Economic Development

Economic Development

Building a Sustainable Future for Austin’s
Creative Workforce

Our economy runs on creativity. ATXM’s economic development programs ensure that musicians—Austin’s cultural backbone—have equitable access to paid work, preserved venues, and safe, thriving spaces to perform and connect.

Preservation

We collaborate with civic leaders, sponsors, and community partners to restore historic music spaces and create new ones.
Projects include:

  • Doris Miller Auditorium Revitalization

  • Texas Music Museum Preservation

  • Downtown Creative Hub Plan with free community space, parking, and safe escorts for performers.

Paid Performances

Through partnerships with The Trail Conservancy, Easy Tiger, Workforce Solutions, and Armadillo World Headquarters, we’ve distributed $200K+ in paid gigs at or above Austin’s $200 standard pay rate.

Equity & Opportunity

By deeply engaging with Austin’s Black, Latinx, AAPI, LGBTQIA+, Women, and Disabled musician communities, ATXM builds solutions that improve access, representation, and safety.

Community Impact through Economic Development

A vintage cream-colored car parked in front of the Antones music venue in downtown Austin. The venue has bright neon signs and colorful lighting, with several people gathered outside.

Success Stories

Community is the cornerstone of ATXM work. This includes economic development, preservation efforts, and community-building events. Historical efforts include:

  • Secured more than $200K in paid performance opportunities for ATXM PRO members

  • Offer virtual job fairs and jobs lists for musicians through partnership with Workforce Solutions

  • Connected musicians with unemployment benefits, during the COVID pandemic, through partnership with Texas Workforce Commission.

  • Secured $35K to revitalize the historic Doris Miller Auditorium, serving East Austin’s Black and Latin communities

  • Currently working on a permanent home for the Texas Music Museum, a downtown creative hub including parking and safety solutions, and an anti-theft solution for musical instruments.

Make an impact today

Economic development is about dignity, opportunity, and keeping Austin’s music alive. 💡 Help us grow Austin’s creative economy.

Every bit of support goes a long way in helping us help musicians. We’ve got some very impactful new initiatives in motion for 2026, including:

  • Expanded Paid Performance Opportunities for Musicians

  • Expanded Education Programming, in Partnership with Local Higher Education

  • A Downtown Creative Hub, Parking and Safe Escort for Musicians

To continue doing this work, we need your help. Cultivating new partnerships, investment, and donor relations both public and private will be key to our sustainability.

We're putting out a call to all interested corporate partners, angel investors, and music community members and imploring that we all come together to lift up what has proven to be a crucial service to the health of our music community, which truly serves as the cornerstone to Austin’s economic well-being. We hope you’ll help us continue our work by donating, or by contacting us directly to discuss options.

Donate Today