Item 8 ACME Creative Reset — original pdf

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Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment 2025 - 2026 Funding Guidelines Presented by Morgan Messick Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) Music Commission Meeting | September 8, 2025 Major Enhancements, Based on Feedback Guidelines User Experience Single guideline document, with standardized definitions, formatting, and department processes/policies More funding levels are available for individual artists across all programs Universal Appeals process for ACME programs Established policies on double dipping/conflict of interest, in response to Audit concerns Stacked application launch, with a single intake form Measuring Program Impacts Category  What the City Measures  Metrics  Reach & Engagement  Community reach and public participation  Attendance counts, demographic data  Promotion  Visibility and marketing efforts  Event flyers, social media screenshots, VisitAustin.org listings, marketing plan analytics  Impact  Access  Expression  Resiliency  Economic and cultural benefits for the creative workforce  Number of jobs supported, amount of funding distributed  Accessibility and inclusion for audiences and participants  Diverse locations, ADA features, free/low-cost tickets/creative space, multilingual options  Support for authentic artistic and cultural expression  Artist reflections, new work created, creative risks taken  Organizational growth, adaptability, or long- term community benefit beyond City funding  New partnerships, diversified revenue, business training and professional development     Austin Live Music Fund Applications open every year; grant agreement term varies from 12 to 24-months For-Profit Applicant Award Amount Professional Musician & Independent Promoter $20,000 with 24-month Grant Agreement term Professional Musician & Independent Promoter $5,000 with 12-month Grant Agreement term Live Music Venue with at least a $60,000 operating budget $70,000 with 12-month Grant Agreement term Scoring Criteria Austin Live Music Fund – Professional Musician & Independent Promoter  Category  Criteria – Evidence Documentation from the last three years is prioritized Available Points  Music Industry Accomplishments  Music industry recognition Public shows with capacities of 300 or more Audience reach, including recordings; music streams and downloads; sync licenses; tours outside of Austin; distributed physical media; and radio and media broadcasts Artist Development  Austin Music Economy Development  Cultural Tourism Marketing & Outreach  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) 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 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 Advertises and promotes activities in publications and other initiatives serving communities who speak English as a second language Programming open and accessible to the public Up to 25  Up to 25  Up to 25  Up to 25  Austin Live Music Fund – Live Music Venues  Category  Criteria Available Points  Austin Music Economy Development  Audience Development  More than 50% of expenses are dedicated to music events  Hires at least 25% local musicians  Hires local businesses and creatives year-round for such business operations as merchandise production, marketing, equipment, suppliers, etc.  Ticketed music events  Free or low-cost temporary space for other creative organizations  Regular internships and apprenticeships  Benefit concerts to raise awareness for nonprofit charity organizations  Access to shows for diverse audiences, i.e. all ages, sponsored events for free access, marketing partners to target new fans, etc. Discounted tickets for community, i.e. students, seniors, creative industry workers, etc. 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 Up to 40  Up to 20  Marketing strategies to promote Austin as a global cultural and tourist destination for music, including: Cultural Tourism Marketing & Outreach  Collaboration with promoters, event organizers, Visit Austin on events related to other major events, festivals, and conventions Partnerships with hotels, restaurants, and transportation providers to offer attendee benefits 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 Up to 40    Creative Space Assistance Program Nonprofit or For-Profit Creative Space Award Amount At least a $60,000 operating budget required: Live Music Venue Performance Venue / Theatre Museum / Art Gallery Multi-Use $60,000 Grant Awards are for a one-year term.   Scoring Criteria Creative Space Assistance Program  Category  Criteria  Compelling Need  Funding will address a compelling need for sustainability  Urgency  Co-Location  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 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  Community Benefit  Demonstrates community benefits through such elements as mission, programs, events, and relationships Located in a City of Austin Recognized Cultural District / Corridor First Time Awardee Did not receive a City of Austin grant award in the last five years  Available Points  Up to 20  Up to 15  Up to 15  Up to 35 10 Applicant Eligibility Eligible Applicants  Creative space must meet the definition of either a Live Music Venue, Performance Venue / Theatre, Museum / Art Gallery, or Multi-Use (see definitions) Must provide evidence of commercial property site control, including an existing, fully executed lease or lease offer  Commercial Property must be in Austin or its ETJ (see definition)  Commercial Property must be zoned appropriately for intended use as a commercial creative space where people from the public can gather  Ineligible Applicants City-run/owned, State-run/owned, or Federally-run/owned facilities Applicants who own their commercial creative space Festivals without permanent space Office, practice, and private workshop and studio spaces Temporary rental spaces that are not occupied by the applicant 12 months out of the year New (previously unoccupied) creative spaces unless the Applicant was displaced from their current space in the last 3 months of application closing date Live Music Venue: An establishment where live music programming is the principal function of the business and/or the business is a live music destination, and where the venue establishes the ability of an artist to receive payment for work by percentage of sales, guarantee, or other mutually beneficial formal agreement for every performance. A live music venue is a destination for live music consumers, and/or its music programming is the primary driver of its business as indicated by the presence of at least five (5) of the following: Defined performance and audience space Mixing desk, PA system, and lighting rig Backline At least two of the following: (i) Sound engineer (ii) Booker (iii) Promoter (iv) Stage manager (v) Security personnel Charges admission to some music performances through ticketing or front door entrance fees Markets talent through show listings in printed and electronic publications Hours of operation coincide with performances Programs live music at least five nights a week Multi-Use: A Commercial Creative Space that provides a publicly accessible area or areas that can be used for a wide variety of creative events, including arts exhibitions, concerts, plays, film screenings, etc. Museum/Art Gallery: Facility with a principal function and mission to exhibit, present, and/or sell artistic work in a variety of media produced by an artist, artist collective, or arts and culture organization, accessible by public audiences. City-run/owned, State- run/owned, or Federally-run/owned facilities are not eligible.  Performance Venue/Theater: An establishment whose principal function and mission is to present live performances, plays, live music, film screenings, or other performances of artistic work produced by an artist, or arts and culture organization, accessible by public audiences. Creative Space DefinitionsNext Steps September 8: Presenting final guidelines to the Music Commission September 19: Presenting the final guidelines to Economic Opportunity Committee End of September: Memo to Mayor and Council sharing a briefing on The Creative Reset + Funding Guidelines and Application opening Application Process with Submittable Intake Form Eligibility Form Application Form Application Timeline September - October (TBD): Submittable Profile Intake Form & Eligibility Forms Open October 21: Application Opens December 1: Eligibility Form Deadline December 11: Application Form Deadline Planned Launch Calendar 2025 2026 MarchMarch March Nexus Nexus Oct 21, 2025 Elevate Austin Live Music Fund CSAP Heritage Preservation Grant 2027 March Nexus July September Elevate Austin LMF CSAP Heritage Preservation Grant Nexus July July September September Elevate Elevate Thrive Thrive Austin LMF Austin LMF Heritage Preservation Grant Historic Preservation Grant Nexus Nexus WE HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT