▪ “Individual Artist” revised to align with new Arts Group definition ▪ Clear distinctions added for State Nonprofits vs 501(c)(3) vs For-Profit entities ▪ How this enhances the Guidelines: ▪ Reduces misclassification and staff troubleshooting ▪ Closes loopholes for applicants applying under multiple identities ▪ Ensures category definitions are legally sound 7 Anti-Duplication/Single-Application Rules ▪ What changed: ▪ One application per program per entity ▪ No aliases or multiple lead applicants representing the same project ▪ Only one active award at a time across Cultural Arts Fund (Thrive, Elevate, Nexus) and Live Music Fund ▪ How this enhances the Guidelines: ▪ Creates fairness across applicant pool ▪ Protects staff time ▪ Prevents abuse ▪ Ensures intended distribution of resources 8 Revises Ineligible and Eligible Expense Lists ▪ What changed: ▪ Clearer prohibitions and allowances on: ▪ Consultants who are also employees (new restriction) ▪ Visiting artist travel exceptions (clarified) ▪ More explicit guidance about debts, taxes, and educational institution programming ▪ How this enhances the Guidelines: ▪ Reduces compliance issues ▪ Standardizes interpretation across programs ▪ Helps applicants avoid costly errors 9 Expanded Scoring Rubrics + Tie-Breakers ▪ What changed: ▪ More detailed, program-specific rubrics ▪ Tie-breakers added for Austin Live Music Fund, Elevate, Heritage Preservation, Thrive ▪ How this enhances the Guidelines: ▪ Greater transparency in how decisions are made ▪ Helps staff manage high-volume review cycles ▪ Supports applicant understanding and fairness 10 Tie-Breaker Questions ALMF Professional Musicians & Independent Promoters: 1. Applicants who have applied in Austin Live Music Fund previously and never been awarded 2. Applicants who have been producing work in Austin the longest 3. Applicants who received the highest total score in the Austin Music Economy Development Section Elevate: HPG Capital: 1. Applicants who have the highest score in “What is your proposed public event and how does it reflect the people, places, or cultures of Austin?” 1. Applicants who have applied in the Heritage Preservation Grant previously and never been awarded 2. Applicants who have been in operation 2. Applicants who have applied in Elevate in Austin the longest and has never been awarded 3. Applicants who have been producing work in Austin the longest 4. Applicants whose artistic discipline is least represented in the pool of applicants 3. Applicants who received the highest total score in the Preservation Impact Section ALMF Music Venue: Thrive: HPG Heritage Events: 1. Applicants who have applied in the Austin Live Music Fund previously and never been awarded 2. Applicants who have been in operation in Austin the longest 3. Applicants who received the highest total score in the Austin Music Economy Development Section 1. Applicants who have the highest score in “Describe your organizations goals to sustain and grow” 2. Applicants who have been producing work in Austin the longest 3. Applicants whose artistic discipline is least represented in the pool of applicants 1. Applicants who have applied in the Heritage Preservation Grant previously and never been awarded 2. Applicants who have been producing work in Austin the longest 3. Applicants who received the highest total score in the Preservation Impact Section 11 Program Specific Enhancements Austin Live Music Fund Enhancements ▪ Themes: clarity, documentation, improved scoring, application consistency/ ▪ Key Changes: ▪ Annual Expenses replaces operating budget ▪ Expanded and clarified scoring criteria for all applicant types ▪ Added promoter question about past events ▪ Clarified language on recordings vs tracks and award documentation ▪ Fixed duplicated eligibility questions (e.g. age, City employee, etc) ▪ Added clearer instructions and definitions in expenses, pay rates, and support materials ▪ Required uploaded evidence for each venue eligibility criterion ▪ Added “select all that apply” for certain marketing questions ▪ Overall Impact: More accurate eligibility checks, clearer language, more consistent evaluation of musicians, promoters, and venues. 