Arts Commission Special Called Meeting of the Arts Commission - This meeting will be held with some members attending in person and others attending remotely.
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION January 29, 2024, at 6:00 PM Austin Energy, Mueller Assembly Rm 1111a (115). 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723 Some members of the ARTS COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than Noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Jesús Varela at jesus.varela@austintexas.gov or at 512-974-2444. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Celina Zisman - Chair, Heidi Schmalbach - Vice Chair, Kate Csillagi, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Gina Houston, Michael Vernusky, Acia Gray, Faiza Kracheni, Amy Mok, Nagavalli Medicharla AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on December 11, 2023. 1. DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion of Chair’s Report by Chair Zisman Discussion of the Art in Public Places Liaison Report by Commissioner Maldonado Discussion of the Austin Economic Development Corporation/Cultural Trust Advisory Committee by Austin Economic Development Corporation Board Member Carl Settles Discussion of the Downtown Commission by Commissioner Mok 2. 3. 4. 5. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Laura Odegaard, Cultural Investment Program Manager Staff update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. WORKING GROUP UPDATES Approve the Modified Final Design for the Comal Pocket Park AIPP Project 9. 10. 11. 12. Final Update and Working Group Sunset from Cultural Funding Appeals Working Group with Commissioners Zisman, Schmalbach, Garza, and Houston (chair) Update from Emergency Funding and Proactive Strategies for Future Funding Working Group with Commissioners Schmalbach and Zisman (chair) Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Gray, Maldonado, and Schmalbach (chair). Update from Community Engagement Working Group with Commissioners Zisman, Houston, Csillagi, and Kracheni (chair) ITEMS FOR INFORMATION FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications …
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX UPDATE JANUARY 29, 2024 C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 1 Hotel Occupancy Tax – November 2023 o Total HOT Collections November 2023 = $6,327,721 o 22.4% towards FY24 Approved Budget of $152,172,894 o Cultural Arts Fund November 2023 = $604,297 Hotel Occupancy Tax – December 2023 o Total HOT Collections December 2023 = $196,344 o 22.5% towards FY24 Approved Budget of $152,172,894 o Cultural Arts Fund December 2023 = $18,751 HOT Cultural Arts Fund - FY24 Approved Budget for FY24: $14,525,594 FY24 HOT Cultural Arts Fund in the bank: $3,266,808 HOT Collections (FY22-FY24) $15.65M $12.87M How HOT programs work: History OLD WAY (ESTIMATES) CURRENT WAY (ACTUALS) Grant awards were made based on ESTIMATE of how much we thought we would collect during the next fiscal year. Example – ◦ COA made a projection about FY2018 (Oct 1 2017 – Sept 30 2018) HOT funds ◦ Grants launched in May 2017, Award letters went out in August 2017. ◦ We reported out every month how much was collected (and hoped for the best). ◦ AC wanted to move to Actuals for years, in case anything unexpected happened. Grant awards are made based on the actual funds we collected in the previous fiscal year. Example -- ◦ We collected $12.87 m in FY 2022 ◦ Those FY22 Collections became the FY23 Actuals. ◦ This allowed staff to accurately budget in FY23 and identify the $10.4M we were able to grant out to 286 awardees. How HOT works: Usage vs Collections Right now, staff reports monthly on: Past Present Future • Update of FY22 fund usage (FY23 grantees – Thrive, Elevate, Nexus R1) • Plan for FY23 fund usage (to be launched/awarded in FY 24) • HOT Collections in FY24 (future funding for FY25 programs) How HOT Spending Works FY23 Grantee Activities (FY 22 Funds - $10.4M) FY23Collections ($15.6M) become FY24 Actuals FY24 Actuals budgeted by COA Reserves, Salaries, Admin, Existing Contracts, Programs FY24 Grant Programs Launch ($13.7 M) FY24 Grantees Selected & Contracted FY24 Grantees paid FY24 Grantees (FY23 Funds) FY24 Collections will fund FY25 Grantees 4 2 0 2 Y F Report Out past Plan/ Spend present + + Collect future Questions
