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 June 15, 2026, 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 Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME), at jesus.varela@austintexas.gov or at 512-974-2444. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Gina Houston - Chair, Muna Hussaini - Vice Chair, Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Heidi Schmalbach, Kirtana Banskota, Bailey Pownall, Faiza Kracheni, Sharron B Anderson, 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 1. Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on May 18, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Dr. Claudia Zapata on the Artist in Residence Program offered by ACME and Transportation and Public Works (TPW) titled “Memorias Project 2026: An Immersive Art Experience Based on Austin's Mexican American Communities.” 3. Update on actions taken at the June 1st Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Schmalbach. 4. Update on actions taken at the May 20th Downtown Commission meeting by Commissioner Houston. 5. Explore a Special Called joint meeting with the Music Commission. 6. Discussion on organizations possibly receiving duplicate ACME awards. 7. Discussion on stipends amounts at City owned galleries. STAFF BRIEFINGS 8. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. 9. Staff briefing regarding update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. 10. Staff briefing regarding an update on the ACME Funding Programs by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, ACME. 11. Staff briefing regarding an update on Art in Public Places by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. 12. Staff briefing regarding an update on ACME Museums and Cultural Facilities by Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager and Michelle Rojas, Acting …
Artist in Residence Program offered by ACME and Transportation and Public Works (TPW) Artist: Claudia Zapata Memorias Project •An immersive art experience based on Austin’s Mexican American communities. AN EXPERIENCE IN THREE MOVEMENTS • Movement One • Images and footage reference Austin’s early Mexican population that resided, worked, and formed cultural communities in downtown’s Republic Square, known as Austin’s Mexico. • Mexican and Mexican American residents began Diez y Seis celebrations (Mexico’s Independence Day), and many worked at the Walker’s Aus-Tex Chili factory. • Eventually, the 1928 City Plan displaced Black and Mexican American communities to East Austin Front Cover of the 1928 City Plan. AN EXPERIENCE IN THREE MOVEMENTS • Movement Two • Austin’s Mexican American communities flourish with community centers, public murals, and restaurants. • Since 1942, the Pan American Recreation Center has been serving East Austin, and the later Hillside Theater, with its Chicano murals, highlights Mexican American histories. • For over sixty years, Joe’s Bakery, Cisco’s Restaurant and Bakery, and La Perla have served as staples of Tejano and Tex-Mex food and drink on the east side. PICA 35906, Alfonso Ramos Band plays for a wedding reception at the San Jose Community Center, 1970. Austin History Center AN EXPERIENCE IN THREE MOVEMENTS • Movement Three • Chicano activists, including the militant group the Brown Berets, contest Austin’s annual Aqua Fest and boat races. • Damage, trash, and noise pollution led to demonstrations and protests. • Other Chicano protests and demonstrations occurred throughout Austin against gentrification, police brutality, and in solidarity with the farmworkers’ movement. • Activist figures like Pablo Hernandez and Joanne Salas are memorialized in murals and photos The Chicana por mi Raza Digital Memory Project and Archive 1401_0011NDLSR_111014_082 Nancy de los Santos Brown Beret Joanne Salas on Capital steps, Austin Texas The Audience Experience Research Austin History Center The Chicana por mi Raza Digital Memory Project and Archive Preservation Austin 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor and District Mexic-Arte Museum/Sylvia Orozco AR. 2002.008-012 Gloria and Mel Pennington, Austin History Center Artist Website: https://www.claudiaelisazapata.com/ Project Site: https://memoriasproject.com/ Instagram: @claudiaezapata
