LIVE MUSIC FUND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

TIMELINE

October 2020

10/19: The Music Commission received and discussed the Live Music Fund Working Group Recommendations (view the meeting at https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/87328).

10/15: The Live Music Fund Working Group met for the final time to discuss and finalize their recommendations to the Music Commission.

10/7: Building an Equitable Cultural Funding Review Process: Arts, Heritage, Music, a community virtual event for all creatives in Austin.

• View a recording of this session here.

• Access a copy of the slide deck here.

September 2020

9/18: The Music Commission received and discussed a presentation from EDD on the Cultural Funding Review Process: Arts, Heritage & Music, the inter-divisional process within the department to establish new guidelines for all Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funding programs (watch the Music Commission meeting here).

Learn more at http://www.austintexas.gov/department/cultural-funding-review-process

Fall/Winter 2019

In Fall 2019, the Economic Development Department began the process of reimagining the use of HOT-funded programs within the Department, in partnership with MJR Partners.

Over the following year, EDD determined that all HOT funded programs should speak with one voice and have a common foundation around Equity, Access, and Investment, even though each program will have its own unique focus and audience.

EDD HOT funding programs now include the following universal goals:

• Increase participation of communities of color in Austin’s music industry through education & training.
• Provide the activities necessary to promote access to capital and technical support for increasing venue ownership and organizational leadership.

Who does this funding review impact?

• Creatives, groups, and organizations who are interested in pursuing project or organizational support through any of the City’s HOT-funded programs
• Austin residents that have an interest in what sort of activities the HOT-funded programs support
• Cultural groups, legacy businesses, organizations working on community-centered cultural, heritage and historic preservation projects
• Performing musicians, live venues, and organizations creating in Austin

For more information about the divisions working on this funding review, please visit their pages.

• Music & Entertainment Division
• Heritage Tourism Division
• Cultural Arts Division

BACKGROUND

The Live Music Fund, established by City Ordinance No. 20190919-149 on September 19, 2019, is based on recommendations from 2017’s Visitor Task Force's Final Report.

City Staff is coordinating community engagement efforts with the Austin Music Commission’s Live Music Fund Working Group, which is comprised of Music Commissioners and representatives of Austin’s Music community who were nominated during the Commission’s regular November 2019 meeting. City Staff and the Working Group are working together to gather and organize feedback on community priorities.

Live Music Fund Working Group:

Charles “Nook” Turner Byrd, Jump On It
Cris Flores, LORO Management
Gavin Garcia, Music Commission
Robert Kelley, Blue Mist Band
Aaron “Fresh” Knight, KUTX
Johnathan “Chaka” Mahone, Music Commission
Anne-Charlotte Patterson, Music Commission
Patrice Pike, Music Commission
Rebecca Reynolds, Music Venue Alliance
Nakia Reynoso, Austin Texas Musicians
Frank Rodriguez, EQ Austin
Taylor Wallace, KUTX
Catlin Whitington, Long Center

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact Michelle McLaren at 512-974-9053 or Relay Texas 7-1-1