Thrown a lifeline: how Austin supported its creative community through the pandemic

The Purpose

To support culture and the creative industries, which were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure that this support reached the most vulnerable organisations, venues and artists equitably.

The Challenge

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected Austin’s cultural sector. This included the cancellation of the globally renowned SXSW festival in March 2020, which had a devastating impact on Austin’s music and cultural venues, independent performers, and the overall ecosystem supporting them. In 2020, one-third of the local creative jobs in Austin were lost due to social distancing measures and event cancellations, with Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) arts organisations experiencing the most severe repercussions.

By leveraging data, third-party expertise, and streamlining bureaucratic processes, Austin demonstrated the ability of city government to act swiftly and deliver transparent, equity-focused results to the community during times of crisis.

The Solution

In response to the enduring impacts of the pandemic, the City provided significant financial support to creatives who suffered income loss and audience reductions. Through the Economic Development Department (EDD), the City of Austin initiated and managed 12 emergency grant programs, totalling over $60.5 million, assisting Austin families, nonprofits and businesses affected by the pandemic.

Approximately $28 million of this funding was allocated to support the creative industries. In collaboration with third-party service providers and the Arts and Music Commissions, EDD identified private funding sources and initiatives to complement the city’s investment. These efforts have pooled city funds with local, state and national resources, including the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and local initiatives like the City of Austin’s Save Austin’s Vital Economic Sectors (SAVES). This collective effort was part of the City of Austin’s broader recovery funding of over $200 million.

The grant and support programs aimed at the cultural sector’s pandemic recovery included:

Austin Creative Space Disaster Relief Program (June 2020): Providing $988,000 in grants to 32 live music venues, performance spaces, art galleries, arts-focused nonprofits, and individual artists facing temporary or permanent displacement. Recipients utilised these funds for commercial rent, mitigating rent increases, property acquisition costs, and other space-related necessities, including facility improvements.

Austin Creative Worker Relief Grant (August 2020): Allocating $3.3 million in grants to 1,866 creative sector workers adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recipients used these one-time grants to cover expenses such as rent, bills, groceries, and other pandemic-related costs.

Austin Live Music Venue Preservation Fund (December 2020): Distributing $6.4 million to support and sustain local live music venues impacted by the pandemic.

Austin Legacy Business Relief Grant (February 2021): Providing $5 million to support and sustain 109 Austin businesses that have operated continuously for at least 20 years. These funds safeguarded Austin’s cultural and economic ecosystem by preserving longstanding local businesses that contribute to Austin’s unique identity.

Austin Arts and Culture Non-Profit Relief Grant (July 2021): Allocating $3.9 million in unrestricted grants to 196 local arts and culture nonprofit organisations, including art museums, historical societies, theatres, local-access radio and television stations, festivals, and more.

Arts Community Relief (January 2022): Distributing $5.3 million in grants to 379 existing cultural contractors.

These programs played a pivotal role in providing critical assistance to the cultural sector during the pandemic, helping to mitigate the economic and creative impacts of the crisis.

The Impact

These programs played a pivotal role in providing essential support to the cultural sector during the pandemic, significantly alleviating the economic and creative repercussions of the crisis.

The City managed to implement all these initiatives within a two-year timeframe, even amid the challenges posed by the pandemic. This was achieved without increasing staff levels or interrupting essential services. By leveraging data, third-party expertise, and streamlining bureaucratic processes, Austin demonstrated the ability of city government to act swiftly and deliver transparent, equity-focused results to the community during times of crisis.

The City is committed to applying the valuable lessons, innovations and transformations from these experiences to enhance its service delivery model across all programs and initiatives. Already, the City has observed notable improvements in contracting, procurement, and program design processes as a direct result of these efforts.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022

Images Courtesy @ Getty/Canva