Hotel Occupancy Tax Update Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | June 15, 2026 Hotel Occupancy Tax – May 2026 H/MOT Penalties & Interest Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax Total Revenue Approved Budget $511,252 $166,777,013 $167,288,265 Transfer to Cultural Arts Fund $15,968,425 May $40,245 $8,864,057 $8,904,302 $850,381 Year-to-date $660,004 $127,160,430 $127,820,434 $12,207,720 • Total HOT Collections May 2026 = $8,904,302 • 76% of FY26 Approved Budget of $167,288,265 • Cultural Arts Fund May 2026 = $850,381 2 Hotel Occupancy Collections – Significant Contributing Events • Texas Relays • Austin Reggae Festival • Old Settler’s Music Festival • Trail of Lights Half Marathon & 5K AUS Passenger Totals: 1,808,534 (April 2026) 3 HOT Cultural Arts Fund – FY26 Progress Approved Budget $15,968,425 CAF Actuals $12,207,720 4 HOT Cultural Arts Fund – Quarterly Comparison $15.65 M $15.57 M $15.34 M $12.9 M 5 Questions? 6
Cultural Arts Funding Update Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | June 15, 2026 Agenda 1. Contracts & Payments 2. Grant Funded Activities 2 Contracts & Payments Contracts & Payments (as of 6/12/26) FY24 Elevate FY25 Nexus FY25-26 Thrive (Year 1) FY25-26 Thrive (Year 2) Total Contracts Signed & Processed Contracts Test payments issued & verified Payment 1 Issued Payment 2 Issued Payment 3 Issued 229 229 (100%) 229 (100%) 229 (100%) 227 (99%) 216 (94%) 102 102 (100%) 102 (100%) 102 (100%) 74 (73%) n/a 35 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 33 (94%) 29 (83%) See year 1 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 27 (77%) N/A N/A Total Dist. to date Total Allocation $9,181,250 (99%) $9,265,000 $496,000 (97 %) $510,000 $3,712,500 (96%) $2,713,500 (70%) $3,850,000 $3,850,000 4 FY24 Final Report Status (as of 6/12/26) 15 of 229 Elevate Final Reports Incomplete (7%) • Deadline: January 31, 2026 • 6 not submitted • 2 submitted, not reviewed • 5 need revisions • 1 returning unused funds • 1 deceased 5 Pre-Agreement Status (as of 6/15/26) 6 incomplete Pre-Agreements •2% of the FY 26 Elevate grants •5 revisions requested •1 submitted but has outstanding ALMF Final Report 6 Grant Funded Activities Cultural Funding Grantee Activities (VisitAustin) Soul 2 Sole International Tap Festival June 17-21 Tapestry Dance Company (District 5) – Long Center Stories About Pizza June 18 Color Arc Productions (District 8) – AFS Cinema & Event Hall Tirgan Summer Festival June 20 Austin Iranian Professionals Association (District 10) – Asian American Resource Center The Frontier June 20 Joshua Washington (MSA) – EvenGround Dance Studio 8 Cultural Funding Grantee Activities (VisitAustin) Black Auteur Festival June 20 Black Auteur Film Festival (District 4) – AFS Cinema & Event Hall Auntie’s House June 21 Where Y’all At Though?! (MSA) – Pershing Hall I Scream Social June 20 Host Publications (District 7) – Alienated Majesty Books 9 Questions? 10
Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | June 15, 2026 Funding Disbursement Status (as of 6/15/26) Program Total Awardees Total Funds # of Awardees Paid % of Awardees Paid $ of funds disbursed % of funds disbursed ALMF Elevate CSAP HPG Thrive 396 277 22 22 35 $7,045,000 $12,616,773 $1,320,000 $3,000,274 $3,850,000 356 222 16 12 27 77% 80% 73% 55% 77% $3,358,500 $5,037,799 $480,000 $626,242 $2,713,500 TOTAL 752 $27,832,047 633 84% $12,216,041 48% 40% 36% 21% 70% 44% 2 2027 Guideline Enhancements 2027 Enhancements ▪ Last month: Overarching priorities and enhancements related to ▪ Eligibility, Three-Step-Process, Communication, Tech, Documentation, Training, Timeline, Support, Marketing/Awareness, Language Access ▪ This month: Details on Guideline Enhancements ▪ Added minimum award amounts and structured ranges ▪ Added new or expanded scoring rubrics and tie-breakers across programs ▪ Added project summary question for all applications ▪ Strengthened definitions → especially “Applicant Entity,” “Arts Group,” and “Annual Expenses” ▪ Clarified anti-duplication rules (one application per program; no aliases) ▪ Maintained existing tourism marketing requirements but improved clarity, consistency, and alignment across programs. ▪ Deepened rigor across heritage and capital project requirements to strengthen preservation outcomes and documentation standards. ▪ Updated reading level of applications to 8th grade level for accessibility 4 Award Amounts for Thrive & Elevate ▪ What changed: ▪ FY27 Guidelines introduce structured award ranges with minimum and