City of Austin seeking Applications for Community Initiatives – United States

The City of Austin Economic Development Department (EDD) Cultural Arts Division serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and cultural activity in the City of Austin and its Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).

The Cultural Arts Funding Programs support projects and activities in all disciplines that provide quality arts and cultural programming to the Austin community and its Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). The purpose is to reinforce the artistic and cultural industry representing an important component of the economy of Austin and to celebrate and promote Austin as an exciting, vibrant and diverse cultural destination for visitors and tourists throughout the world.

The mission of the City of Austin is to be the most livable city in the country where all residents participate in its opportunities, its vibrancy and its richness of culture and diversity.

The City of Austin envisions a culturally vibrant city where:

• Arts, culture and creativity are an integral component of a vibrant community and a thriving economy;
• Artists, cultural and creative organizations across all disciplines have the opportunity to engage in meaningful work and provide a robust selection of activities to a wide audience including residents, visitors and tourists; and
• A creative environment cultivates and attracts a diverse workforce and businesses that value the arts, culture and creativity.

Goals

• Support arts, culture and creativity as an integral component of a vibrant community and a thriving economy:
  • Contribute to cultural tourism development
  • Foster sustainable growth and development of the creative community
  • Build and diversify audiences through research and marketing strategies
  • Attract the workforce and businesses that value a creative community
• Preserve the unique character of Austin while encouraging artistic and cultural excellence and innovation:
  • Provide opportunities for active participation in Austin’s cultural life
  • Increase and diversify the production of arts and cultural activities
  • Enhance the presentation of emerging and established culturally diverse arts organizations
  • Encourage partnerships and creative collaborations within the community
• Support artists and arts organizations of all disciplines as they engage in meaningful work:
  • Encourage excellence, innovation and collaboration in the creation and presentation of artistic and cultural work
  • Support artists and organizations in developing new programs and activities
  • Promote the value of arts, culture and creativity

Funding Information

Maximum request of $3,000

Minimum Requirements

For Applicants

Applicant type

• 501(c) arts or non-arts organization (as evidenced by a current IRS determination letter or copy of the most recent Form 990 filed with the IRS)
• Groups without 501(c) designation but have State of Texas Non-Profit Status, or also known as Incorporated Groups (may apply with or without a fiscal sponsor)
• Unincorporated Groups without 501(c) designation (may apply with or without a fiscal sponsor)
• Individual Artists who are at least 18 years old (may apply with or without a fiscal sponsor)

An applicant must

• be a resident, or be based in Austin or its ETJ for at least a one (1) year prior to the date the application is submitted, and
• propose and advertise events open to the general public and occur within and for the benefit of the residents, visitors and tourists of Austin and/or its Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), and
• have produced artistic work in Austin, within your artistic expertise, and with a budget history of for a minimum of one (1) year prior to the application deadline, and
• not have received Community Initiatives funding more than five consecutive or non-consecutive years, and
• not currently be receiving funding from the Cultural Arts Division Core Funding or Cultural Heritage Festivals programs.

For Fiscal Sponsors

A Fiscal Sponsor is a nonprofit corporation with 501(c) status who applies for financial support on behalf of another organization or individual in order to enable the latter to receive the benefits of tax-exempt status. There are several forms which fiscal sponsorship can take, but in every case, the fiscal sponsor takes responsibility for external parties that the funding will be utilized for tax exempt, charitable purposes as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.

Fiscal Sponsors must

• be a 501(c) organization located in Austin or its Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ),
• have a paid Executive Director,
• have an active volunteer Board of Directors that meets at least three times a year, and
• have been in existence for:
  • at least one (1) year and have at least a $50,000 annual operating budget as evidenced by the most recently completed IRS Form 990, OR
  • at least five (5) years and have at least a $35,000 annual operating budget as evidenced by the most recently completed IRS Form 990.