The Puerto Rican Cultural Center in East Austin has operated for nearly 30 years. Its annual Thrive grant from the city fell from $150,000 to $85,000 between funding cycles, founding director Ana María Tekina-eirú Maynard said. She said the center has stayed open by having her take on more work and seeking more donations.
With the Austin Convention Center closed for reconstruction until 2029, the city expects fewer convention visitors and less hotel tax revenue. According to city figures, hotel occupancy tax collected from short-term rentals more than tripled over two years to $23.7 million. Since April 2025, booking platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO have been required to collect and pay the tax to the city. Short-term rentals now make up nearly 14% of hotel tax collections, up from about 4% two years earlier.
Demand for city arts money still far exceeds supply. Applicants to the last grant cycle requested more than $67 million, while about $24 million was awarded. The city's Cultural Arts Fund has nearly $16 million for this fiscal year. The Live Music Fund awarded about $7.1 million through 399 grants in 2026. Only part of Austin's hotel tax revenue goes to arts and music grants.