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New ACME department outlines Creative Reset Phase 1: simplified grants, larger microgrants and transparency measures
Summary
The City of Austin’s new Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) department presented Phase 1 of a Creative Reset emphasizing funding program changes: a single streamlined application, tiered funding, increased microgrant awards, mentorship for first-time applicants and transparent scoring and appeals.
Angela Means, director of the City of Austin’s Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) department, briefed the Economic Opportunity Committee on July 18 about Phase 1 of the Creative Reset, a yearlong strategic process that begins with funding-program improvements.
Means said ACME, created four and a half months earlier, prioritized listening to the creative community and launched outreach that produced more than 1,200 survey responses, nearly 10 focus groups and two citywide listening sessions. "Arts and culture is not optional. It is an essential service here in the city of Austin, Texas," Means said, describing the department’s mission to protect, invest in and elevate Austin’s cultural assets.
Phase 1 program changes include a single simplified application for city cultural funding; tiered funding and new microgrants (micro awards expanded from $2,500 to as much as $20,000 for the Nexus pilot); mentorship cohorts for first-time applicants; operational supports for grantees; transparent scoring and feedback; and a universal appeals process. Means said the city’s primary funding for arts programs remains hotel-occupancy tax revenue supplemented by a small general-fund contribution and capital-project funds for public-art programs.
Means said ACME will review city cultural facilities beginning in September as part of Phase 2 (program evaluation) and that staff will explore additional and nontraditional funding sources beyond hotel-occupancy taxes to meet demand. She said the department expects to roll out the revised arts-grant programs within three to four months and complete the Creative Reset’s planning and program-evaluation phases within 12 to 18 months.
Councilmembers asked about support for cultural facilities and timeline alignment with the city’s budget process. Means said facility evaluations start in September and that ACME will coordinate with council offices and city departments on capital and operational planning. Committee members emphasized that parts of East Austin have long-standing needs and asked ACME to prioritize community-centered facility planning.
Ending: ACME said revised grant guidelines and program changes will be posted for public feedback and that staff will return with additional details; the committee did not take formal action during the briefing.