maximum award amounts for Thrive and Elevate. Previously it only included maximum cap. ▪ Thrive: Fully tiered award amounts by annual expenses with clear minimums per tier ▪ Elevate: Introduction of minimum award floors, creating structured, predictable ranges for all applicants ▪ How this enhances the Guidelines: ▪ Introduces transparency and predictability ▪ Reduces confusion and subjective interpretation by eliminating the ambiguous “up to” structure ▪ Aligns award amounts more closely with applicant capacity and operating size through tiering ▪ Set award amounts reduce administrative burden and helps with budgeting to know how many awards can be made within the amount of money available in the fund 5 Award Amounts for Thrive & Elevate Thrive Applicant Total Award over 2 years Annual Award 501 (c)(3) Arts Nonprofit with Creative Space Annual expenses of $125,000 or greater Annual expenses of $85,000-$124,999 Annual expenses of $60,000-$84,999 501 (c)(3) Arts Nonprofit without Creative Space Annual expenses of $85,000 or greater Annual expenses of $60,000-$84,999 $250,000 $125,000 per year $200,000 $100,000 per year $170,000 $85,000 per year $170,000 …
Art in Public Places Panel Staff Briefings Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Art in Public Places Panel | June 15, 2026 AIPP Exhibition Open Calls austintexas.gov/AIPP People’s Gallery at City Hall 301 W. 2nd St. Austin, TX 78701 Exhibition will run Oct. 2026 – May 2028 Changing Exhibits at AUS airport 3600 Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719 12 galleries Exhibition will run Jan. 2027 – Dec. 2027 AIPP Coordinators – Jieun Beth Kim & Brittany Heinchon 2 Open Calls austintexas.gov/AIPP • Asian American Resource Center • NESC Suspended Artwork • Shared Streets • Public Artist Pre-qualified List Opens June 22, 2026 Closes August 3rd, at 5pm AIPP Coordinators – Lindsay Hutchens & Rebecca Rende 3 AIPP Resolution No. 20250306-029 Next Steps & Timeline • Align Ordinance and Guidelines (May-June) o Include feedback from City partners and AIPP Panel o CMO, LAW, and Budget review • Ordinance Approvals o Economic Opportunities Committee o Art in Public Places Panel o Arts Commission o City Council Meeting o AIPP Guidelines Approvals July 31 August 3 August 17 August 27 September 4
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center ‹# › OUR MISSION The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, creation, presentation, and promotion of the cultural arts of Mexican Americans and other Latino cultures. ‹#› OUR VISION The arts, culture, and contributionS OF Mexican American, Indigenous, and Latino/a/e communities are acknowledged, recognized, and cherished as part of the past, present, and future of the City of Austin. ‹#› ALIGNMENT W /STRATEGIC PLANS High-quality Event, Program, & Revenue Generating Anchors LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY Adopt an operations culture of an agile organization. BRAND EQUITY & RECOGNITION Build consistent brand identity to drive participation and revenue. 360° GOALS 360° GOALS 360° GOALS INTEGRATED STRATEGIC APPROACH 01 BOLSTER PROGRAM PILLARS Prioritize space audits & launch: 02 BUILD VISIBLE MOMENTUM Increase attendance & space utilization: 03 EVALUATE BY DESIGN Integrate as an operations component. Data is: a) Intentional Space Activations b) Consistent Scheduled Programs c) Rentals Marketing Campaign a) Relatable Representative Marketing b) Maximize Cross Promotion Opportunities c) Language Accessibility a) collected, b) documented, and c) synthesized into actionable insights for continuous improvement. GRAND REOPENING JUNE 6, 2026 3K + ATTENDEES 100+ PAID PERFORMERS AND VENDORS 30+ VOLUNTEERS “ This was my first time at the MACC, and I was floored by the extent of the programs and services that are already being provided, knowing that there’s even more to come. Especially in these times, Austin is lucky to have the MACC uplifting and amplifying Mexican-Americans and Mexican-American culture, without which this city would be a very different place.” - FACILITY PRIORITIES 1 . C o m p l e t i o n o f P h a s e I I - A d d e d 1 9 , 0 0 0 s q f t o f n e w s p a c e w i t h e n h a n c e d w a y f i n d i n g , s h a d e s t r u c t u r e , A D A a c c e s s i b i l i t y , a d d i t i o n a l p r o g r a m m a b l e s p a c e s 2 . U p g r a d e …
