It’s no secret that, between COVID and reduced corporate giving, funding for nonprofits has taken a hit, especially in the arts. However, over the pandemic both local and federal funding has stepped up to fill the gap, and the city of Austin is now taking applications from local arts education nonprofits to cover expenses.

The grants are just one element of a portfolio of support offered by the city this year, including the Nexus grants for new and emerging artists and arts groups; the Thrive grants for cultural institutions; and the new Iconic Venue Fund. Using funding from the National Endowment for the Arts via the American Rescue Plan Grants to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting, and in cooperation with advocacy group, MindPop, the city’s Office of Economic Development is offering a total of $475,000 – 19 grants of $25,000 each – of Arts Education Grants to cover costs incurred between October 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

Eligible groups must have been in existence for at least one year, have their head office in the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the majority of their work must take place within the Austin city limits and the surrounding extraterritorial jurisdiction. Priority will be given to organizations that work with underserved, bilingual, and/or bicultural communities, and groups that have not received any City of Austin Cultural Funding awards in the last five years.

Selected groups will be able to use the money to cover operational costs, including salary support, stipends for artists and contractual personnel, facilities costs, personal protective equipment, and marketing and promotion. However, at least 50% of the grant must go to teaching artists providing direct services to students.

Applications can be filed at austintexas.gov/arts-education-relief-grant. Here’s a complete timeline for applicants.

Aug. 24, 26, 29, 31, and Sept. 5, 7 – Zoom application workshop, 10am-noon

Sept. 11 – Extended support zoom session, 10am-4pm

Sept. 12 – Applications close 5pm: Extended support zoom session, noon-4pm

Sept. 27 – Virtual review panel

Sept. 29 – Awards announced

Need help now? Email the partner team at MindPop at relief@mindpop.org or phone them at 737/212-0449.

This article appears in August 18 • 2023.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.