The City of Austin is no longer accepting applications for the Austin Creative Worker Relief Grant. The deadline for submission expired on August 28, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
We are in the process of reviewing all applications submitted, and we are exploring how we can use additional federal and local funds to offer additional assistance for small businesses, start-up companies, entrepreneurs, creatives, and non-profit organizations.
Find helpful resources:
-
City of Austin's ATXRecovers.com - A one-stop resource to help businesses and individuals recover from the financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Musician & Artist section that includes services to help musicians and artists that are recovering from economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Find resources related to funding, unemployment assistance, legal aid, consulting help, and more.
-
Economic Development Department’s Small Business Resources Directory - Database of local, state, federal, and community resources. Filter by “Disaster Relief” to find immediate support for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
View larger version of Program Metrics
The Austin City Council approved Resolution No. 20200604-040 on June 4, 2020 to designate $3.5 million for the Austin Creative Worker Relief Grant. The Austin Creative Worker Relief Grant provides immediate and equitably-focused grants to individual creatives and industry support staff in Austin. Applicants may apply for a $2,000 grant toward rent, bills, groceries, and other eligible COVID-19 related expenses.
Musicians who already received a grant from the Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund may still apply for an Austin Creative Worker Relief Grant, but they are only eligible for a $1,000 grant.
For Technical Support and Application Status:
Austin Better Business Bureau
Email: CreativeWorkerGrant@austin.bbb.org
Call: 512-318-2683
- Creative Worker Disciplines and Industries
-
For purposes of the Austin Creative Worker Relief Grant, “creative worker” is defined as an individual whose current or primary occupation is or has been within culture, arts, heritage, or preservation.
This can include, but is not limited to, artists working in the creative sector (i.e. musicians, actors, dancers, sculptors, etc.) and staff and associated personnel working in organizations within the creative sector (i.e. curators, sound designers, light technicians, etc.).
Disciplines include:
- Animation
- Architecture
- Ceramics
- Comedy or Improv
- Dance/Choreography
- Fashion Design
- Film/TV
- Folk and Traditional Art
- Furniture Design
- Gaming
- Graphic Design
- Healing Arts/Arts Therapy
- Heritage and Historic Preservation
- Installation or Public Art
- Jewelry Design
- Literary Arts
- Metalworking
- Music/Music Composition/Music Industry
- New Media, Tech, Digital Arts
- Painting, Illustration
- Performing/Theatre Arts
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Radio
- Sculpture
- Textile/Fiber Arts
- Web-based Content Production
- Woodworking
- Other (please list)
- Scoring
-
Every application will be evaluated against a scoring matrix that includes criteria for economic vulnerability and equity. Half of the program funds will be allocated to applicants that score the highest according to the Application Scoring Matrix. The remaining half will be awarded by lottery among eligible applicants. Individuals from historically marginalized communities are especially encouraged to apply.
Application Scoring Matrix
Category Criteria Available Points Equity - Race/Ethnicity
- Gender
- LGBTQIA
- Transgender
- Disability
25 Vulnerability - Ability to work during the City of Austin’s Stay Home-Work Safe Orders
- Average wages/earnings for one year
10 - Informational Webinars
-
Recorded Informational Webinar:
- Application Preview
-
Revisión preliminar de la solicitud
- What is your full legal name?
- What is your street address and zip code? (No P.O. Box)
- What is your mailing address and zip code, if different from your street address?
- What is your email address?
- What is your phone number?
- What is your age?
- What is your date of birth?
- What is your gender?
- Do you self-identify as transgender?
- What are your preferred pronouns?
- What is your race or ethnicity?
- Do you identify as a member of the LGBTQIA community?
- Do you identify as a member of the disability community?
- Which Council District do you live in? Look up your council district by address here: City of Austin Council District Council District
- Which of the following would you consider as your primary artistic discipline?
- How long have you been an active creative worker in Austin?
- Please indicate your annual household earnings/wages, after taxes.
- Have you been able to work during the City of Austin’s Stay Home-Work Safe Orders between March 24, 2020 and June 15, 2020?
Notional Eligible Expense Form
How will this grant potentially support you?
The $2,000 grant is intended to offset expenses between March 1, 2020 and August 17, 2020. Please use the table below to show how the $2,000 grant will impact you. All rows do not have to be filled out. For an example, you might put $1,000 for rent payment, $500 for food, and $500 for medical expenses.
You do not have to supply documentation/receipts at this time. If there is an audit of the grant, we will require proof of eligible payments offset by this grant.
If you are only eligible for a $1,000 grant because you already received a grant through the Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund, you only need to show an expense breakdown for $1,000.
Eligible Expense Expense Incurred
(3/1/20 - 8/17/20)Rent/mortgage Food and other necessities Non-recovered costs from canceled events Inventory/supplies for artistic practice Insurance/medical expenses Personal protective equipment (PPE)/sanitation supplies Other (please describe): Required Documentation
Please upload a biography, resume, discography, portfolio, curriculum vitae, or other type of documentation that demonstrates active participation in the creative sector in Austin during the past two years. Acceptable file formats include: doc, docx, pdf, jpg, png, xls.
- Eligible Applicants
-
- Must have a verified home address in a City of Austin Council district
- Artists working in the creative sector (i.e. musicians, actors, dancers, sculptors, etc.) and staff and associated personnel working within the creative sector (i.e. curators, sound designers, light technicians, etc.).
- Individuals over 18 years old
- Ineligible Applicants
-
- Arts organization board members who have no other creative sector activity
- Individual creative sector workers who have not been active during the past two years
- Individuals under 18 years old on the date of the application
- Permanent, full-time City of Austin employees
- Members of any City of Austin Commissioner or Board
- Individuals who reside outside an Austin City Council District
- Expenses: Eligible and Ineligible
-
Eligible Expenses:
These funds are to offset eligible expense made between March 1, 2020 and August 17, 2020.
- Rent/mortgage
- Food and other necessities
- Non-recovered expenses from canceled events
- Inventory/supplies for artistic practice
- Insurance/medical expenses
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitation supplies
Ineligible Expenses:
- Costs incurred prior to March 1, 2020
- Expenses paid by other grants or loans
- Lost income from cancelled events