Item 7 Supporting Document — original pdf

Backup

ACME Funding Program Updates What’s New? The ACME team undertook a rigorous community engagement effort during the Spring-Summer 2025 with an aim to improve funding programs that impact the creative community in Austin, TX. Our community input via “The Creative Reset” showed us great opportunities to enhance, align, and maximize our program goals. Check out the highlights of what’s new. Unified Funding Goals & Improved User Experience • Familiar grant programs, with enhanced eligibility, transparency, and processes to build community trust • A new guideline format creates one set of funding program guidelines vs. individual guidelines with ACME priorities elevated, creating alignment across all funding programs • Application improvements include streamlined intake processes and eligibility screenings before applications open • Funding priorities are clearly defined to focus on creative space, arts nonprofit, and artist resiliency • Enhanced transparency and accessibility will be a focus as we move through our application process Eligibility, Scoring, Evaluation & Grant Awards • Eligibility groups like applicants together to create more alignment in the competitive categories (e.g. nonprofits with space compete as a category, nonprofits without space compete as a separate category, etc.) • Universal Appeals process adopted across ACME programs • Bonus points are now awarded to organizations who experienced federal funding recensions in the current fiscal year from NEA, IMLS, NEH in applicable programs • Operating budgets of eligible nonprofits inform grant award amounts, optimizing investments • Strengthened policies to prevent conflicts-of-interest and double dipping of grant funds, ensuring equitable distribution of funds to more individuals and organizations • Fiscal Sponsorship requirements have been strengthened while remaining optional • Award amounts have changed across programs, reflecting community and commission feedback • Panel Process Improvements include the use of “Olympic style scoring” and a narrative of video “applicant framing statement” opportunity to share more about the organization, project, and goals (non-scored) The next ACME Funding Program application will open in Fall of 2025. ACME Funding Programs: Eligibility At a Glance FUND SOURCE Cultural Arts Fund (HOT) Live Music Fund (HOT) General & Incentive Funds APPLICANT CATEGORY Thrive Elevate Nexus ALMF CSAP Historic Preservation Fund (HOT) Capital Projects (Requires historic designation and highlights the site’s local history) Heritage Events (History-informed preservation project that highlights the site’s local history) 501 (c)(3) Arts Nonprofit (Federal designation) Arts Nonprofit (State designation) 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit (Federal designation) Arts Group Individual Artist Musician / Promoter Live Music Venue Creative Space (Nonprofit definition) Creative Space (For-Profit definition) For-Profit Business Fiscal Sponsor Allowed - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * - * - * - * - - - * * * * - * - * - - - * * * * - *See program guidelines for restrictions and eligibility definitions; See Eligibility Categories & Award Amounts Breakdown in expanded detail Funding Program Updates Thrive Grant Categories What’s the Old Way? What’s New? Eligibility Scoring • Non-Profit Status – 501 (c) (no min) • Operational in Austin: Min 5 years • Located in Austin MSA • Fiscal Sponsorship: None • Cultural Erasure/Displacement • Institutional Marginalization • Commitment to Equity • Barriers to Access • Need for Investment • Panelist Process Evaluation o Discipline Specific Panels o Regional and Local Representation • Non-Profit Status – 501 (c) 3 (Federal Designation) • Operational in Austin/ETJ: Min 5 years • Located in the Austin MSA • Fiscal Sponsorship: Optional • Creative Work • Ability to Deliver • Public Connection • Bonus Points: Federal Funding Recissions; First-Time Applicants • Panelist Process o Discipline Specific Panels o Regional and Local Representation • Application Framing Statement Frequency • Biennially • Biennially Awards • Awards Range from $85K to $150K per year (up to $300K total) • Non-Profit w/ Creative Space – Up to $125K per year ($250K total) • Non-Profit w/o Creative Space – Up to $75K per year ($150K total) • Awards capped at 50% of Avg Operating Budget Elevate Grant Categories What’s the Old Way? What’s New? Eligibility Scoring • Non-Profit Status – 501 (c) (no min) • Individual Artists/Arts Groups • Operational in Austin: Min 1 years • Located in Austin MSA • Fiscal Sponsorship: Optional • Artist Pay • Community-Based Partnerships • Equity • Leadership Composition • Historical Underrepresentation • Cultural Erasure • Panelist Process Evaluation o Discipline Specific Panels o Regional and Local Representation • Non-Profit Status – Federal or State Designation • Artist Groups • Operational in Austin/ETJ: Min 2 years • Located in Austin MSA • Fiscal Sponsorship: Optional • Minimum Operating Budget: $30K • Creative Work • Ability to Deliver • Public Connection • Bonus Points: Federal Funding Recissions; First-Time Applicants • Panelist Process o Discipline Specific Panels o Regional and Local Representation • Application Framing Statement Frequency • Annually • Annually Awards • Award Range from $15K to $85K • Non-Profit with Operating Budget > $300K – Up to $60K o Capped at 50% of Avg Operating Budget • Non-Profit with Operating Budget of $30K to $300K – Up to $30K o Capped at 50% of Avg Operating Budget • Artist Groups with Operating Budget greater than $30K – Up to $30K o Capped at 50% of Avg Operating Budget Nexus Grant Categories What’s the Old Way? What’s New? Eligibility Scoring • Non-Profit Status – 501 (c) (Min. 3 Years) • Individuals/Creative Business • Operational in Austin: Min 5 years • Located in Austin MSA • New and Emerging Applicants • Accessibility • Economically Disadvantaged Status/Historical Underrepresentation Evaluation • Multiple Choice • Individual Artists/Art Groups (Min 1 years) • Located in Austin/ETJ • Operational: Min 1 years • Creative Work • Ability to Deliver • Public Connection • Bonus Points: First-Time Applicants • Panelist Process o Discipline Specific Panels o Regional and Local Representation o Application Framing Statement Frequency • Annually • Bi-Annually Awards • Awards at $5K • Individuals/Artist Groups (min 2 years experience) - $20K • Individuals/Artist Groups (min 1 year experience) - $2.5K or $5K Creative Space Assistance Program Grant Categories What’s the Old Way? What’s New? Eligibility • Arts-focused non-profits designated as a 501(c)(3) • Independent artists with commercial studio spaces • For-profit businesses that have eligible commercial properties (by definition) Commercial Creative Spaces that fit ACME definitions for: • Live Music Venue • Performance Venue / Theatre • Museum / Art Gallery • Multi-Use Scoring Access to Services (Up to 30 Points) • Applicant and/or project located in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) • Access to traditional funding support • Healthcare coverage for employees Compelling Project Need (Up to 20 Points) • The applicant demonstrates the funding will address a compelling project need. Urgency (Up to 15 Points) • Most Urgent: Applicant displaced or requires immediate relocation, lease renewal, or renovation in 6 months to avoid displacement • Urgent: Applicant not displaced, but requires immediate relocation, lease renewal, or renovation in 7-13 months to avoid displacement • Less Urgent: Applicant not displaced, but requires immediate relocation, lease renewal, or renovation in 14-20 months to avoid displacement Co-Location (Up to 15 Points) • Co-location has served or advanced the applicant’s mission, cultural use, or artistic production Compelling Need (Up to 20 Points) • Funding will address a compelling need for sustainability Urgency (Up to 15 Points) • Most Urgent: Applicant displaced or requires immediate relocation, lease renewal, or renovation in 6 months to avoid displacement • Urgent: Applicant not displaced, but requires immediate relocation, lease renewal, or renovation in 7-13 months to avoid displacement • Less Urgent: Applicant not displaced, but requires immediate relocation, lease renewal, or renovation in 14-20 months to avoid displacement Co-Location (Up to 15 Points) • Co-location has served or advanced the applicant’s mission, cultural use, and artistic production • Applicant has either increased access to affordable space for other creatives, or has benefited from increased income • Co-location has improved programmatic efficiencies/collaboration • Applicant has either increased access to affordable space to other creatives, or has benefited from increased income Community Benefit (Up to 25 Points) • Demonstrates community benefits through such elements as • Co-location has improved programmatic efficiencies/collaboration for the applicant Community Benefit (Up to 5 Points) • Demonstrates impact to the community through such elements as mission, programs, events, and relationships. mission, programs, events, and relationships Previous City Funding (10 Bonus Points) • The applicant has not received previous City of Austin funding in the previous funding cycle Equity (Up to 20 Points) • The applicant demonstrates that it’s committed to equity and to serving historically underrepresented communities in Austin. New Recipient (10 Bonus Points) • Creative Space Disaster Relief Program • Austin Live Music Venue Preservation Fund • Austin Legacy Business Relief Grant • Austin Small Business Relief Grant • Austin Non-Profit Relief Grant Application points are totaled from evidenced multiple- choice application answers. Applicants must provide uploaded and/or linked documentation evidence of their past activities in the various scoring categories. Evidence is reviewed and then double-checked by Rally Austin. Any questions from the reviews are elevated to City of Austin Program Staff for final determination. No