Resources for Creatives in Austin

If you’re a creative in Austin, bookmark this blog. It’s filled with tons of resources that creative people can use to sustain and grow their businesses. If you have any resources to add to the list, sound off in the comment section.

Business Resources for Austin Creatives

Compiled by Love’s Apprentice

City of Austin Resources

The Cultural Arts Division of the Economic Development Department provides leadership and management for the City's Cultural arts program and for the economic development of arts and cultural industries

Capital Investment & Cultural Training 

• The Alliance of Artists Communities is an international association of artists' residencies - a diverse field of more than 1,500 programs worldwide that support artists of any discipline in the development of new creative work

• Art in Public Places Program commissions artworks, ranging from murals and sculptures to functional architectural elements, for new and remodeled public facilities.

• Arts Commission advises city council in all arts-related matters

• Artist in Residence Program embeds artists within City departments to develop imaginative approaches for community engagement and creative expression

• Austin Emerging Arts Leaders is a chapter of Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Network for early-career arts professionals looking for networking and professional development opportunitie

• Emerging Teaching Artists Program is a s job training program that introduces practicing artists to the art of teaching

• LaunchPAD Program pairs established public artists with visual artists moving into the field of public art to gain expertise while providing services benefitting a public art project for the City

• Music Commission advises city council on music development issues

• TEMPO allows artists to propose and create temporary public artworks in a range of themes suitable for the outdoor environment

• Women in Jazz Association, Inc. provides Concert Series and Vocal Performance Workshops for performance opportunities and experiences of local professional and amateur jazz vocalists.

Creative Industry Programs

• Business Expansion Incentive Program provides up to 3% wages reimbursement per job / per year (max $1,800) and up to 50% property tax reimbursement

• Creative Content Initiative Program offers incentives to qualifying film, television, video game, & visual effects projects equal to 0.50% of wages paid to local workers. Projects produced by an Austin-based company or which significantly promote Austin may be eligible for an additional 0.25% incentive for a total incentive of 0.75%.

• The Media Production and Development Zone 2 year sales/use tax exemption on a media production facility

• Austin's UNESCO designation as City of Media Arts strengthens opportunities for development with UNESCO network

Cultural Funding Programs

• Art Space Assistance Program grants to support non-profits facing permanent displacement

• Art in Sacred Places Program spaces to work, rehearse, and perform in unused sacred spaces

• Capacity Building Program provides funding for individual artists and arts organizations with a budget less than $200,000 to provide professional development opportunities (i.e. conferences, workshops, classes, and memberships) to enhance and strengthen the infrastructure and workforce of Austin’s creative sector

• Community Initiatives Program offers funding to support the marketing, production, and presentation of public performances and exhibitions by nonprofits arts and culture organizations, as well as qualifying individual artists and organizations

• Core Funding Program offers organizational and project support to local 501c3 arts and culture organizations, as well as qualifying individual artists and organizations

• Cultural Expansion Program $ for marketing of arts organizations serving underserved audiences

• Cultural Heritage Festivals Program provides funding to local 501c3 nonprofit organizations, individual artists, and other organizations to strengthen the marketing, production, presentation, and funding of a culturally-specific festival.

• Neighborhood Partnering Program provides opportunities for community and neighborhood organizations to affect public improvements by sharing in the costs of those efforts with the City of Austin government. Public improvements could include such things as works of public art, beautification and enhancement projects, community gardens, and more

Public Programs & Outreach

• People's Gallery is a free exhibition of the work of Austin-area artists within the City of Austin’s City Hall

• Artist Access Program provides access to cultural center space for rehearsals and performances

• Art After Six free community arts events

• Art Space Assistance Program will provide grants to support non-profits facing permanent displacement, those previously displace, or those facing lease renewals at substantially higher rates amidst a volatile real estate market

• Austin's New Year annual free event on Vic Mathias Shores

• City of Austin Artwork Donation and Loan Policy community can propose artworks to buy

• City of Austin Small Business Program provides business training, educational events, and coaching to empower entrepreneurs

• The Dougherty Arts Center regularly displays work by local Austin artists and accepts Exhibit Proposals annually

• The DAC Artist Resource Center is a place for emerging and established artists of all mediums to engage and collaborate.

