Elevate Grant

The Elevate Grant is administered by the City of Austin through its Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME) department, which was established to strengthen the city’s creative economy and cultural ecosystem. ACME’s broader mission is to support artists, cultural organizations, and creative spaces while promoting tourism, community engagement, and economic development through arts and culture. The Elevate program specifically reflects this mission by investing in publicly accessible artistic experiences that benefit residents, visitors, and tourists, reinforcing Austin’s identity as a global creative hub. The purpose of the Elevate Grant is to sustain and strengthen cultural programming by supporting production, operations, and administrative activities tied to arts and cultural events. Funding is intended for projects that are publicly accessible and actively marketed to broad audiences, including tourists. Eligible uses of funds include compensation, marketing, insurance, supplies, rentals, and production-related expenses that directly support grant-funded activities. However, certain costs are explicitly prohibited, including general travel expenses, food and hospitality, fundraising activities, debt payments, and religious or academic programming that does not align with tourism promotion requirements. Eligibility for the Elevate Grant includes a wide range of applicants such as 501(c)(3) arts nonprofits, State of Texas arts nonprofits, arts groups, and individual artists. Applicants must demonstrate at least two years of creative production history within the Austin metropolitan area and must ensure that the majority of their activities take place within Austin city limits or its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Additionally, applicants must maintain a creative mission centered on arts and culture production and ensure that their programming is open and advertised to the public. Budget limitations apply to certain applicant types, particularly arts groups and individual artists, which must not exceed $500,000 in annual operating expenses. The application process is conducted through an online portal managed by a third-party administrator. Applicants must complete and submit all required materials before the deadline, including narrative responses, financial documentation, and supporting materials that demonstrate artistic vision, organizational capacity, and community engagement. An applicant introduction statement, either written or video-based, is also required to provide additional context but is not scored. Applications undergo eligibility verification followed by a structured review and scoring process conducted by trained reviewers with relevant artistic and cultural expertise. Evaluation criteria for the Elevate Grant focus on three primary categories: creative work, capacity, and public connection. Creative work assesses the clarity and cultural relevance of the artistic vision, while capacity evaluates the applicant’s ability to execute the project effectively through leadership and resources. Public connection emphasizes marketing strategies and accessibility to ensure broad community engagement. Applications are scored based on these criteria, and final funding decisions are determined by both scoring outcomes and available program funding. The FY27 Elevate Grant cycle opens on July 7, 2026 and closes on August 18, 2026, with approximately $11 million in total funding available. Grant agreements typically cover a 12-month performance period. Payments are distributed in three installments based on reporting milestones, including initial, progress, and final reports. The program operates on an annual cycle, with new application opportunities expected each fiscal year. Awardees must comply with reporting, marketing, and tourism promotion requirements, including participation in training workshops and promotion through official tourism platforms. ACME provides ongoing support throughout the application and grant lifecycle, including technical assistance, application guidance, and compliance monitoring. Applicants and awardees may contact ACME directly via email for support or clarification. The Elevate Grant represents a significant funding opportunity for Austin-based creatives seeking to expand their impact while contributing to the city’s cultural vitality and tourism economy.

Emphasize strong cultural relevance clear artistic vision and a robust marketing plan that demonstrates public accessibility and tourism impact align budget and staffing with project scope and clearly show connection to Austin communities