Item 06 - ArtsCommission_Oct2026_Funding Update.pdf — original pdf

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Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | Oct 19, 2026 FY26 Funding Disbursement Status (as of 10/16/26) 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 $505,000 385 273 21 20 32 61 97% 99% 95% 91% 91% 80% $4,695,000 $11,000,089 $919,741 $1,904,021 $3,208,500 $374,500 TOTAL 829 $28,337,047 792 96% $22,101,851 67% 87% 70% 63% 83% 74% 78% 2 2027 ACME Grants 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) 2027 Grant Panel Process! ▪ 60 Panels (Elevate, Heritage Preservation, Thrive) ▪ 330+ trained Panelists (panelists score against a detailed rubric) ▪ 900+ applications moved to Panel Process ▪ 12-26 applications reviewed per Panel Meeting ▪ 20 interpreters scheduled throughout the month (Spanish and American Sign Language) ▪ 5-8 Panelists review every application (Olympic scoring before final scores) ▪ 2-3 Panels Meetings per day ▪ 5 weeks (Tues-Saturday) ▪ NOTE: Full Scores, Comments, and Panel Meeting Recordings will be available to applicants when Notification letters go out in November. 4 120 Ineligible Applicants (not moving to Panel Meetings) Elevate (88 ineligible) Thrive (19 ineligible) • Insufficient 2-year Austin-based • Annual expenses below arts production history • Not primarily arts-focused • Unclear or unverifiable documentation (un-dated or incomplete work samples) • Ineligible activities proposed (studio build out, events outside the Austin, events not open to the public) $60,000. This was verified with documented IRS filings. • Geographic ineligibility (outside the Austin MSA) • Not meeting the definition of an arts nonprofit • Duplicate lead applicants Heritage Preservation (13 ineligible) • Sites not historically designated, or lack of evidence confirming eligibility status. • Incomplete bid packages or missing required documentation. • Applicant type not eligible under program rules. • Insufficient organizational operating history. • Activities proposed outside the contract period. 5 $23 Million in Funds Available in 2027 $65+ million in requests Austin Live Music Fund Elevate Heritage Preservation Thrive • $6 million • $11 million • $3 million • $3 million • ~290 awards ($5k - $70k) • 1,044 Applicants • 56 Venues • 65 Promoters • 923 Musicians • ~250 awards($30k- $80k) • 854 Applicants • 257 Arts 501c3s • 179 Arts Group • 418 Individuals • ~30 awards ($50k- $250k) • 53 Applicants • 40 Heritage Events • 13 Capital Projects • ~30 awards ($160k- $250k) • 104 Applicants • 40 with Space • 64 without Space 6 2026 Nexus Fall Launch Application Window: September 7 – October 13 Contract Period: January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027 2026 Nexus Fall Launch Update ▪ 300 Applications Received (288 English, 12 Spanish) ▪ 86 hours of direct application support to 95 individuals (6 Virtual Office Hours, 11 Bookings appointments, 4 English workshops, 2 Spanish Workshops). Plus 2 Community Events reaching 375 community members. ▪ 13 Reviewers have been trained and are reviewing applications ▪ Scores and comments due November 16. No Panel Meetings. No Appeals Process. ▪ From our ACME Guidelines: "Nexus Grant Reviews: Due to high application volumes for our smaller grant opportunity, the Nexus program will use a modified review structure of the formal panel. Applications are evaluated by outside reviewers. All reviewers are trained in the application review process and evaluate applications based on defined grant criteria. Reviewers will provide written comments. A panel discussion will not be offered. All final scoring decisions are carefully reviewed ahead of final award decisions by AACME leadership." ▪ Award announcements end of Nov/early Dec ▪ 75 awards ▪ 25 at the $10,000 level ▪ 50 at the $5,000 level 8 Other Updates ACME Fiscal Sponsor Round Table ▪ Goal: To bring together Austin’s fiscal sponsors to better understand the current landscape, gather insights on strengths and challenges, and inform potential improvements to ACME’s fiscal sponsorship policies. ▪ September 17th invitation and Survey went out by email ▪ Preferred meeting date: Wednesday, November 4th from 10am – Noon ▪ 16 Fiscal Sponsors completed the Pre-Survey (due by Oct 16) ▪ Collected core information about current fiscal sponsorship practices ▪ # of sponsored projects, model type, application process, fee, other services, pain points, etc. ▪ Helps ACME assemble an initial snapshot of Austin’s fiscal sponsorship ecosystem to guide the discussion 10 ACME Access & Assistance ACME Ambassadors ▪ Share information about ACME programs Community Navigator ▪ Solicitation in development with Austin ▪ Guide creatives toward the right places Financial Services for help and official guidance ▪ Oct/Nov 2026: Launch solicitation ▪ Co-host one workshop with ACME staff ▪ January 2027: Target contract start (your space, our content) ▪ Participate in a brief check-in with ACME ▪ Compensated ▪ $60,000–$75,000, pending final scope ▪ 1-year contract with a potential 1-year extension, contingent on performance ▪ LIVE: ACME Ambassador Interest Form ▪ Focus on Spanish-language outreach, navigation, and direct applicant support ▪ Not eligible for ACME Funding Programs 11 2027 Grant Application Timeline July 7, 2026 Aug. 2026 Oct. 2026 Applications Open! Panelists Trained • Austin Live Music Fund • Elevate • Heritage Preservation • Thrive Panel Meetings 13th: Nexus Closes ALMF Scoring Dec. 2026 2027 Appeals 2026 awards end (1Y) Applications Close! 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 12 Questions? www.austintexas.gov/acmegrants