The city of Austin is planning a significant transformation for its Heritage Preservation Grant program this year under the guidance of its newly established Office of Arts, Music, Culture, and Entertainment.
Last year, the program distributed a total of $3,590,765 in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to support 22 selected projects aimed at historic sites. These projects included a diverse range of activities, from physical rehabilitations to the creation of new educational materials for visitors.
Well-known venues, such as the Paramount Theater and Broken Spoke, benefitted from maintenance and restoration work, while other projects included site planning for a new museum at the Charles Umlauf Sculpture Garden and funding for Mexican heritage events at Republic Square Park.
According to state regulations, the upcoming round of grants will still require projects to promote tourism at publicly accessible sites. However, this year’s applicants will find that they have greater flexibility in terms of capital repairs, a simpler application process, and a more supportive approach for cultural programming.
Melissa Alvarado, the Heritage Tourism Division Manager, highlighted this shift during a recent briefing to the Historic Landmark Commission. She noted that the creative reset process involved engaging over 1,200 residents, who voiced their desire for more straightforward applications, better access to funding, and increased support for diverse voices and cultural spaces.
As part of the redesigned program, applicants can now apply for grants under two specific categories: one offering up to $250,000 for capital rehabilitation projects and another for “heritage event” projects. These events will focus on local history and storytelling through cultural events, exhibits, and tours, with grants reaching up to $150,000 for historically designated sites and $50,000 for those in the process of seeking designation.
Additionally, the program has introduced a new opportunity for cultural programming unrelated to physical landmarks. Applicants can receive up to $25,000 to propose projects at “alternative historic locations” that contribute to narrating significant historic events, people, or communities while promoting tourism and benefiting the hotel industry.
This new criterion aims to create a level playing field for Austin’s Mexican and Black communities. Their historical contributions have often been overshadowed by issues like redevelopment and gentrification.
In her presentation to the Historic Landmark Commission, Alvarado expressed satisfaction with the progress made by last year’s grant recipients. At East Austin’s Rosewood Park, the Henry Green Madison Cabin is nearing the completion of major restoration work. This cabin, built in 1863, is significant not only for its architectural value but also as a marker of Madison’s legacy as Austin’s first African-American City Council member.
The Bethany Cemetery Association has also made effective use of grant funding, unveiling new educational programming during this year’s Juneteenth celebrations. This programming includes guided tours led by Black Austin Tours, as well as new interpretive signage featuring maps, timelines, and QR codes. These enhancements enable visitors to explore deeper aspects of the history of notable figures buried in Austin’s first African-American cemetery.
Although the total funds for the upcoming round of grants have yet to be announced, Historic Landmark Commissioners remain optimistic about the program’s future. They believe that the new leadership under the Office of Arts, Music, Culture, and Entertainment will foster collaboration with additional city departments.
Chair Ben Heimsath of the Historic Landmark Commission emphasized that this storied grant program will no longer be managed in isolation. He expressed a desire to connect various resources within the city to harness the full potential of Austin’s cultural offerings.
This creative reset in the Heritage Preservation Grant program marks a pivotal step toward revitalizing the city’s historical narrative, ensuring that a wider array of communities and stories are represented and preserved.
image source from：austinmonitor