AIPP - AFD 53 / ATCEMS 42 Goodnight Ranch Re:Site Studio Final Design – Item 15 Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Arts Commission | June 15, 2026 AFD 53 / ATCEMS 42 Goodnight Ranch Project Phase Designing (Final) Artist Name Re:Site Studio Art Commission $240,000 Funding Type CIP Sponsor Dept AFD / ATCEMS Council District Eligibility ETJ (2) Texas AIPP Coordinator – Lindsay Hutchens 9600 Capitol View Drive, Austin, TX 78747 2 Project Overview • artwork that integrates with the site, the interior or exterior architecture • artist will spend time observing and • researching the work of Austin’s first responders final artworks should reflect the mission of AFD/EMS: to create safer communities through prevention, preparedness, and effective emergency response • physically and conceptually accessible • durable and is easily maintained AIPP Coordinator – Lindsay Hutchens 3 4 Concept & Inspiration 5 Concept & Inspiration 6 Concept & Inspiration 7 Inspiration: Buddha the dog 8 AIPP Coordinator – Lindsay Hutchens 9 GOODNIGHT RANCH Survey Results full results in backup What is a story or idea you think of while looking at this artwork? "Buddha who was always at the station all the time hanging out with the crews daily." "I will always be reminded of Buddha (RIP), our community dog, recognized and enjoyed by all. He will remind me of the earliest years of station 53." "We buried Buddha next to the station. This statue would mean a lot to every member of Medic 42 and AFD Engine 53. Buda was truly a unofficial member of station 42/53." Noteable quote: "Please put why the crews of medic 42 chose to have Buddha as their public art." AIPP Coordinator – Lindsay Hutchens "connected by dog lovers" 1 0 Previous Design Updates needed: - Address safety in regard to climbing and entrapment - Including lighting plan 1 1 Final Design 1 2 Elevations 1 3 Fabrication & Installation 1 4 Site Plan 1 5 Electrical Access 1 6 Engineering 1 7 Foundation details 1 8 Timeline 1 9 Budget 2 0
Diego Miro-Rivera ACCX Phase 1 Final Design Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Art in Public Places | June 1, 2026 Austin Convention Center Redevelopment (Phase 1) Project Phase Designing (Final) Artist(s) Name Diego Miró-Rivera Art Commission $240,000 Design/ Oversight Funding Type HOT Sponsor Dept Austin Convention Center Managing Dept Council District CDS 9 Downtown Austin, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701 2 Project Overview Project Overview: • Create a site-specific, architecturally integrated artwork that enhances the visitor experience at the Convention Center. Project Goals: • will reflect the culture, creativity, and vibe that create our shared experience of Austin; • integrate seamlessly into the site, facility, building, finishes and/or infrastructure; • convey the mission of the ACC to promote Austin as a premier destination; • employ sustainable materials and processes in the creation of the artwork; • be easily maintained and vandal resistant in its environment; and • contribute to the depth/breadth of the City of Austin’s public art collection. Timeline: • Final Design Review: June 2026 • Fabrication: July 2026 • Installation: July 2027 3 Cornerstone (Working Title) Location: Site A: South-East corner along Cesar Chavez & Waterloo Greenway Considerations: The artwork is at the conjunction of Cesar Chavez downtown avenue, a park system (Waterloo Greenway), the Convention Center exhibition halls, the historic Trask House, and two other artworks. All these elements have been considered. 4 Past Work • Representing nature as is, life-size, true form • Collecting, composition and display • social and site-specific sculpture 5 Footprint Prints 6 Community Engagement CREWS 7 Community Engagement COHORTS 8 Community Engagement COLLABORATORS 9 Community Engagement COMMUNITY 10 Final Design: Inspiration Theme: What are the foundational natural elements of our city? PEOPLE WATER LIMESTONE 11 CONCEPT: making the invisible, visible 12 Last meeting… Barton Springs Concept… 13 Guiding Conceptual Question: What is the symbolic Cornerstone of the City of Austin? The heart of this installation is an exploration of the essential, yet often invisible, physical systems that sustain a city. Just as the Edwards Aquifer is the silent, subterranean structure that sustains Austin’s ecology, many of the people sustaining civic life and infrastructure are working behind the scenes. This artwork, Cornerstone, seeks to bridge the geological, the social, and the architectural using the city’s foundational stone to portray the urban ecosystem that resulted in this site being the way it is. 14 Final Design: Materials LIMESTONE • The only …
