Austin artist & creative grants: the 2026 guide
Where the money for Austin creatives actually comes from, who each program is for, and when to watch for it. For deadlines that are open right now, see the live grants & open calls list.
City of Austin (ACME)
The City's Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment office runs the largest local programs, funded by Hotel Occupancy Tax. For fiscal year 2027 it opened about $23 million in grants covering creative production, public programming, operations, media and digital arts and more. Programs include Elevate, Thrive, Nexus (for emerging creatives and organizations), the Heritage Preservation Grant and the Austin Live Music Fund. Source: austintexas.gov funding programs.
A3 Art Alliance Austin micro-grants
Unrestricted micro-grants of $1,000 for individual artists and $2,000 for community organizations in the five-county Austin area, for applicants with at least 3 years of consistent creative work. The 2026 call opened in May with a June deadline. Source: A3 Austin.
Austin Film Society
The AFS Grant awards up to $20,000 in cash to Texas-based filmmakers for pre-production, production or post-production, plus special awards and in-kind packages. The 2026 deadline was May 20. Source: Austin Film Society.
Statewide and national
- Texas Commission on the Arts — funds nonprofits and units of government; its first FY2027 round approved over $17 million across 131 Texas cities. arts.texas.gov
- Texas Women for the Arts — grants for 501(c)(3) organizations sponsored by a TWA member; the 2026–27 cycle runs October 1 to December 1, 2026. Texas Cultural Trust
- National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities — federal programs listed by the City as resources for Austin creatives.
How to stay ahead
Deadlines move every year. Turn on free alerts and we'll email you a week before and the day before grant and open-call deadlines on our live list. Need a strong work sample or pitch video for an application? Book the studio.
Questions
What grants are available for artists in Austin?
The largest are the City of Austin ACME programs (Elevate, Thrive, Nexus, Heritage Preservation, Austin Live Music Fund). A3 Art Alliance Austin offers $1,000–$2,000 micro-grants, and the Austin Film Society offers up to $20,000 for Texas filmmakers.
Can individual artists get city grants in Austin?
Some ACME programs include individual artists — Nexus, for example, supports emerging creative individuals and organizations. Check each program page for current eligibility.
How do I find open grant deadlines in Austin?
ATX Content Club keeps a live list at atxcontent.club/austin-creative-grants and sends free reminders before deadlines.