Item 4. Community update outlining the history of the Latino arts community and City of Austin funding programs — original pdf

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Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | January 7, 2026 History of Cultural Funding in Austin ▪ Since 1981: Funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) authorized by state law ▪ Impact: Over $125M invested in 870+ artists and arts organizations ▪ 2019 Snapshot: 5 staff managed 600 contracts in one year ▪ Transparency: Explore all HOT Cultural Funding recipients on the City’s Open Data Portal ▪ 2003: Cultural Funding moved from Parks & Recreation to Economic Development Department ▪ 2013–Present: Arts Commission collaborates with staff to update and approve program guidelines ▪ 2019: Austin Live Music Fund Established through Ordinance No 20190919-149 2 Impetus to Revise Funding Guidelines 2017: Cultural Funding Program Responsiveness Working Group 2018: Funding cuts for the first time (11%) COA Equity Statement: Strategic Direction 2023 Problem: Address 50 years of inequitable funding distribution. 3 Concerns of Inequitable Distribution* *Data shows leadership/staff demographics FY15-FY 21 only. We recognize this is only one indicator. 4 Cultural Funding Review Process 5 Creative Sector Pandemic Relief 2020-2022 $23,042,284 Funded 6 Cultural Funding Review Process Report ▪ June 29, 2022 – Arts Commission Approved Pilot Program Guidelines ▪ Summer 2022 QOL Commissions and Council briefed https://www.austintexas.gov/department/cultural-funding 7 Holistic Funding Ecosystem Nexus Nurture new and emerging applicants by funding creative public projects developed through community activation and/or collaboration. Elevate Creative and administrative expenses of cultural producers that amplify equity and prioritize inclusive programming. Thrive Focused investment to sustain and grow arts organizations that are deeply rooted in, and reflective of Austin’s diverse cultures. 8 Pilot Program Investment Outcomes Grantee Investment by Demographics FY2015 - 2021 Grantee Investment by Demographics FY 2023 - 2024 9 Constant Change! • Established February 24, 2025 • AACME focuses on sustaining and growing Austin's creative sector • AACME acts as a central hub for City's cultural ecosystem and provides resources (funding, institutional support, special permits, access to cultural spaces). The Creative Reset: Phase I 12 The Creative Reset - https://publicinput.com/a88770 Spring-Summer 2025 Community Engagement Phase 1 Goal: to improve funding programs 11,801 Comments Updated AACME Funding Programs Guidelines 13 Funding Programs: Guidelines ▪ Clearer definitions ▪ Clearer criteria ▪ Simplified processes ▪ More accessible resources across all programs ▪ Learn More: austintexas.gov/acme/grants-funding English Guidelines Spanish Guidelines 14 AACME Enhancements ▪ Unified Structure: All funding programs consolidated into one division ▪ Stronger Connections: Cultural Centers & staff better integrated with Funding team ▪ Community Engagement: ▪ Funding staff tabled at MACC Día de los Muertos event ▪ Hosted workshops at Asian American Resource Center ▪ Language Access Leadership: ▪ Collaboration with The Long Center, City-approved interpretation vendors, and internal specialists ▪ Services exceeded baseline requirements and incorporated feedback from Arts Commission & Hispanic Quality of Life Commission ▪ Responsive Language Choices: Adopted “subsidio” instead of “subvención” based on feedback from Spanish-speaking community and bilingual AACME staff 15 AACME Funding Program Timeline October 2025 January 2026 March 2026 July 2026 14th - Intake/Eligibility Opens 21st – Application Opens Evaluation & Scoring begins Panelist Training/ Assignments Funding Decisions announced Nexus Application Opens Thrive, Elevate, Austin Live Music Fund, and Heritage Preservation Grant application cycle begins 4th - Intake Deadline 19th – Revised Application Deadline 36 Panel Meetings Funding distribution December 