Photos Courtesy of Austin Shakespeare and Austin Dance Ensemble
The Artist Access Program was created out of a directive from City Council to utilize Hotel Occupancy Tax’s Cultural Arts funds to expand hours at the four City-owned cultural centers. Applicants are ranked by an impartial panel made up of professional artists from Austin using an established criterion and provided free rehearsal space as well as performance space at a reduced rental rate of $1 per ticket sold. Applicants are also asked to provide a free educational program enhancement for the public.
2026 Application will be accepted January 27- March 15, 2025.
Applicant Qualifications
Applicants must:
- Live in Austin or ETJ (Extra-territorial jurisdiction) Check out this GIS Maps website if you would like to find out if your location qualifies.
- Be a working artist that provides programs and services for citizens of Austin and/or the ETZ and be open and marketing broadly to residents, visitors and tourists.
Application Process
- Check your eligibility. Take this quick quiz to find out.
- Fill out an application once you have confirmed your eligibility. Submit by the deadline (see below) by clicking the submit button on the SUBMITTABLE form OR mail a paper application and support materials to ARTIST ACCESS PROGRAM, 1110 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, AUSTIN TX 78704. All materials must arrive by the deadline.
- Applicants are ranked by an impartial panel made up of professional artists from Austin using an established criteria. That criteria includes 1) Organizational/project quality, 2) Management capabilities, 3) Project Feasibility, 4) Community Involvement and 5) Relevancy to the site's mission.
- If selected, you will be contacted by a Site Coordinator from the venue you requested in your application. You will work with the venue's staff to negotiate and schedule dates. (Note that we may not be able to schedule all applicants due to the volume of artists applying for this program.)
- Once scheduling is completed to everyone’s satisfaction, the applicant signs a rental contract, and an AAP specific Addendum, which confirms applicant will be abide by the program rules and follow the Local, State and Federal laws.
- Security deposits are due at the time that the rental contract is signed.
AAP Documents
Venue Specific Facility Guidelines
Asian American Resource Center
Dougherty Arts Center
George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center
Zilker Hillside Theater
Addendum Examples
Addendum A
Addendum C