Cultural Arts Funding Update Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor Cultural Arts Division Economic Development Department January 29, 2024 C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 1 Status Reports • Contracts and Payments Elevate • • • Nexus Thrive • Arts Education (ARPA) • Grant Funded activities this month C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 2 Elevate Grant Status – 200 awardees • 197 Contracts sent (TLC holds the contract) • 197 Contracts signed/processed • 198 test payments issued • 196 test payments verified • 196 First payments issued (50% of award) - 98% of awardees • 120 Second payments issued (40% of award) - must complete Miles Partnership Marketing class (+take survey) or post to Visit Austin (+tell COA staff) to be eligible. • $4,627,500 Total Distribution to date ($6,250,000 total) • COA staff working with TLC re: outreach to non-responsive awardees. C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 3 Nexus Grant Status – 51 awardees • 51 Contracts sent (COA holds the contract) • 51 Contracts signed/processed • 42 test payments issued • 42 test payments verified • 42 First payments issued (90% of total award = $4,500) • $189,000 Total Distribution to date • TLC invoiced 11/1; takes 2-3 business days to process; Nexus funds will be distributed when it hits TLC account to those who have signed an agreement/ submitted financial information/ verified a test payment. C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 4 Thrive Grant Status – 36 awardees • 36 Contracts sent (COA holds the contract) • 36 Contracts signed/processed • 36 test payments issued; 36 test payments verified • 36 First payments issued • 36 Second payments issued • $3,447,500 Total Distribution to date ($3,935,000 total in year 1) • Grant Administrator has met with each organization individually to set their strategic growth goals for Year 1. Preparing the launch of capacity building workshops using the feedback from the Thrive Cohort. Next round of reporting and payments will be in January 2024 C I T Y O F A U S T I …
Date: From: Copy: Modified Final Design Memo to File January 29, 2024 Artist and Austin Art in Public Places Staff: Contracted Artist Dana Perrotti, Program Manager Constance White, and Project Coordinator Ryan Runcie Arts Commission: Panel Chair Celina Zisman, Vice Chair Heidi Schmalbach, and Panel members Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Gina Houston, Michael Vernusky, Acia Gray, Faiza Kracheni, Amy Mok, Nagavalli Medicharla Subject: Comal Pocket Park AIPP Project Background: The AIPP Panel first approved the Final Design proposal for the Comal Pocket Park AIPP Project on September 18, 2023. The artist seeks approval for modifications to the artwork color palette and iconography used in the ceramic tile mural installation. September 18, 2023 Arts Commission Approval A motion to approve items 10 – 15 on consent on Commissioner Gray's motion, Commissioner Mok second on a 9-0 vote with Commissioners Maldonado and Csillagi absent. Concept Narrative: To reflect the Mexican and Latin American history and heritage of the park, the design inspiration comes from Milagros, or folk charms representing prayers, wishes, and healing. These symbols traditionally are made of metal and used as offerings or carried as protection. The charms range from body parts (eyes, hearts, legs: to represent wishes to heal ailments), to farm animals (hens, bulls, sheep: to represent either abundance on the farm or concepts like mothering/fathering/togetherness), to houses (to wish for blessings on the home). The theme of Milagros will inform the design for the installation at Parque Comal. Custom stoneware tiles will be fabricated with relief designs inspired by traditional Milagros symbols and community engagement. Artwork Narrative: The tiles will be installed on the North and South cinder block walls that frame the Parque Comal entrance archway. Dimensions of the north retaining wall are 23.25 in. x 183.75 in. The dimensions of the south retaining wall are 23.25 in. x 293.5 in. No changes will be made to the existing arch. Tiles will be made from heavily grogged mid-fire stoneware from Standard Clay, Sculpture Body #420 (30 percent grog content, fired to cone 6). The absorp�on rate of the material at cone 6 is 2%, with a maximum of 3 percent, which is required for outdoor installa�on. The ar�st will make custom glazes, tes�ng the “fit” of the glaze to the clay body to ensure that a proper seal is formed (ie, no crazing, or crackling of the glaze surface). Tes�ng will involve submerging fired test �les …
