The AACME (Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment) funding cycle is a grant program designed to support organizations, groups, or individual creative entities in Austin working in arts, culture, music, and entertainment.
After submitting your Intake Form, applicants will receive direct access to the Eligibility Forms of the AACME Funding Program(s) they select in the Intake Form once the forms open on October 14.
Understanding the Timeline
Starting October 14, the Eligibility and Application window opens for the following programs:
- Austin Live Music Fund
- Creative Space Assistance Program
- Elevate Grant
- Heritage Preservation Grant
The windows for the Nexus and Thrive grants will open later in 2026.
Step 1: Receiving Your Eligibility Forms
- After submitting your Intake Form, you’ll receive eligibility forms for each program you expressed interest in.
- Within one hour of submission, you’ll receive a Submittable email notification containing direct links to your eligibility forms.
- You can also access them through your Submittable account: thelongcenter.submittable.com/submit
Step 2: Accessing Eligibility Forms in Submittable
Once logged in:
- Go to My Submissions.
- Click on your submission titled FY26 Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (AACME) Funding Cycle.
- In the submission view, you’ll see five tabs — click on the Forms Tab.
- Under Additional Forms, you’ll find your program-specific Eligibility Forms.
- Each form lists its own deadline — all Eligibility Forms must be submitted by December 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM.
- Click “Open” to begin an Eligibility Form.
Tip: Use “Save Draft” at the bottom of the page if you want to return later.
Step 3: Submitting and Verification
After submitting your Eligibility Form:
- Allow up to four business days for review and verification.
- If questions arise about your eligibility, City of Austin staff may contact you directly.
- Once verified, you’ll receive an Application Form for each program you qualify for.
You can access these applications the same way — either through your email notification or your Submittable profile.
Step 4: Completing the Application
Each grant program has its own unique Application Form.
To preview what’s required before starting, fillable templates are available on both the AACME Website and the Create Austin Website
If you need assistance at any point:
- Email: applicationhelp@thelongcenter.org
- Call: 512-457-5161
The City of Austin also hosts virtual and in-person office hours during the application period — check the Create Austin or AACME websites for upcoming events.
Step 5: Submitting Your Application
When you’ve completed and reviewed your application for accuracy, click “Submit Form.”
All applications must be submitted by December 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM.
Note: Only the primary account holder can submit the application. Collaborators may assist but cannot submit on your behalf.
Step 6: Making Edits After Submission
If the application window is still open, you can request to edit a submitted form:
- Go to your Submissions page in Submittable.
- Click the Forms tab.
- Locate the Edit button in the top-right corner.
- A request window will appear — enter your reason for the edit and submit.
- A staff member will review and approve your request.