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Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | Sept 21, 2026 FY26 Funding Disbursement Status (as of 9/21/26) Program Total Awardees Total Funds # of Awardees Paid % of Awardees Paid $ of funds disbursed % of funds disbursed ALMF Elevate CSAP HPG Thrive Nexus 396 277 22 22 35 76 $7,045,000 $12,616,773 $1,320,000 $3,000,274 $3,850,000 $505,000 384 273 21 19 32 57 97% 99% 95% 86% 91% 75% $4,517,500 $10,776,474 $781,741 $1,497,763 $3,118,500 $328,500 TOTAL 829 $28,337,047 755 91% $21,020,478 64% 85% 59% 50% 81% 65% 74% 2 2027 ACME Grants Overview Applications Window: July 7, 2026 – August 18, 2026, at 6:59 PM Contract Period: January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027 (or December 2028 for 2-year contracts) $23 Million in Funds Available Austin Live Music Fund Elevate Heritage Preservation Thrive • $6 million • $11 million • $3 million • $3 million • ~290 awards • $5,000 - $70,000 • Musicians, independent promoters, live music venues • ~250 awards • $30,000 - $80,000 • Arts organizations, individual artists, creative businesses • ~30 awards • $50,000 - $250,000 • Preservation projects and activities • ~30 awards • $160,000 - $250,000 • Arts nonprofits deeply rooted in diverse cultures 4 Total 2027 Grant Applications Program Austin Live Music Fund (English) Austin Live Music Fund (Spanish) Elevate (English) Elevate (Spanish) Heritage Preservation (English) Heritage Preservation (Spanish) Thrive (English) Thrive (Spanish) TOTAL Submitted 1,059 10 946 21 57 2 164 1 2,260 5 Breakdown by Program Type (removing test apps)  Austin Live Music Fund:  Heritage Preservation Grant:  Venues - 56  Independent Promoters- 65  Ineligible - 2 (no award was chosen)  $20,000 - 45  $5,000 - 18  Professional Musicians- 923  Ineligible - 7 (no award was chosen)  $20,000 - 545  $5,000 - 371  Heritage Events – 40  Capital Projects – 13  Elevate:  501(c)(3) – 257  Arts Groups – 179  Individual Artists – 418 6 Spanish Language Support Enhancements in Action Summary of Community Priorities Expand Spanish-language Outreach and Support Reduce barriers to applying Improve translation quality and consistency Strengthen community trust and relationships Provide language access throughout the grant lifecycle 8 Language Used  For Spanish translations of the word grant:  ACME will use subsidio because it is a more familiar and commonly understood term among the communities we serve.  While subsidio is not an exact equivalent, our goal is to prioritize terminology that is clear and easily understood by community members. This decision reflects a balance between technical accuracy and plain language to improve comprehension and accessibility.  City website auto translation tool:  Will translate “grants” to both subvencion/subsido  Austin Public Health uses subvencion for their grants  Grant Oversight Body  The City of Austin has named Austin Governmental Relations as a citywide grant oversight body  We will be working closely with them on aligning demographics captured, language used, and city policies and practices. 9 Spanish Language Word Bank  City-Wide Resource  ACME Grant Specific Word Bank Español Subsidio Inglés Grant Solicitante Grant Applicant Definición Fondos que reciben las organizaciones y que no es necesario devolver. Para recibir una subvención, las organizaciones deben competir por los fondos presentando una solicitud y sometiéndose a un proceso de evaluación. Cualquier persona, organización o entidad que cumpla los requisitos y presente una propuesta para un proyecto. Adjudicatario Grant Recipient/Awardee Se seleccionará para recibir el subsidio a cualquier persona, organización o entidad que cumpla los r Compensacion Compensation Plazo (gestión) Term Directrices Guidelines equisitos y obtenga la puntuación más alta entre todos los solicitantes. Pagos a administradores, artistas u otras personas que participen en su proyecto. Esto le incluye a usted mismo. Período de tiempo Las normas establecidas por las organizaciones que conceden los subsidios, en las que se describe con precisión cómo solicitar la financiación y qué es lo que buscan en una propuesta. Concesiones Award/Award Amount Importe total ofrecido al candidato seleccionado Submittable Submittable Sitio Web Para Solicitudes de Todos Los Subsidios 10 ACME Grant Guidelines 11 Application Questions + Program Rubrics  Application Questions are on each ACME program page  NEW: All detailed program Rubrics are on the website  Austin Live Music Fund — Musician Rubric (Spanish) (English)  Austin Live Music Fund — Promoter Rubric (Spanish) (English)  Austin Live Music Fund — Live Music Venue Rubric (Spanish) (English)  Elevate Rubric (Spanish) (English)  Heritage Preservation Grant — Capital Improvement Rubric (Spanish) (English)  Heritage Preservation Grant — Heritage Events Rubric (Spanish) (English)  Thrive Rubric (Spanish) (English) 12 Spanish-Language Workshops  Spanish-language Grant Writing Workshop (June 24)  Lupe Arte Co-Hosted workshop (July 8)  ACME General Workshop with ESB-MACC staff (July 15)  ACME General Workshop at ESB-MACC (July 18)  CAAST (Coalición Artística de Austin para el Teatro en Español) Co- Hosting at ESB-MACC (July 30)  La Peña Co-Hosting – (August 5)  Virtual Workshop – (August 11 )  Proyecto Teatro Co-Hosting at ESB-MACC - (August 15)  Proyecto Teatro All-Day Work Session (18 de agosto) 13 General Workshop Recording + Slides 14 Grant Writing Workshop Recording + Slides 15 Create Austin Resource Materials  Numerous Spanish-language resources:  Guidance on Documentation  Historic Site Designation Research  Tips for Preparing Budget  Fillable Application Forms 16 Fillable Application Templates  Great for practice! NOTE: Application must be submitted through Submittable platform. Paper copies or emails are not allowed.  