Arts Commission Regular Meeting of the Arts Commission - This meeting will be held with some members attending in person and others attending remotely.
REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION September 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001. 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 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, Keyheira Keys, 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 August 19, 2024. 1. DISCUSSION ITEMS Report of the Art in Public Places Liaison concerning actions taking during the September 9th meeting of the Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Maldonado Update on actions taken at the August 24th Downtown Commission meeting by Commissioner Mok Recap of the Arts Commission Retreat by Commissioner Zisman 2. 3. 4. 5. Discussion on increasing Cultural Arts funding award amounts vs. increasing number of Cultural Arts awards by Commissioner Houston STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Laura Odegaard, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager Staff briefing on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discussion and possible action to solidify consented terms of Commissioner Agreements as discussed at the 6/25 Arts Commission Retreat Approve the Final Design for Corridor: Seg A Escarpment Trailhead AIPP Project – Yuliya Lanina Approve the recommendation of the proposed place-based enhancements strategy and economic incentives for affordability and cultural preservation WORKING GROUP UPDATES 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 on collecting feedback on pilot funding programs and planning on ways the Arts …
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX UPDATE SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 C I TY O F A U S T I N E C O N OM I C D E VE L O P M E N T 1 Hotel Occupancy Tax – August 2024 o Total HOT Collections August 2024 = $17,332,651 o 107% towards FY24 Approved Budget of $152,172,894 o Cultural Arts Fund August 2024 = $1,655,262 HOT Cultural Arts Fund - FY24 Approved Budget for FY24: $14,525,594 FY24 HOT Cultural Arts Fund in the bank: $15,550,785 HOT Collections (FY22-FY24) $15.65M $15.55M $12.87M Questions
Cultural Arts Funding Update Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor Cultural Arts Division Economic Development Department September 16, 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 Status Reports Contracts and Payments Funding Programs Grant Funded Activities for August and September 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 2 Contracts and Payments Contracts and Payments Update Elevate Nexus Fall/Winter Nexus Spring/ Summer Thrive Year 1 Thrive Year 2 Total Contracts 199 51 51 36 See year 1 19 Signed & Processed Contracts Test payments issued & verified Payment 1 Issued Payment 2 Issued Payment 3 Issued Total Dist. to date 199 (100%) 199 (100%) 199 (100%) 188 (94%) 70 (35%) 51 (100%) 51 (100%) 51 (100%) 44 (86%) n/a 51 (100%) 50 (98%) 49 (96%) 0 (0%) n/a 36 (100%) 36 (100%) 36 (100%) 36 (100%) n/a See year 1 See year 1 35 (97%) - (0%) n/a $5,632,500 (90%) $251,500 (99%) $220,500 (86%) $3,901,500 (100%) $3,345,000 (86%) $470,000 (99%) Total Allocation $6,250,000 $255,000 $255,000 $3,901,500 $3,901,500 $475,000 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 4 Arts Ed Relief Grant 19 (100%) 19 (100%) 19 (100%) 17 (89%) n/a Funding Programs Program Dates Live Music Fund • Awards announced • Universal acceptance date September 27, 2024 Thrive/Elevate • Awards announced September 20, 2024 • Universal acceptance date September 27, 2024 Nexus Fall/Winter • Awards announced September 30, 2024 • After universal acceptance date Heritage Preservation • Launched September 10, 2024 • Closes October 8, 2024 AIPP Open Calls • Launches September 24, 2024 • Closes October 22, 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 6 Nexus Applications Received 294 applications received 261 eligible applications •4 Spanish applications •290 English applications •89% eligible •All Spanish applications eligible C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M …
• Project: Corridor Seg A : Escarpment Trailhead • Artist(s): Yuliya Lanina • Phase: Final Design • Sponsoring Department: Transportation Public Works • Project Budget: $63,000 • Council District: 8 • Project Manager: Bryana Iglesias ARTS COMMISSON MEETING DATE:9/10/24 Art in Public Places City of Austin Cultural Arts Division 5202 East Ben White Boulevard, Suite 400 Austin, TX 78741 512.974.7700 / aipp@austintexas.gov PROCESS SUMMARY Corridor Construction Program Slaughter Lane Art in Public Places Projects (2) Project Summary The Art in Public Places program seeks to commission works of art of redeeming quality that advance public understanding of visual art and enhance the aesthetic quality of public places through the selection of two (2) artists or artist teams who can innovatively and thoughtfully respond to the design within the context of the Slaughter Lane Construction project. Project Background Slaughter Lane serves as one of the City’s major horizontal throughways and is the southernmost roadway included in the Corridor Construction Program. Similar to its paralleled neighbor William Cannon Drive, Slaughter Lane has seen an explosive amount of development over the years. While some segments of Slaughter Lane have retained its rural roots, much of the roadway now hosts sprawling residential neighborhoods and bustling shopping centers. Historical Context This roadway is named after the nearby Slaughter Creek, which gets its namesake from pioneer Stephen F. Slaughter. One of the earliest white settlers in what is now Travis County, Mr. Slaughter had received a large grant of land in the south Austin area in 1835. Over the years, the land that contains Slaughter Lane has transformed with major residential and commercial development. But not too long ago, Slaughter Lane was still known to Austinites as a quieter part of town that felt more secluded from urban life than it does today. Native Austinite and Corridor Program Project Manager for Slaughter Lane Greg Weems recalls life along Slaughter in the 1980s, when he was in grade school: “Back then it was pretty common for a lot of kids to ride their bikes [along Slaughter Lane], so we grouped up and rode together. The biggest concern we had was crossing the train tracks—but there is an overpass there now…” Culture and Arts of Corridor Similar to William Cannon Drive, Slaughter Lane is regarded by many as a utilitarian roadway that lacks an obvious arts and culture scene. As growth along this corridor continues, there are opportunities …
ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20240916-010 Date: September 16, 2024 Subject: Recommendation of the proposed place-based enhancements strategy and economic incentives for affordability and cultural preservation Seconded By: Commissioner Zisman Motioned By: Commissioner Schmalbach Recommendation The Arts Commission supports adoption of EDD’s Creative Combining District and Development Bonus Program and for the Place-Based Enhancement Program. Commissioners expressed support for the Creative Districts program at its regular meeting on March 18th, 2024 (Agenda Item 12) and for the Place- Based Enhancement program (Agenda Item 8) on May 20th, 2024. Description of Recommendation to Council The Arts Commission supports adoption of EDD’s Creative Combining District and Development Bonus Program and for the Place-Based Enhancement Program. Commissioners expressed support for the Creative Districts program at its regular meeting on March 18th, 2024 (Agenda Item 12) and for the Place- Based Enhancement program (Agenda Item 8) on May 20th, 2024. Rationale: The Arts Commission regularly hears from members of the arts and cultural community that the availability and cost of creative space has become prohibitively expensive for small and medium-sized arts organizations (see for one example the presentation by dance and theatre artists from the May 20th meeting). Both proposed programs are intended to incentivize the creation or preservation of affordable creative spaces – they are tools to help meet the urgent needs for affordability for small businesses and independent creators in this city. Arts and music in Austin not only provide the basis of our place-identity, they are also a key driver of the tourism economy and a core factor in residents’ quality of life. It is therefore critical that the City prioritize the creation of tools and investment strategies to support the health of our local creative and cultural economy. Vote: 8-0 For: Commissioner Celina Zisman Commissioner Heidi Schmalbach Commissioner Felipe Garza Commissioner Gina Houston Commissioner Acia Gray Commissioner Faiza Kracheni Commissioner Amy Mok Commissioner Nagavalli Medicharla Against: Abstain: 1 of 2 Absent: Commissioner Keys Commissioner Maldonado Attest: Jesus Varela Arts Commission Staff Liaison 2 of 2
REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION September 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001. 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 The ARTS COMMISSION convened in a REGULAR meeting on 16, September 2024 at Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001. 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Commissioner Zisman called the ARTS COMMISSION Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Acia Gray, Gina Houston, Amy Mok, Felipe Garza, Nagavalli Medicharla, Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Celina Zisman, Heidi Schmalbach, Faiza Kracheni Board Members Absent: Monica Maldonado, Keyheira Keys, CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Celina Zisman - Chair, Heidi Schmalbach - Vice Chair, Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Gina Houston, Michael Vernusky, Acia Gray, Faiza Kracheni, Amy Mok, Nagavalli Medicharla AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 1. Chrstine Hoang of Color Arc Productions spoke about their history and invite the commissioners to attend their story telling event. They also wanted to thank the City of Austin for offering the Thrive grant which has helped them expand their programming APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on August 19, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of August 19, 2024 were approved on Commissioner Zisman’s motion, Commissioner Kracheni’s second on a 6-0 vote with Commissioner’s Maldonado and Keys absent, and Schmalbach and Mok abstaining DISCUSSION ITEMS Report of the Art in Public Places Liaison concerning actions taking during the September 9th meeting of the Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Maldonado No update given Update on actions taken at the August 24th Downtown Commission meeting by Commissioner Mok An update was given by Commissioner Mok Recap of the Arts Commission Retreat by Commissioner Zisman An update was given by Commissioner Zisman Discussion on increasing Cultural Arts funding award amounts vs. increasing number of Cultural Arts awards by Commissioner Houston An update was given by Commissioner Houston STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Laura Odegaard, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager The presentation was made by Laura Odegaard, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager Staff briefing on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor The presentation was made Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discussion and possible action to solidify consented terms of Commissioner Agreements as discussed at the 6/25 Arts Commission Retreat No action taken Approve …