13 Heritage Preservation Grant Enhancements ▪ Themes: expanded clarity, stronger requirements, improved alignment with heritage best practices. ▪ Key Changes: ▪ Added a definition for “Heritage” ▪ New/expanded application questions about impact, access, public benefit ▪ Stronger emphasis on connection between project and heritage district/site ▪ Clearer rules for residential-zoned property eligibility ▪ Allow contingency fees within PM fees for capital projects ▪ Multi-year (24 month) grant terms for larger awards ($150k heritage events, up to $250k capital) ▪ Clarified ineligible activities (e.g. events not focused on heritage preservation) ▪ Required site maps for capital projects ▪ Clearer historic designation distinctions and scoring updates ▪ Overall Impact: HPG becomes clearer, more consistent, more place-based, easier for applicants and reviewers to interpret. 14 Elevate Enhancements ▪ Themes: major language cleanup, updated definitions, clearer eligibility rules ▪ Key Changes: ▪ Travel costs clarified for visiting artists ▪ Re-inserted rules excluded colleges/universities ▪ Moved religious programming restrictions into program-wide section ▪ Updated award process to include minimum awards and structured award ranges ▪ Strengthened definitions (annual expenses, lead applicant, Arts Group w/ EIN) ▪ Added tie-breaker questions ▪ Updated tourism marketing branding language ▪ Clarified multiple contract rules, updated review process, improved helper text placement ▪ Overall Impact: Clearer award structures, simpler application language, more transparent scoring and review process. 15 Thrive Enhancements ▪ Themes: updated definitions, improved process clarity, better applicant support. ▪ Key Changes: ▪ Updated definition and guidance for annual expenses (replaces “operating budget”) ▪ Added minimum award tiers ▪ Added tie-breaker questions ▪ Required project summary ▪ Included full scoring rubric in guidelines ▪ Approval to plan for training support informed by Thrive Initial Reports ▪ Overall Impact: Greater predictability for applicants, clearer reviewer tools, stronger long- term capacity building. 16 Other things to know 2027 Application: Panel Needs ▪ 3 Programs in this cycle use the Panel Process (Elevate, Heritage Preservation, Thrive) ▪ 1068 estimated applications that will require Panel Process ▪ 46 estimated number of Panels ▪ 25 estimated number of applications per Panel ▪ 322 panelists needed! ▪ Minimum number if we want 7 panelists per Panel ▪ Recruitment is now open via Panelist Interest Form ▪ Currently making enhancements to training, support materials, etc. (per survey responses) ▪ $500 compensation 18 2027 Application Direct Assistance ▪ Bookings Link for 1:1 meetings with staff ▪ Virtual Open Office Hours ▪ Tuesday, June 23, 10am – Noon ▪ Tuesday, July 7, 10am– Noon ▪ Tuesday, July 14, 10am – Noon ▪ Tuesday, July 21, 10am – Noon ▪ Tuesday, July 28, 10am – Noon ▪ Tuesday, August 4, 10am – Noon ▪ Tuesday, August 11, 10am – Noon ▪ Tuesday, August 18th, 10am – 6pm 19 2027 Application Workshops (so far!) ▪ Workshops (Eventbrite Collection will be updated shortly) ▪ Wednesday, June 24, Noon – 1:30pm: Grant Writing Workshop ▪ Wednesday, June 24, 6-8:30 pm: Grant Writing Workshop in Spanish (virtual and recorded) ▪ Tuesday, June 30, 6 – 7:30pm: ACME Funding Programs Overview (virtual) ▪ Tuesday, July 7, 2 – 3:30pm: ACME Funding Programs Overview (virtual) ▪ Tuesday, July 7, 7- 8pm: ALMF Workshop Co-Hosted by Austin Texas Musicians at Hotel Vegas ▪ Wednesday, July 8, 6-7:30pm: Elevate Workshop Co-Hosted by Lupe Arte at Ruiz Library ▪ Thursday, July 9, 6-7:30pm: Elevate Workshop Co-Hosted by/at Riches Art Gallery ▪ Tuesday, July 14, 6-7:30pm: Elevate/ALMF Workshop Co-Hosted by/at Radio East ▪ Wednesday, July 15, 11am-12:30pm: Heritage Preservation Workshop Co-Hosted by/at Preservation Austin ▪ Saturday, July 18, 11am-12:30: Elevate Workshop Co-Hosted by/at Future Front ▪ Tuesday, July 21, 11am—1:30pm: Ask Us Anything at University Hills Branch Library ▪ Wednesday, July 29, 7-8pm: Elevate/Thrive Workshop Co-Hosted by Torch Literary Arts at Torch Center ▪ Saturday, August 1, 11am-1pm: Elevate/Thrive Workshop Co-Hosted by Austin Creative Alliance at Sanctuary ▪ Thursday, August 13, 7:30-9pm: Elevate/ALMF Workshop Co-Hosted by dadageek at dadaLab 20 2027 Programs Launch Timeline June 2026 August 18, 2026 Sep. 2026 Nov. 2026 January 2027 Nexus Award Announcement Applications Close! ACME Website updated •Assistance Calendar •Application Questions •Rubrics •Support Materials Program Evaluation/ Scoring begins Panelists review period Nexus Opens! 2027 Awards Announced FY27 Contracts/Payments Applications Open! •Austin Live Music Fund •Elevate •Heritage Preservation •Thrive Panelists Trained July 7, 2026 Aug. 2026 Panel Meetings Scores Finalized Oct. 2026 2027 Appeals 2026 awards end (1Y) Dec. 2026 21 Questions? www.austintexas.gov/acme/grants-funding