Photo courtesy of Speakeasy

The Creative Space Assistance Program supports creative commercial spaces where audiences gather for cultural experiences and are facing temporary or permanent displacement or new commercial leases at higher and unaffordable rates. Funds may be used for revenue-generating space improvements and other space related needs, rent payments, general liability insurance, and property tax reimbursements.

To learn more about requirements for all AACME Funding Programs, go to FY26 AACME Funding Guidelines.

Creative Space Assistance Program Guidelines

Grants awarded in the following categories:

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) 

• Applicants must provide the previous year’s operating budget or profit & loss statement to evidence at least a $60,000 operating budget 

• Must provide evidence of commercial property site control, including an existing, fully executed lease or lease offer 

• Creative Space must be in an Austin Council District or its Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (see see definitions) 

• Creative Space 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 

Expenses

Eligible Expenses 

Grant funds may be spent towards one or a combination of the following: 

• Rent: Up to 30% of base commercial rent, not to exceed $60,000 over a 12-month period 
  *If also awarded an Austin Live Music Fund, Elevate, Nexus, or Thrive grant in the same fiscal year, awardees must choose which of these grants will cover rent expenses, which will be reflected in the grant agreements. 

• General Liability Insurance: *If also awarded an Austin Live Music Fund, Elevate, Nexus, or Thrive grant in the same fiscal year, awardees must choose which of these grants will cover insurance expenses, which will be reflected in the grant agreements. 

• Property Taxes: Portion of taxes are reimbursable upon proof of payment by awardee 

• Other Space-Related Needs: Commercial space permitting fees (City staff available for technical assistance); facility improvements (supplies, contractors, and architectural / project plans); environmental impact improvements (air conditioning, outdoor misters, and heaters); and displacement-related expenses (storage, moving, deposits) 

Ineligible Expenses 

• Expenses incurred more than 6 months prior to application closing 

• Salaries & Payroll Taxes 

• Travel 

Evaluation Review and Scoring

Application points are totaled from evidenced multiple-choice application answers. Applicants must provide uploaded and/or linked documentation evidence of “Compelling Need”, “Urgency”, “Co-Location”, and “Community Benefit”. 

Category	Criteria	Available Points
Compelling Need	Funding addresses a compelling need for sustainability	Up to 20
Urgency	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	Up to 15
Co-Location	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	Up to 15
Community Benefit	Demonstrates community benefits through such elements as mission, programs, events, and relationships  Located in a City of Austin Recognized Cultural District / Corridor. See list of eligible Cultural Districts and Corridors	Up to 35
First Time Awardee	Did not receive a City of Austin grant award in the last five years	10

Grant Awardee Commitments

Award recipients must agree to only one of the following program commitments:

Technical Assistance Program Commitment

• Agree to participate in technical assistance or other capacity building support (business development workshops, financial planning, etc.)
• Agree to participate in or host one professional development opportunity for the community (speaker, workshop, webinar, panel, etc.).

Career Development Program Commitment

• Agree to engage in career development opportunities with the Austin Independent School District, other school districts operating in Austin, or other entities that provide information about career options for students K-12. 

Creative Space Assistance Program Application Preview

Application Questions

Narrative– No Points

• Provide the creative space’s mission and/or purpose.

Compelling Need – Up to 20 Points

• Select the answers that best describe the extent to which funds will address a compelling need for the creative space.

Urgency – Up to 15 Points

• Select the answer that best describes the creative space’s level of urgency.

Co-Location – Up to 15 Points

• Select the answers that best describe the extent to which the creative space engages in co-location.

Community Benefit – Up to 35 Points

• Select the answers that best describe how the creative space provides community benefits.
• Is the creative space located in a City of Austin Recognized Cultural District or Corridor? Select one:
  • African American Cultural Heritage District
  • 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor
  • Red River Cultural District
  • Not located in a Cultural Heritage District or Corridor

First Time Awardee – 10 Points

• Has the creative space received grant funding from the City of Austin in the last five years?

Application Documentation - Required Evidence

Applicants must upload evidence for eligibility requirements, as well as for each selected multiple-choice answer to receive points. Uploads may consist of web links to your evidence—which can be entered directly into the application form—or as multiple document uploads of evidence, including screenshots, scans, and photos of online and physical materials.

Please refer to this webpage if you are using a Mac before you start. Apple files are not supported and cannot be uploaded in this application. Acceptable file upload types for all computer operating systems (PC and Mac) include .doc, .docx, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .mp3, .wav, .mov, .mp4, .ppt, .pptx, .xls, and .xlsx

Examples of application documentation include:

• Executed lease or lease offer
• Letter from the property owner informing of an increase in rent or nonrenewal
• Rent quotes from potential new sites
• Notice of building code violation that will be addressed with award funds
• Description of revenue and/or organizational benefits resulting from leasehold improvements
• For leasehold improvements, a budget for commercial property improvements, description of project team/contractors, timeline, project plan, etc.

Creative Space Assistance Program History

2023

The 2023 Creative Space Assistance Program awarded grants between $5,000 and $50,000 to creative organizations and independent artists facing displacement or new commercial leases at higher and unaffordable rates. See a list of the 2023 CSAP Awardees.

2020

The 2020 Austin Creative Space Disaster Relief Program awarded $987,943 in grants to 32 of 65 applicants. Collectively applicants requested $3.7 million in financial assistance, which was nearly four times the $1 million available in the fund. Grant recipients included live music venues (12), arts nonprofits (11), theaters or performance venues (7), museums or art galleries (1), and independent artists (1).

2019

The 2019 Creative Space Assistance Program was created to provide direct financial support up to $50,000 to creative organizations facing temporary or permanent displacement due to rent hikes, the need for facilities improvements or to defray the costs of moving to a new location.  See a list of the 2019 CSAP Awardees.