changes Evaluation Frequency Biennial Biennial Awards $5,000 to $50,000 – Grant funds may be spent on only one of the following categories: • Gap Financing for Property Acquisition • Rent Stipend – Up to 30% of base commercial rent, not to exceed $50,000 over a 12-month period • Other Space-Related Needs – Includes such facility improvements as architectural or project plans and displacement-related expenses $60,000 – Grant funds may be spent towards one or a combination of the following: • Rent Stipend: Up to 30% of base commercial rent, not to exceed $60,000 over a 12-month period • Property Taxes: Portion of taxes are reimbursable upon proof of payment by awardee • General Liability Insurance • Other Space-Related Needs: Facility improvements (supplies, contractors, and architectural / project plans); environmental impact improvements (air conditioning, outdoor misters, and heaters); and displacement-related expenses (storage, moving, deposits) Austin Live Music Fund Grant Categories What was the Old Way? Eligibility • Professional Musician • Independent Promoter • Live Music Venue MUSICIAN / PROMOTER Limited Access to Services (Up to 35 Points) • Limited access to healthcare and financial lending • Languages other than English spoken in the household • High level of dependency on music business income • Lives in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) • No grant funding from the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division in the last year Local Economic Impact (Up to 30 Points) • Hires local musicians and other creatives • Hires local creative spaces (refer to Glossary of Terms for definition of “Creative Spaces”) • Hires local businesses for operations, i.e. merchandise production, marketing/PR, equipment, storage Scoring Programming & Outreach (Up to 20 Points) • Programming that expands audiences and amplifies Austin’s diverse arts and culture sectors • Tourism Marketing strategies to reach visiting and potential tourists and convention delegates, as well as local audiences Accessibility (Up to 30 Points) • Provides accessibility features for audiences with disabilities • Programming and features for non-English speaking communities • Programming open and accessible to the public Previous City of Austin Funding (15 Points) • No grant funding received through the 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program LIVE MUSIC VENUE Limited Access to Services (Up to 20 Points) What’s New? No changes MUSICIAN / PROMOTER Documentation Evidencing More Recent Examples Prioritized Music Industry Accomplishments (Up to 25) • Music industry recognition • Public shows for audiences of at least 300 • Audience data, i.e. music streams and downloads; distributed recordings; local, national and international music festival placements; regional and national tours; radio & TV broadcasts Artist Development (Up to 25) • Career training and professional development • Participates in music programs for schools, cultural centers, youth, private lessons, camps, workshops, etc. • Performs / volunteers at benefit concerts to raise awareness for nonprofit charity organizations • Limited or no access to financial lending (points awarded if no or limited access) Austin Music Economy Development (Up to 25) • Pays at least the City of Austin musician pay rate to hired professional musicians • Hires creatives and creative businesses year-round for such operations as merchandise production, marketing & outreach, equipment, storage, etc. • Hires local creative spaces • Collaborates with other local musicians to create new music Cultural Tourism Marketing & Outreach (Up to 25) • Expands audiences and fan bases locally and outside of Austin through multiple marketing strategies • Marketing collaborations to promote Austin as a global cultural and tourist destination for music • Provides accessibility features for audiences with disabilities • Limited access to organizational healthcare and business • Advertises and promotes activities in publications and other lending • Located in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) Local Economic Impact (Up to 25 Points) • Hires at least 40% local musicians and other creatives year- round • Provides subletting opportunities • Provides free or low-cost temporary space for other creative organizations • Provides internships and apprenticeships • Hires local businesses for business operations Programming & Outreach (Up to 20 Points) • Programming that expands audiences and amplifies Austin’s diverse arts and culture sectors • Tourism Marketing strategies to reach visiting and potential tourists and convention delegates, as well as local audiences Accessibility (Up to 20 Points) • Provides accessibility features for audiences with disabilities • Programming and features for non-English speaking initiatives serving communities who speak English as a second language • Programming open and accessible to the public LIVE MUSIC VENUE Documentation Evidencing More Recent Examples Prioritized Austin Music