• Artist Inc entrepreneurship program

• The Hispanic Alliance provides access to high-quality resources, arts education and business mentorship for Austin's underserved populations

• The Julia C. Butridge Gallery supports emerging through professional artists by providing exhibition space by application

• The Latino Arts Residency Program fosters the development of Austin-area Latino arts organizations and artists in all disciplines in an effort to build and enhance quality, sustainable community arts and cultural programming

• Old Bakery and Emporium Art Gallery is a consignment shop featuring a rotating schedule of exhibitions including artworks of all media and subject matter

• Six Square is a visionary leader and powerful partner for major projects that preserve, promote, and sustain black arts, history and culture

• Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) advances our state economically and culturally by investing in a creative Texas

Other Resources

• The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified artists whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation

• ALL ATX is Austin's musician advocate, dedicated to their promotion, success and overall well-being

• Art Alliance Austin works collaboratively with artists, museums, independent curators, and galleries to create a diverse and powerful series of programming which highlights Austin as an emerging contemporary arts capital

• Asian American Resource Center Community Art Exhibit Program displays artworks that celebrate the diverse and dynamic cultural heritage, history, identity and creativity of Asians and Asian Americans

• Austin Creative Alliance advance, connect, advocate for Austin's arts, cultural, creative communities

• Austin Emerging Art Leaders chapter of Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Network

• Austin Federation of Musicians assists local musicians with wages, work conditions, employment

• Austin Film Society empowers community to make, watch and love film and creative media

• Austin Jazz Alliance helps jazz musicians in Austin and Central Texas promote their music

• Austin Music Foundation helps artists navigate opportunities in the music industry

• Austin Songwriters Group provides opportunities through workshops, events, annual symposium

• Big Medium is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting contemporary art in Texas

• Capitol View Arts supports the arts community through arts education, collaborative opportunities, and the preservation of venues for performances and public use

• Dart Music International assists global artists obtain work visas, appearances

• Faces of Austin is a short film program showcasing works by Austin filmmakers which reflect the many diverse faces, voices and experiences of Austin.

• Health Alliance for Austin Musicians provides access to affordable health care for Austin’s low-income working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness.

• I Respect Music supports a musician's rights to pay for radio airplay

• Live Music Tutor online music platform that connects instructors, students, and enthusiasts

• Mike Tolleson & Associates free legal clinic Wednesdays

• MusiCares covers financial, medical, personal emergencies for music professionals

• The Recording Academy Texas Chapter is dedicated to providing educational programming and networking opportunities to artists and industry professionals of all trades throughout the state enriching the music community through outreach and advocacy

• SIMS Foundation financial support for mental health and addiction services

• Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts provides individualized volunteer legal and accounting services to financially qualified artists and arts nonprofits, hosts educational seminars and clinics, and produces educational materials to increase business knowledge in the arts

• The Texas Music Office promotes the development of the music in the state by informing members of that industry and the public about resources available in the state for music for music production, and serves as liaison between the industry and state government

• The Writer's League of Texas provides a forum for information, support, and sharing among writers; to help writers improve on their craft and market their skills; to promote the interest of writers and the writing community at large; and to elevate the art and enterprise of writing

• TuneCore helps artists sell music online, keep 100% of their rights/sales revenue, collect royalties

State & Federal

Texas Wide Open for Business
Texas Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program
U.S. Small Business Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

Other Public and Non-Profit Resources

Austin SCORE

This nonprofit provides free small business counseling and resources, low cost business workshops and special customized services. Their certified mentors are experienced entrepreneurs, corporate managers, and executives with a diverse set of industries and specialties who volunteer their experience and knowledge to help small business owners and entrepreneurs achieve success.

Texas State Small Business Development Center

The Texas State University SBDC works with existing and startup small businesses to help them grow and compete in today’s global economy. SBDCs are available to provide assistance during every phase of the business life cycle. The improvements that result from their direct support of their client's activities lead to job creation, investments, and economic growth for communities throughout central Texas.

Free Training for Employees

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Skills for Small Business program, offers up to $2 million from the Skills Development Fund for training. Small businesses can apply to TWC for training offered by their local community or technical college, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). The program pays up to $1,450 for each new employee being trained and $725 for existing employees per 12-month period.

Low Cost Health Insurance

TexHealth Central Texas offers innovative health plans specifically designed to help small businesses attract and retain employees by offering them the most affordable benefits coverage to stay healthy and on the job.