Austin Live Music Fund  Musician (English) (Spanish)  Promoter (English) (Spanish)  Live Music Venue (English) (Spanish)  Elevate (English) (Spanish)  Heritage Preservation  Heritage Events (English) (Spanish)  Capital Improvement (English) (Spanish)  Thrive (English) (Spanish)  NEW: Lots of “Helper Text” in the Fillable Templates and in Submittable itself. 17 Bilingual Marketing/ Outreach  Telemundo spot on August 7th  Bilingual organic posts  ACME main social media  Collabs with @ESBMACC  Spanish Ads  Postcards 18 ACME Spanish-Language Outcomes 2026 Application Cycle 2027 Application Cycle  1 Spanish Language Workshop  7 Spanish Language Workshops  2 Attendees  74 Attendees  10 Spanish Language Applications  34 Spanish Language Applications submitted submitted 19 Partner Support ACME Ambassadors  Goal: community outreach, marketing support, Co-host one in-person Workshop  Compensation: $1,000; CAN apply for ACME grants  ACME Ambassador Resource Library:  Marketing Toolkit with sample posts in English/Spanish  Social Media graphics  One-Page Summaries of each Grant Program  Selection Process: direct selection based on engagement with ACME representing a broad cross-section of applicant types and communities  17 Pilot ACME Ambassadors: Austin Creative Alliance, Austin Texas Musicians, Art SPARK, Coalición Artística de Austin para el Teatro en Español (Spanish-language), dadageek, Future Front, La Peña (Spanish- language), Lunar Foundation, Lupe Arte (Spanish-language), Museum of Human Achievement, Preservation Austin, Proyecto Teatro (Spanish-language), Radio East, Red River Cultural District, Riches Art Gallery, Texas Authors Museum, Torch Literary Arts 21 ACME Ambassadors  Co-Hosted Event: ACME staff created Eventbrite Listings, presented on specific programs, and answered questions  Results: Record workshop attendance!  Next Steps: ACME Ambassador Interest Form – NOW OPEN! 22 Community Navigator: What We Explored + What Happened Goal: Expand Spanish-language outreach and hands-on applicant support through a Community Navigator. Reviewed past Community Navigator models and contractors and identified potential funding. ProyectoTEATRO expressed interest in serving as Community Navigator after ACME initially invited them to participate as an ACME Ambassador. ACME and ProyectoTEATRO worked through scope, deliverables, and cost and reached agreement on a proposed pilot. Long Center contracting: Explored direct contracting; TLC determined a competitive solicitation would be required, and they could not contract with a directly selected vendor. City contracting: ACME then pursued a Certificate of Exemption for direct contracting; the exemption was not approved. Outcome: Purchasing advised ACME to move forward through a formal competitive procurement process 23 Community Navigator: Next Steps  Develop a formal competitive solicitation in partnership with City Purchasing.  ACME Finance Manager is working on the administrative process right now.  October 2026: Target solicitation launch to the public.  January 2027: Target contract start.  Estimated funding: $60,000–$75,000, pending final scope development with Purchasing.  Proposed term: 1-year contract with a potential 1-year extension, contingent on performance  Maintain focus on Spanish-language outreach, navigation, and direct applicant support.  Would not be eligible for ACME Funding Programs while they are under contract in that role.  Continue ACME Ambassadors and existing language-access supports in addition to the new resource. 24 Application Assistance www.austintexas.gov/acmegrants 2027 Application Direct Assistance  Bookings Link for 1:1 meetings with staff  Applicants can request interpretation services  Staff will arrange interpreters as needed  Long Center Help Line (English & Spanish)  ApplicationHelp@thelongcenter.org  (512) 457-5161  Virtual Open Office Hours  ALL DAY: Tuesday, August 18th, 10am – 6pm  English & Spanish Assistance available 26 2027 Grant Application Assistance (1,184 assisted!) Workshops: 28 workshops (~1.5 hours each); 590 attendees Open Office Hours: 10 sessions (2-8 hours each); 207 attendees 1:1 Meetings via Bookings: 195 sessions (30 mins each); 202 attendees Community Events: 6 events; 185 community members reached 27 2027 Grant Application Timeline July 7, 2026 Aug. 2026 Applications Open! Panelists Trained • Austin Live Music Fund • Elevate • Heritage Preservation • Thrive Oct. 2026 Panel Meetings Scores Finalized Dec. 2026 2027 Appeals 2026 awards end (1Y) Applications Close at 6:59 pm! No extensions. Program Evaluation/ Scoring begins Panelists review period 8th: Nexus Opens! August 18, 2026 Sep. 2026 2027 Awards Announced Nov. 2026 FY27 Contracts/Payments January 2027 28 Nexus Launch Now Open! Now Open!  Nexus Program  Opened: September 7  Deadline: October 13 at 6:59 PM  $5k and $10k grants to support individuals and arts groups producing public art, performances, and cultural projects in Austin.  Built-in/automatic eligibility verification  Variety of workshops scheduled  Virtual Open Office Hours  Regular: 10:00 AM – Noon (September 8, September 15, September 22, September 29, October 6)  All day: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM on October 13  Info Sessions: September 8 (6PM, virtual/recorded), September 10 (6PM, In-Person University Hills Branch Library), September 17 (6PM, virtual/Spanish), September 28 (3PM, virtual)  Ask Us Anything Sessions: September 12 (11AM, virtual), September 24 (5:30PM, In-Person Ruiz Branch Library) 30 Questions? www.austintexas.gov/acmegrants