The Economic Development Department’s Cultural Arts Funding Program supports cultural arts programs for the Austin community by contracting with arts organizations for specific services. The Cultural Arts Division has administered various funding programs since 1981 through the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) authorized by state law.
Cultural Funding Programs
Thrive, Elevate, and Nexus cultural funding programs were developed in consultation with Austin’s creative community over the past 3 years. Funding will prioritize equity through a combination of seed funding, broad sector support, and targeted investment. Read the Cultural Funding Report (PDF, 1.8 MB), El camino hacia la equidad cultural (PDF, 2.2 MB).
Closed Grants:
- The Arts Education Relief Grant closed on September 12, 2021 at 5 p.m. Review the guidelines for the Arts Education Relief Grant (PDF)
- The Nexus Grant closed on August 15, 2023 at 5 p.m. Review the guidelines for the Nexus Program (PDF)
- The Elevate Grant closed on June 30, 2023, at 5 p.m. Review the guidelines for the Elevate Program (PDF) Learn more about the Elevate Grant awardees.
- The Thrive Grant closed in December 2022 and awarded funding to 36 local art nonprofit organizations deeply rooted in and reflective of Austin’s diverse cultures. Learn more about the Thrive Grant awardees.
- Application Preparation
-
There are currently no open grant applications. Below is helpful information to prepare for upcoming opportunities.
Vendor Registration
Learn how to become a registered vendor with the City of Austin. All funded individuals and organizations must be registered vendors. Registered vendors may also receive solicitation notifications for other contract opportunities. Registrations can be update or submitted online.
How to Create a City Account
Watch a video on How to Create a City Account. | Cómo crear una cuenta con la Ciudad.
Create An Account - For First-Time Users
- Step 1: Visit the Economic Development Department Application home page to apply.
- Step 2: Click the “Create Account” icon.
- Step 3: Enter the required information and click the “Submit” button.
- Step 4: After completing account creation, you will be prompted to fill out your profile information.
- Step 5: After updating your profile information, you will be redirected to the home screen to begin the application process.
How to Redeem Your Access Code
If you have previously applied for a City of Austin Economic Development Department grant or program, you may need to redeem an access code to confirm and access your account. If you received a ‘Your email is connected to our system’ message, follow the steps below to confirm and access your account.
- Step 1: Visit the Economic Development Department Application home page to apply.
- Step 2: Click the “Create Account” icon.
- Step 3: Enter the required information and click the “Submit” button.
- Step 4: If your information is in our database, your access code will be displayed.
- Step 5: Copy the one-time access code and enter into the Access Code tab.
- Step 6: After you confirm your account, you will be directed to complete your account creation using the “Create Account” tab.
Helpful Information
- Arts Commission - Find information on the Arts Commission members, upcoming meetings, and more.
- ATXN Video Archive - Access recordings of City Council meetings, including Budget Work Sessions. To filter for Arts Commission events, click on the “Boards and Commissions” tab, and then select “Arts Commission” from the “Filter by Subcategory” dropdown menu.
- Community Navigators – The Economic Development Department’s Community Navigator Program offers one-on-one coaching, virtual classes, and help applying for government and philanthropic support.