The city announced March 21 that the application period for its $3.5 million Live Music Fund Event Program will open April 4 at 10 a.m. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 will be made available to applicants for expenses related to live music events, studio production, event staffing and services, and more.
“We recognize the immense cultural and economic value that our local musicians and independent promoters bring to our community,” said Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Austin's Economic Development Department director, in a statement. “Supporting and investing in their projects enriches Austin’s vibrant music scene and contributes to our city’s overall prosperity and identity as the Live Music Capital of the World.”
Artists and promoters seeking city grant support must be residents of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area including Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. Applicants must also hold their grant-related activities within Austin city limits or the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
The city said grant applications will be competitively scored based on a range of criteria. Applications close May 16 at 5 p.m. More information on the program, including eligibility and scoring details, is available from the city online.
Austin's live music fund has been in place for several years after city officials in 2019 set aside a portion of the city's tourism tax collections for the program. Austin also spent millions of federal relief dollars on supporting the live music scene through the COVID-19 pandemic.