2025 February 2026 April 2026 16 Funding Programs: Funds Available Austin Live Music Fund • $5,000 - $70,000 • Music Industry (musicians, independent promoters, venues) $7 Million ~370 awards Creative Space Assistance Program • $60,000 • Commercial creative spaces $1.6 Million ~25 awards Elevate • Up to $30,000 - $80,000 • Arts organizations, individual artists, creative businesses $13 Million ~250 awards Heritage Preservation Grant • $50,000 - $250,000 • Preservation projects and activities $3 Million ~25 awards 17 Eligible (Application sent) Ineligible (No Application sent) Applications Submitted Funding Programs: Application Status • 2,085 Intake Forms Submitted (2,065 EN; 20 SP) Austin Live Music Fund Creative Space Assistance Elevate Heritage Preservation EN SP EN SP EN SP EN SP Eligibility Forms Sent Eligibility Forms Submitted 1,377 1,111 16 299 10 6 138 0 1,399 1,060 25 247 8 14 125 1 991 4 72 0 855 9 67 1 ALL PROGRAMS TOTAL 3,381 2,455 1,999 120 2 66 0 205 5 58 0 456 806 3 64 0 680 7 46 0 1,607 18 Funding Programs: Application Assistance ▪ 10 Workshops (6 In Person; 4 Virtual) ▪ 168 Attendees (18 total hours) ▪ Opportunities in English, Spanish, ASL; Recordings on website ▪ 14 Open Office Hours sessions (virtual and in-person) • 362 Attendees (364 total hours) ▪ 142+ 1:1 Meetings via Bookings ▪ 158 Attendees (71 hours) ▪ 20+ Community Events ▪ 2,050 attendees (40 total hours) 493 hours of assistance 2,738 people assisted ▪ 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 19 Language Access Highlights Goal: Ensure equitable access for Spanish-speaking and multilingual communities Key Actions: • Professional Translation: Application forms, guidelines, notifications, feedback • Quality Review: Native Spanish-speaking staff at AACME (including MACC) and The Long Center • Multilingual Templates: Applications in 5 languages (English, Spanish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese) • Website Translation: Available in 14 languages via City auto-translate tool • Spanish Access: • Applications offered in Spanish • Recorded info sessions in English & Spanish (on-demand) • Miles Partnership videos interpreted into Spanish (for awardees) • Interpretation & Support: • Live workshops with Spanish interpretation (incl. full Spanish workshop on Nov 18) • Weekly open office hours with interpretation • Bilingual technical assistance (phone, email, in-person) • Temporary bilingual staff hired for application support 20 Continuous Improvement Areas for Enhancement ▪ Outreach Timeline: Limited promotion time may have impacted reach to Spanish-speaking and other LEP communities. ▪ Action: Extend outreach timelines for future cycles. ▪ Translation Quality Assurance: Minor inconsistencies identified in vendor translations regarding terminology preferences. ▪ Action: Implement enhanced quality control processes. ▪ Vendor Coordination: Need for strengthened coordination between AACME staff and Long Center translation vendors to ensure consistent terminology and formatting. ▪ Action: Now there is only one Division Manager as point person holding weekly check-in meetings with the Long Center (versus three prior to AACME’s realignment). 21 Continuous Improvement Strengths to Continue ▪ Multilingual application templates (5 languages) ▪ Bilingual temporary staff for technical assistance ▪ Proactive interpretation services at all public events ▪ Collaboration with cultural centers and commissions ▪ Multiple access points for language assistance (website, phone, email, in-person) 22 Funding Programs: Applicant Demographics Preliminary data across all programs 23 Funding Programs: Applicant Demographics Preliminary data across all programs 24 Funding Programs: Audience Demographics Preliminary data across all programs 25 Funding Distribution $10,000,000 $12,000,000 $5,314,700 $6,561,696 $7,618,703 $500,000 $10,406,500 $13,300,000 $24,600,000 $24,000,000 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025-26 2026 HOT Relief 26 Questions? www.austintexas.gov/acme/grants-funding