Economy Development (Up to 40) • More than 50% of gross income generated from music events • Hires at least 40% local musicians • Hires local businesses and creatives year-round for such business operations as merchandise production, marketing, equipment, suppliers, etc. • Performance ticket sales • Free or low-cost temporary space for other creative organizations • Local bands as support for touring shows • Regular internships and apprenticeships • Benefit concerts to raise awareness for nonprofit charity communities organizations Previous City of Austin Funding (10 points) • Did not receive City of Austin grant funding in the previous year Audience Development (Up to 20) • Access to shows for all audiences • Discounted tickets for community, i.e. students, seniors, creative industry workers • Accessibility features for audiences with disabilities • Regular programming featuring a diversity of genres • Programming regularly open and accessible to the public • Collaborative programming highlighting additional artistic disciplines, i.e. visual arts, performing arts Cultural Tourism Marketing & Outreach (Up to 40) • Marketing strategies to promote Austin as a global cultural and tourist destination for music, including: • Collaboration with event organizers on major events and conventions • Collaboration on venue-event specific travel packages • Partnerships with hotels, restaurants, and transportation providers to offer bundled experiences • Expands audiences and fan bases locally and outside of Austin through multiple marketing strategies • Advertises and promotes activities in publications and other initiatives serving communities who speak English as a second language Evaluation Application points are totaled from evidenced multiple-choice application answers. Applicants must provide uploaded and/or linked documentation evidence of their past activities in the various scoring categories. Evidence is reviewed and then double-checked by Create Austin at The Long Center Staff. Any questions from the reviews are elevated to City of Austin Program Staff for final determination. No changes Frequency Annually Annually Musician / Promoter • $15,000 or $30,000 Grant Awards Awards Live Music Venue • $30,000 – Live Music Venues with operating budgets under $100,000 • $60,000 – Live Music Venues with operating budgets over $100,000 Musician / Promoter • $5,000 or $20,000 Grant Awards Live Music Venue • $70,000 – Live Music Venues with operating budgets over $100,000 Heritage Preservation Grant: Heritage Events Categories Eligibility Scoring What Was the Old Way? • 501(c)(3) Non-Profit • For-Profit • Two years minimum experience/operations • Leased or owned Preservation Impact (36); Tourism Impact (24); Project Management, Completed and Uploaded Budget; Uploaded Bids (20) Accessibility & Impact (20) Panelist Process: (2) Panels • Capital & Planning • Marketing & Events National and Local Panelists Evaluation • Majority: Narrative Questions with some Y/N Questions Frequency Annually Awards Marketing: $30K Educational: Up to $250K What’s New? • 501(c)(3) Non-Profit • For Profit • Two years minimum experience/operations • Leased or owned Preservation Impact (36) Tourism Impact (36) New Voices, Historic Places (18) Federal Grants (5) Bonus Points: New Local Historic Landmark or Historic District (10) - approved and pursuing Panelist Process: (2) Panels • Capital • Heritage Events National and Local Panelists • Preservation Impact: Narrative Questions + Evidence Upload Requirement • Tourism Impact: M/C + Evidence Upload Requirement • New Voices, Historic Places: M/C + Y/N + Evidence Upload Requirement Annually Heritage Events: Up to $25K Up to $50K Up to $150K Heritage Preservation Grant: Landmark Capital Improvement Project Categories What was the old way? What’s new? Eligibility • 501(c)(3) Non-Profit • For-Profit • Two years minimum experience/operations • Leased or owned • 501(c)(3) Non-Profit • For Profit • Two years minimum experience/operations • Leased or owned Preservation Impact (36); Tourism Impact (24); Project Management, Completed and Uploaded Budget; Uploaded Bids (20) Accessibility & Impact (20) Scoring Panelist Process (2) Panels • Capital & Planning • Marketing & Events National and Local Panelists Evaluation • Majority: Narrative Questions with some Y/N Questions Application Annually Awards Planning: $30K Capital: Up to $250K Eligible Project Types Interiors (fire, masonry, flooring, HVAC & electrical) • • Preservation Impact (36) • Tourism Impact (36) • New Voices, Historic Places (18) • Federal Grants (5) • Bonus Points: New Local Historic Landmark or Historic District (10) - approved and pursuing Panelist Process (2) Panels • • Heritage Events National and Local Panelists Landmark Capital Improvement Projects • Preservation Impact: Narrative + Evidence Upload Requirement • Tourism Impact: M/C + Evidence Upload Requirement • New Voices, Historic Places: M/C + Y/N + Evidence Upload Requirement Annually Landmark Capital Improvement Projects: Up to $250K