BRAND STRATEGY 101 AND WHY YOU NEED ONE (FOR CREATIVES & ENTREPRENEURS)

HOW TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY THAT LEADS TO MEASURABLY POSITIVE RESULTS

Bringing your brand to life is not about how it looks; it’s about how it makes others feel. It’s all about what your customers say and how they feel when you leave the room. That’s why having a great strategy for your brand is so important. Your brand strategy is what cements people’s perceptions of your brand. What might you perceive of a brand with no clear strategy?

Let’s dig a little bit deeper into this whole “branding” thing though.

Branding, according to Entrepreneur.com is “your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from that of your competitors. Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be and who people perceive you to be.”

That’s a decent definition, but I’ve cleaned it up a bit. Branding, to me, is actively shaping people’s perceptions about your business. Strategy implies that there is a methodical system that one can implement to attain measurably positive results.

That’s all brand strategy is in the big scheme of things. It’s a system that you implement in your business to shape people’s thoughts about your brand.

Now that we’ve defined Brand Strategy, let’s talk about how we can start to build one for your brand.

I’ve broken it down into a nice little acronym that I hope you remember when you’re developing your brand strategy. Let’s get right into it.

1. C = Customer

Your branding should be geared towards your customer so you have to know who they are. If you’ve got a make-up line, think about the kinds of people you think will be interested in your make-up and direct your messages to them.

2. O = Objective

I believe that knowing from the start what you expect to get out of your branding efforts will help determine whether your branding efforts actually worked. It’s important to start with measurable goals. If your goal is to get 100 new subscribers to your mailing list, your branding efforts should direct your customers to get you to that goal. If you started with 0 followers, then after the release of your new promotional material and a certain amount of time, you should have 100 new subscribers if your branding efforts worked.

3. V = Values

This part needs time for serious self reflection, but being able to convey your values through your marketing and branding is crucial part of signaling customers and clients. Having well conceived core values for your business and brand helps set you apart in the competitive space because your values are unique to you. Your values act as the emotional attitude of your brand.

4. E = Express

As a creative, this is the fun part. Express is communicating those values and beliefs about your brand to your audience. How will your marketing collateral express the vision of your brand? How will your audience receive your messaging? Have you made a branding style guide? Do you need a photoshoot? The sky is the limit, so to narrow things down, refer back to the previous tips and ask yourself if these new creative assets fit your brand, match your values, and support your objective.

5. T = Tweak

As your business grows and your brand evolves, you’ll be able to see the results of your branding and marketing collateral. If you’re not getting the results you need, it’s OK to tweak what you’ve got to create something better.

When I discuss tweaking with my clients, I ask things like…

• Is your logo a png?

• Is the text written from your point of view?

• Are you photos really old?

• Does a different motto, slogan, hashtag resonate more significantly with your audience?

These are all critical things to consider when devising your brand strategy.

CAN NOT HAVING A BRAND STRATEGY HURT MY BUSINESS?

It absolutely could. Let’s say that you are an online retailer of custom made goods. You have a beautiful and responsive website, but you’re checkout page is difficult to navigate. If that’s the case, the chances are, you’re not getting the sales you deserve. This is what I call “brand incongruence;” The experience doesn’t match the brand, thus turning off your customers.

By implementing a strategy for your brand to convert interested buyers into returning buyers, this is the type of thing that you can address before it results in financial loss. Sure, you might have been able to save a few coins going with the default checkout theme, but how many customers have you lost in the process.

Being strategic about your branding efforts will allow you the ability to track whether your efforts worked and to recalculate so you can succeed. You’ll have the power to make smarter business decisions because a certain amount of your success has already been pre-determined.

FINAL WORDS

Denzel Washington is quoted as saying “Dreams without goals remain dreams and fuel disappointment.” The same is kinda true for your branding. If you don’t set a goal for your branding, and if you’re not being strategic about accomplishing that goal, then get ready to be disappointed.

Sure, having an awesome name, great brand colors, and beautiful photos taken by Love’s Apprentice are all important and will help make your brand stand out, but if you care about growth, then you need to make sure these resources help to get you there.

If you would like to discuss how to develop a brand strategy for your own business, please get in touch for a low cost brand development session. We’ll get you squared away on all the steps you can take to refine your brand to get the results you want.