City of Austin launches Nexus Program (US)

Deadline: 6-Mar-25

The City of Austin’s Nexus Program provides support for emerging cultural and creative individuals or organizations to produce public projects and activities for Austin’s diverse communities.

Priorities

• Nurtures new and emerging applicants in the creative community.
• Funds arts and culture activities of all kinds.
• Support economically disadvantaged applicants. This may include applicants that are economically disadvantaged because of their status as a veteran or applicants who have suffered the effects of discriminatory practices.
• Applicants who have never received City of Austin Cultural Funding awards in the last five years.

Funding Information

• Award amount: $5,000

Eligible Activities

• Operations related to the production of cultural events (For Nexus – Operations directly related to the funded project(s)
• Exhibitions
• Performances that are installed on public or private property and accessible by the public Workshops, classes, and camps that include a performance or exhibition that is open to and marketed to tourists
• Public art projects that are installed on public or private property and accessible by the public
• Educational workshops and classes by art service organizations that are both:
  • In service to artists and/or art organizations within Austin or its ETJ;
  • Open to and marketed to tourists.

Eligible Costs

• Costs incurred in the preparation and implementation of cultural activities that are open to and marketed to tourists including:
  • Administrative expenses and artist fees (including staff hours and contractor costs)
  • Travel for visiting artists
  • Mileage reimbursement
  • Space rentals, equipment rentals, costume rentals (not purchases)
  • Expendable supplies and materials used only during the contract period
  • Marketing and promotion expenses
  • Production costs
  • Insurance
  • Fiscal Sponsor fee (10% is the maximum allowable fee), if applicable, and other contract management costs
  • Licensing fees or subscriptions for computer programs or software needed for the implementation of contracted activities

Ineligible Costs

• Awarded funds may not be expended outside of the designated funding period
• Capital expenditures, including but not limited to the purchase of equipment, instruments, real estate, etc
• Costs associated with previously completed activities
• Costs associated with the start-up of a new organization
• Operating costs not associated with the contracted project
• Direct project costs incurred more than 60 days prior to the contract starting date. Also any direct project costs incurred after the contract end date.
• Fundraising expenses, including but not limited to entertainment, reception, or hospitality expenses
• Consultants who are members of an applicant’s staff or board
• Payments to students or interns whose employment is tied to class credit
• Contributions or donations to external causes or organizations, including re-granting to external causes, organizations, or individuals
• Existing deficits, fines, contingencies, penalties, interest, or litigation costs
• Property Taxes or any other tax except for sales or payroll tax
• Travel of contractor’s administrative staff is not usually eligible but may be pre-approved by Cultural Arts Division staff on a limited basis
• Purchase of Fuel
• Exception: Mileage is allowed at the approved per diem rates. Include a completed mileage reimbursement form with your report to be reimbursed. Travel activity must be essential to contracted activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Funding is not guaranteed if you meet all the minimum requirements. Funding will be awarded to the top scoring applicants.
• Applicant Type
  • 501(c) nonprofit arts organization
    • Maximum Annual Expenses: $150,000
    • Request Amount: $5,000
  • An individual aged 18 or older
    • Maximum Annual Expenses: $150,000
    • Request Amount: $5,000
  • Creative Business
    • Maximum Annual Expenses: $150,000
    • Request Amount: $5,000
• Arts Focused Business: The primary artistic goal or creative mission of the Creative Business, Individual Artist or Nonprofit organization must include the production of arts and culture activities. This includes organizations that provide professional support to creatives or arts service organizations.
• Headquarters Must be in Austin/Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA):
  • Minimum of one year of operating history in the Austin/Round Rock MSA. The MSA includes:
    • Travis,
    • Bastrop,
    • Caldwell,
    • Hays,
    • Williamson Counties.
• Production History Must be in Austin: Over 50% of your creative productions have occurred WITHIN the Austin 10-1 City Council districts or Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)
• Fiscal Sponsorship is not a requirement for applicants. Applicants who prefer to work with a Fiscal Sponsor may do so.

Ineligibility Criteria 

• Applicants cannot:
  • Accept more than one grant award per City of Austin fiscal year from the Elevate, Thrive, Nexus, and Austin Live Music Fund cultural funding programs.)
  • Be full-time City of Austin employees.

For more information, visit City of Austin.