For many working musicians in Austin, the hardest part of sustaining a career isn’t finding an audience; it’s staying housed.
Rising rents and stagnant earnings have made housing instability a persistent stressor that affects local artists’ health and their ability to rehearse or perform consistently. A 2022 census of Austin’s music ecosystem underscored that affordability is a primary reason musicians consider leaving the city.
Against that backdrop, a small East Austin nonprofit is attempting a targeted intervention. Austin Art Village is a planned group of 400-500-square-foot homes designed specifically for musicians and artists. The project, led by Blackland Community Development Corp., pairs long-term affordable housing with support networks rooted in the local music community…