Applications open soon for Austin Live Music Fund grants, $4.5M to be dispersed

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin musicians, producers, and music venues will soon be able to apply for tens of thousands of dollars in grants through the Austin Live Music Fund.

The program offers grants of $15,000 or $30,000 for professional Austin musicians, bands and independent producers. There are also $30,000 or $60,000 grants available for live music venues. The money is meant to support eligible music activities, according to a release from the city.

The city said the Austin Live Music Fund "encourages, promotes, improves, and showcases Austin’s diverse music industry through supporting a wide array of activities marketed to visiting and potential tourists and convention delegates, including live and online events open to the public; studio, video and merchandise production; promotional tours outside of Austin; broadcasting; and, tourism marketing and promotional campaigns."

Applicants for the "Professional Musician" and "Independent Promoter" grants must live in the Austin-Round Rock Metro, which includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. "Live Music Venue" applicants must be located in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.

The city said grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and scored according to limited access to services, local economic impact, programming and outreach, accessibility, and past access to City of Austin support.

Applications will open Tuesday, May 21 at 10 a.m. and close on Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. 

Full eligibility requirements and application assistance resources are available online.