Music, Arts and Culture in Austin face challenges like never before. Pressures like skyrocketing housing costs, stagnant incomes, and a lack affordable studio, venue and work space are impacting our community’s working artists.Your contribution to the Cultural Advocacy Fund supports our movement to put Austin’s culture at the forefront of municipal public policy, economic development and tourism investment.

ACA’s steady, long term advocacy commitment has brought millions of new dollars in public investment for Austin culture. In 2016, we proposed a non-profit real estate holding company for creative spaces to address affordability. City Council subsequently adopted this concept, The Austin Cultural Trust, assigning it to the newly created Austin Economic Development Corporation, for which we also advocated. ACA also proposed and pushed for funding streams for the Cultural Trust, including the $12 million Creative Spaces Bond, approved by voters in 2018, and the Iconic Venue Fund, passed by Council in 2020.

Our current advocacy focus is on the City of Austin’s Cultural Funding Review Process, where we are requesting transparency, accountability and community collaboration. Early in 2021, ACA compiled community questions about the process for delivery to the City.

Upcoming advocacy priorities include securing new funding sources for arts, music and culture, the creation of a Department of Cultural Affairs, as recommended by the CreateAustin and ImagineAustin plans, and continued efforts to place artists, local businesses and Austin culture at the center of Austin’s civic conversation.