Cultural Arts Funding Update Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor Cultural Arts Division Economic Development Department January 29, 2024 C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 1 Status Reports • Contracts and Payments Arts Education (ARPA) • Grant Funded activities this month • Updates to Guidelines • • • • • • • Elevate Nexus Thrive Nexus Elevate Thrive C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 2 Elevate Grant Status – 200 awardees • 198 Contracts sent(TLC holds the contract) • 198 Contracts signed/processed • 198 test payments issued • 197 test payments verified • 196 First payments issued (50% of award) - 98% of awardees • 120 Second payments issued (40% of award) - must complete Miles Partnership Marketing class (+take survey) or post to Visit Austin (+tell COA staff) to be eligible. • 1 Final payment issued • $4,630,000 Total Distribution to date ($6,250,000 total) • COA staff working with TLC re: outreach to non-responsive awardees. C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 3 Thrive Grant Status – 36 awardees • 36 Contracts sent (COA holds the contract) • 36 Contracts signed/processed • 36 test payments issued; 36 test payments verified • 36 First payments issued • 36 Second payments issued • $3,447,500 Total Distribution to date ($3,935,000 total in year 1) • Grant Administrator has met with each organization individually to set their strategic growth goals for Year 1. Preparing the launch of capacity building workshops using the feedback from the Thrive Cohort. Next round of reporting and payments will be in January 2024 C I T Y O F A U S T I N EC ON OMI C D EVEL OP M EN T 4 Nexus Grant Status – 51 awardees • 51 Contracts sent(COA holds the contract) • 51 Contracts signed/processed • 46 test payments issued • 46 test payments verified • 44 First payments issued (90% of total award = $4,500) • 3 Final reports approved • 3 Final payments pending (10% of total award = $500) • $198,000 Total Distribution to date • TLC invoiced; takes 2-3 business days to process; Nexus funds will be distributed when it …
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION January 29, 2024, at 6:00 PM Austin Energy, Mueller Assembly Rm 1111a (115). 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723 The ARTS COMMISSION convened in a SPECIAL CALLED meeting on 29, January 2024 at Austin Energy, Mueller Assembly Rm 1111a (115). 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723 Commissioner Schmalbach called the ARTS COMMISSION Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Heidi Schmalbach, Michael Vernusky, Kate Csillagi Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Celina Zisman, Gina Houston, Monica Maldonado, Amy Mok, Nagavalli Medicharla Board Members Absent: Acia Gray, Faiza Kracheni, Felipe Garza CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Celina Zisman - Chair, Heidi Schmalbach - Vice Chair, Kate Csillagi, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Gina Houston, Michael Vernusky, Acia Gray, Faiza Kracheni, Amy Mok, Nagavalli Medicharla AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Natalie Earhart of Almost Real Things spoke about their 2nd annual “Touch the Art” show and expressed questions about the 2024 Nexus Grant timeline and communication Hector Ordaz from Proyecto Teatro spoke about their questions to updates to the Spanish language application process for the Cultural Funding Programs, and expressed their desire to be a part of the language access review process of the Cultural Funding Programs Raquel Rivera from SUDEM spoke about their desire to be a part of the language access review process of the Cultural Funding Programs Maria Luisa Guitierrez from Proyecto Teatro spoke about their questions to updates to the Spanish language application process for the Cultural Funding Programs. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on December 11, 2023. The minutes from the meeting of December 11, 2023 were approved on Commissioner Houston motion, Commissioner Zisman second on a 6-0 vote with Commissioners Gray, Kracheni, Garza, Mok, and Medicharla absent DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion of Chair’s Report by Chair Zisman An update was provided by Chair Zisman. Discussion of the Art in Public Places Liaison Report by Commissioner Maldonado A report was provided by Commissioner Maldonado. Discussion of the Austin Economic Development Corporation/Cultural Trust Advisory Committee by Austin Economic Development Corporation Board Member Carl Settles A report was provided by Board Member Carl Settles Discussion of the Downtown Commission by Commissioner Mok A report was provided by Commissioner Mok. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Laura Odegaard, Cultural Investment Program Manager The presentation was made by Laura Odegaard, Cultural …
