Elevate Grant

Elevate Grant Application Deadline: July 23, 2024

Elevate is designed to support the creation of culturally vibrant and diverse artistic content for the public. It supports the creative, administrative, and operational expenses incurred while producing creative activities and events for Austin and its tourists.

2024 Application Cycle

The 2024 Elevate Grant application was open from June 25th, 2024 through July 23rd, 2024. Please see the City of Austin Elevate Website for the most up-to-date information about this program and its application review process.

For application assistance:

 

For assistance with grant guidelines, eligibility, and application requirements:

 

Fiscal Sponsors

If you want to employ a fiscal sponsor, they must be the one to submit this application. This means you must have a fiscal sponsor agreement in place BEFORE you begin the application process. 
 
Only Elevate Applicants applying as Individual Artists or Creative Businesses can employ a fiscal sponsor.
 

Insurance Requirements

Want to see what your insurance requirements will be if you are awarded the Elevate Grant? Take the Create Austin Insurance Requirements Quiz. 
 
Taking this quiz is a required step in the Elevate Application process and can help with budget planning.
 

Resources for the Elevate Grant

Events for Elevate Applicants

Asistencia en español disponible en todos los eventos

Cultural Arts Virtual Open Office Hours

Tuesday, June 25 · 10am – 12pm CDT

Online Elevate and Thrive Application Workshop for Nonprofits

Wednesday, June 26 · 10am – 1pm CDT

Online Elevate Application Workshop for Artists & Creative Businesses

Thursday, June 27 · 10am – 1pm CDT

Elevate In-Person Application Drop-in Workshop for Individual Artists & Creative Businesses

Monday, July 1 · 6pm – 10pm

Cultural Arts Virtual Open Office Hours

Tuesday, July 2 · 10am – 12pm CDT

Elevate and Thrive In-Person Application Drop-in Workshop for Non-Profits

Saturday, July 6 · 10am – 1pm CDT

Elevate In-Person Application Drop-in Workshop for Individual Artists & Creative Businesses

Saturday, July 6 · 2pm – 5pm

Cultural Arts Virtual Open Office Hours

Tuesday, July 9 · 10am – 12pm CDT

Elevate and Thrive In-Person Application Drop-in Workshop for Non-Profits

Wednesday, July 10· 6pm – 10pm CDT

Cultural Arts Virtual Open Office Hours

Tuesday, July 16 · 10am – 12pm CDT

Elevate In-Person Application Drop-in Workshop for Individual Artists & Creative Businesses

Wednesday, July 17 · 6pm – 8pm

Elevate and Thrive In-Person Application Drop-in Workshop for Non-Profits

Saturday, July 20· 12pm – 3pm CDT

2023 Award Cycle

If you are a current awardee, see our Grant Administration Updates page for information about our payment runs. See our FAQ for information on reporting requirements.

See the Impact of the Elevate Grant

Browse our calendar of local events that have been funded by grants – including Elevate – from the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department.

map of austin

By the Numbers

2023 Elevate Grant Applicants and Awardees

Established by the City of Austin, the Elevate Grant provides an ongoing budget for for arts organizations, individual artists, and creative businesses that produce culturally vibrant and diverse artistic content. See statistics and details from the City of Austin Economic Development Department for the 2023 Elevate Grant.

Learn More About the Other City of Austin Grants That Create Austin Administers

Austin Live Music Fund

This fund was established by City of Austin and provides an ongoing budget for cultural funding programs for Austin’s music industry.

Nexus Grant

Grants for new and emerging local small organizations, individual artists, and small arts businesses to produce creative public projects.

Thrive Grant

Provides focused investment to sustain and grow arts organizations that are deeply rooted in and reflective of Austin’s diverse cultures.

Heritage Preservation Grant

Promotes tourism through historic preservation projects and activities inclusive of all stories rooted in history and heritage.

Creativity should be prioritized in our city – creating vibrant neighborhoods, social impact, sustainable economics, and job opportunities. By working together, we can enrich the lives of all who live in and visit our vibrant city.

2023 Elevate Grant FAQ

If you want to learn about who is eligible, navigate HERE and scroll down to the section that details, “Applicant Eligibility”. Click on the down caret symbol that looks like this “V”. That will expand the section and provide more detail about eligibility.

If you want to learn about what you can spend with your award, navigate HERE and scroll down to the section that details, “Eligible Activities and Expenses”. Click on the down caret symbol that looks like this “V”. That will expand the section and provide more detail about eligibility.

You should have received an award confirmation from the Long Center in August of this year. The Long Center has also been reaching out to awardees in the subsequent weeks to do several things:

  • Verify payment details
    • So we can get your money to the correct bank account
  • Get a signed grant agreement
    • This is a contract between the awardee and the Long Center.
    • It is not a negotiable step in the program as it is a program requirement required by our contract with the City of Austin
  • Ensure that you have the proper insurance coverage
    • This is also a program requirement. Based on your answers to the Insurance Questionnaire, some insurance coverage may need to be secured prior to your event
  • IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM THE LONG CENTER, CLICK HERE TO CONTACT THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT.

According to the City of Austin’s Payment Schedule, your payment distribution is:

  • Round 1 – 50% of your total award upon completion of all necessary paperwork
  • Round 2 – 40% of your total award after you:
    • Take a Miles Partnership Class; OR
    • Post to Visit Austin
    • These requirements will be verified by Cultural Arts Division staff and confirmation of these actions will be sent to Long Center to begin payment process.
  • Round 3 – 10% of your total award after:
    • Cultural Arts Division staff has emailed all awardees the requirements for payment and reporting.
    • Once all reporting has been verified, the Long Center will confirm with City of Austin that all requirements have been met and initiate payment.

The vast majority of awardees who have returned their completed paperwork should have received their Round 1 payment already. If you have not, please reach out to us. We have a dedicated email and phone number with a team of staff available to assist you. Here is our contact information:

Phone: 512-457-5139
Email: cityofaustingrants@thelongcenter.org

Round 2 payments have already begun for those who have completed a Miles Partnership class OR posted their event to the Visit Austin website. This is being verified by Cultural Arts Division Staff. Awardees can only receive Round 2 payment once they have also completed the paperwork necessary for a Round 1 payment. If you have questions about what you should be submitting, please use the contact information above for help.