Item 7 Supporting Document — original pdf

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Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) Austin's Creative Heartbeat Angela Means, ACME Director July 2025 The Profound Impact of Arts & Culture According to the Texas Cultural Trust 2025 State of the Arts Report 2 Birth of ACME: Answering Austin's Call Born from Community Passion ACME was established after decades of community advocacy for prioritizing arts and music in Austin's identity and governance. Perfect Timing Created during a critical funding shortage for the arts, when traditional sources like bank loans, donations, and federal grants were diminishing. Preserving Austin's Soul Art, music, and culture represent the heart of Austin—the unique vibe that retains locals and attracts visitors. 3 ACME's First Year: Building Trust Through Action 1 Community-Centered Approach Established transparency, active listening, and consistent availability to all stakeholders as core operational principles. 2 Effective Advocacy Successfully mediated resolutions during the controversial Airport expansion and Convention Center demolition projects, protecting local artists and artwork. 3 Research & Benchmarking Analyzed historical community data and conducted national/state benchmarking to identify best practices and industry standards. 4 The Creative Reset: Strategic Vision One-Year Strategic Planning Process Launched The Creative Reset (TCR) to establish ACME's mission, vision, goals, and measurable outcomes. Comprehensive Program Evaluation Reimagining our funding programs, cultural facilities, and special events through a data-driven approach. PHASE 1: Enhanced Funding Programs Austin Live Music Fund, Heritage Preservation , Nexus, Elevate, Thrive, Creative Space Assistance Program and Art in Public Places (AIPP) 5 Our Foundation: Listen First, Act Second ACME revolutionized our approach to community outreach, resulting in unprecedented participation in only 3 weeks! 1,200+ Survey Responses We gathered a broad spectrum of community perspectives. 70 200 Citywide Attendees Our citywide sessions saw active participation from over 200 individuals, fostering widespread dialogue. 50+ Staff Participants Dedicated staff members actively engaged in the process, ensuring internal alignment and expertise. 100 Targeted Focus Groups Through focused discussions, individuals contributed valuable insights in our targeted focus groups. Personalized One-on-One Sessions We conducted personalized one-on- one sessions, offering tailored opportunities for individual input. 6 What We Heard: Community Voices Shaping Our Path Affordability & Cost Barriers Addressing rising costs and financial barriers to participation. Process & Transparency Streamlining the grant application process and enhancing organizational accountability. Funding & Sustainability Ensuring adequate funding levels, fair distribution, and long-term financial health. 7 Venue Access, Transportation, Parking & Geographic Equity Expanding access to spaces with geographic equity. Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (DEI) Ensuring diverse voices, traditions, and communities are fully represented. Awareness, Communication & Outreach Improving public knowledge and access to opportunities. Moving Forward: Community Recommendations Honor Cultural Legacy Simplify Applications Respond to specific needs of cultural groups and legacy holders Create more accessible funding processes with reduced barriers Ensure Fairness Support New Voices Eliminate conflict-of-interest concerns in funding decisions Invest in emerging creatives and underrepresented communities Build Transparency Develop clear scoring and feedback mechanisms 8 Program Enhancements: Key Changes Thrive—Enhanced for Long-Term Growth Empowering Austin’s cultural organizations to grow and sustain their work. Improved Cohort design. New in 2025: Increased funding opportunities, simpler application, strategic and focused approach Elevate—Reimagined for Community Power Backing high-impact cultural projects that center community. New in 2025: More accessible with a streamlined application and improved evaluation criteria. Nexus—Refreshed for Austin’s Creatives Helping creatives take bold steps—Now with more funding levels. New in 2025: Refreshed with lower barriers, enhanced support, and microgrant options. 9 Program Enhancements: Key Changes Heritage Preservation Honoring Austin’s historic places and cultural legacies. New in 2025: Bonus points for new local landmarks, new scoring for underrepresented histories, and simplified application with expanded eligibility for nonprofits and for-profits. Austin Live Music Fund Investing in Austin’s iconic music scene and the artists who define it. New in 2025: Tiered award amounts, enhanced scoring specific to music industry, and expanded access for musicians, promoters, and live music venues. Creative Space Assistance Program (CSAP) Keeping creative spaces affordable, active, and rooted in Austin communities. New in 2025: Single award amount for any eligible expense, support for insurance and property taxes, and focused definitions for prioritized creative spaces. 10 Responding Directly to Community Feedback What’s New • User friendly process • One simple application • Tiered funding • New microgrants for individual artists • Mentorship program for first-time applicants • Operations support • Transparent scoring and feedback • Universal appeals process • Internal process improvement • Simplified process for smaller requests 11 Access For All Who Can Apply? • Individual artists and collectives • Musicians and promoters • Nonprofit organizations • For-profit creative businesses • Legacy and emerging organizations Programs prioritize inclusivity, ensuring all communities have opportunities to participate in the arts. 12 Funding Sources Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds Nexus, Elevate, Thrive, Austin Live Music Fund, and Heritage Preservation Grants. General Fund Finances the Creative Space Assistance Program for artists and organizations. Bonds & Capital Projects Support Art in Public Places Program. 13 The Creative Reset: ACME's Road Ahead Phase1: Strategic Planning • Develop comprehensive 5-year strategic plan • Establish measurable goals and KPIs • Create implementation timeline Phase 2: Program Evaluation • Conduct thorough review of all existing programs • Assess cultural facilities management • Identify gaps and opportunities Phase 3: Resource Development • Launch public-private partnership initiatives • Develop corporate sponsorship program • Explore new revenue streams Phase 4: Implementation • Roll out enhanced programs • Launch new communication platforms • Present progress report to stakeholders 14 Our Vision: Art for All A city where every person, in every neighborhood, has access to creative opportunities and cultural expression. https://www.austintexas.gov/acme Join our mailing List View Full Report Program Guidelines 15