Initiating Deaccession Process for “Crosswalk on the Lake” Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Art in Public Places | June 15, 2026 Crosswalk on the Lake Mery Godigna Collet and Luis Gutierrez Location: 3710 Lake Austin Boulevard, Austin, TX 78703 Accession Number: CH.2016.003 Accession Date: 7/21/2016 2 Process Summary Art in Public Places (AIPP) and Austin Transportation & Public Works (ATPW) artwork deaccession from Lake Austin Boulevard. June 2016 • Artwork presented as a part of the Urban Crosswalk Project, donated by a private citizen, for $6,000.00 to produce • Donation Approved by Arts Commission October 2025 • Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) issued directive for all cities in the state to remove any street-based artwork, painting, or signs not approved for transportation safety, in order for cities roadways to be in compliance with state grants. This included the AIPP managed artwork Crosswalk on the Lake. May 2026 • TxDoT denies City of Austin’s exemption request ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ June 2026 • AIPP presents plan to formally deaccess artwork • Arts Commission to form Deaccession Jury July 2026 • Deaccession Jury to review deaccession request • Arts Commission to review AIPP Panel deaccession recommendation August 2026 • City Council to review deaccession recommendation • Upon approval for deacession the artwork will be removed by TPW crews 3
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Arts Commission Recommendation Number: 20260615-14: Recommendation to council on Circuit of the Americas agreement with RIDA Hotel, LLC. Date of Approval: June 15, 2026 Recommendation The Arts Commission recommends that within the ongoing negotiations for the Business Expansion Program agreement with RIDA COTA Hotel, LLC, City Council includes the following directives to the City Manager and Staff: 1. Full Protection of Cultural HOT Allocations: Ensure that the legally assigned portion of Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenue dedicated to Arts, Music, and Heritage funds is not impacted or diminished by developer incentives. These allocations should be kept whole, calculated as though 100% of the HOT totals were being collected by the City, regardless of any gross room revenue payments or offsets granted to the developer. 2. Local Creative Requirements: Incorporate specific clauses into the agreement requiring a. A formal partnership with Rally Austin and Visit Austin to support local music talent procurement for hotel-hosted events, conferences, and public spaces. b. A set quota/percentage of budget for permanent and rotating art installations curated from local Austin artists Justification 1. Preserving the Integrity of Creative Funds The Arts Commission maintains that HOT taxes are a key pillar to the financial health and vitality of Austin’s cultural sector. Using gross room revenue as a metric for developer incentives must not result in a "shadow cut" to the Arts, Music, and Heritage funds. By requiring these funds to be kept whole based on 100% of total HOT potential, the City ensures that incentivizing large-scale development does not inadvertently cannibalize the grants that sustain our local creative ecosystem. 1 of 2 2. Equitable Job Creation While we strongly support the creation of 900 union-represented hotel jobs, we must view our creative sector with equal professional gravity. Musicians and artists are essential workers within the Austin economy. It is vital that the growth of the hospitality sector does not come at the direct expense of the stability of the arts. We must ensure that the "Creative Class", the people who make Austin an attractive destination to visit, does not bear the financial burden of these incentives through reduced grant availability. 3. Structural Integration of the Local Scene A 1,000-room resort at COTA provides a great opportunity for the "Austin Brand" to be realized through local talent. By mandating a quota for local art installations and a structured music booking pipeline, the City ensures that …
