The Arts Commission has given City Council its recommendations for how best to use federal Covid-19 relief dollars planned for creative arts organizations before the end of the year, with staff still examining how to restructure hotel tax-funded contracts and programs for next year. At last week’s meeting, the commission voted unanimously to have the […]
Arts Commission
The Arts Commission advises the Austin City Council in all arts-related matters, fosters the development of the arts, and promotes cooperation between the City and the public.
Posted inAustin
City opens $2M grant program to assist creative sector nonprofits
The city has spun up another emergency relief program for arts organizations, with $2 million in federal aid available for nonprofit groups connected to local arts and cultural communities. The Arts & Culture Non-Profit Relief Grant will provide 100 grants of $20,000 to local groups in the creative sector that have had their fundraising and […]
Posted inAustin
EDC eyes push to make more city properties available for music, arts uses
The city’s new economic development corporation will make a push this summer to identify city properties that could be repurposed into music venues or creative spaces, and has started to assemble the financial models for creating two arts spaces in the redevelopment of properties just south of the Congress Avenue Bridge. During a presentation at […]
Posted inAustin
City lays out diversity goals in next round of arts, tourism funding
Groups that have been historically overlooked and underrepresented in the city’s cultural community will have priority in the Economic Development Department’s spending for cultural and tourism programs in the next budget year. During an online meeting held last Saturday, the heads of three EDD divisions that allocate money from the Hotel Occupancy Tax – Heritage […]
Posted inCity Hall
Commission sends back public art guidelines
The city’s Art in Public Places guidelines are being revised this year for improved legibility, formatting and a stronger focus on equity. They have not been updated since 2004 and most of the changes are uncontroversial, but the Arts Commission was unwilling to approve the edits Monday after noticing some flaws in the proposed language. […]
Posted inAustin
Economic Development Department outlines plans for $12M creative space bond, creation of Austin EDC
The Economic Development Department outlined its plan for a $12 million creative space bond and a city-owned economic development corporation that could help it along at a joint meeting of the arts and music commissions Friday. The city launched a request for information on Aug. 27 as the first step in an effort to create city-owned creative […]
Posted inCity Hall
Arts, Music Commission meeting aims to multiply $12M creative space bond
A joint meeting of the arts and music commissions expected to take place Sept. 11 could help multiply the dollar value of the city’s creative space bond using a new development entity. The date for the meeting hasn’t been set, but its agenda will include an update on the request for information that is kicking […]
Posted inAustin
City moving forward with plans for $12M to acquire space for artists, musicians
This week City Council is expected to consider an agreement with the Texas Facilities Commission that will begin the process of acquiring creative spaces around the city using a $12 million bond approved in 2018. The interlocal agreement would approve up to $500,000 in funding toward consulting services with five groups, including Alvarez & Marsal […]
Posted inBudget
Arts Commission shifts deepest funding cuts away from minority groups
Racial minority groups will be spared the deepest cuts in Cultural Arts contract funding in the next budget, if the recent recommendation of the Arts Commission is supported by City Council. On Friday the commission approved a funding matrix for the 2021 budget year that will see no percentage reductions to Black contractors and groups, […]
Posted inAustin
Arts Commission to decide on next year’s funding, with deep cuts for all
Arts groups that have received contracts from the city’s Cultural Arts office in recent years will likely see significant decreases next year, with some groups in line to lose more than half of the funding they received in their most recent contracts. The Arts Commission will vote Friday on a revised funding matrix for the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Arts Commission endorses letter requesting $5M in economic relief for art nonprofits
The Austin Arts Commission voted in support of a letter from various creative sector organizations asking City Council to budget $5 million in Covid-19 disaster relief for arts-based nonprofits. The city has allocated $6.35 million in disaster relief funds to support nonprofits of all types across the city, with $1 million specifically earmarked for arts […]
Posted inAustin
Hotel taxes forecast to fall by $36M, leading to expected deficit in city arts funding
With the city projecting a $36 million decrease in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue because of lower hotel bookings due to the Covid-19 pandemic, arts funding for the current budget year is expected to see a $1.5 million shortfall. The Arts Commission learned Monday that the city will cover all of the contracts to local artists […]