Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION February 24, 2025, at 6:00 PM Austin Energy, Mueller Assembly Rm 1111a (115). 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723 The ARTS COMMISSION convened in a REGULAR meeting on 24, February 2025 at Austin Energy, Mueller Assembly Rm 1111a (115). 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723 Commissioner Zisman called the ARTS COMMISSION Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Celina Zisman, Acia Gray, Amy Mok, Faiza Kracheni, Gina Houston, Felipe Garza, Monica Maldonado, Nagavalli Medicharla Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Board Members Absent: Heidi Schmalbach, Keyheira Keys CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Celina Zisman - Chair, Heidi Schmalbach - Vice Chair, Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Gina Houston, Acia Gray, Faiza Kracheni, Amy Mok, Nagavalli Medicharla AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Jaymie and Ursula Walker from Dance Verity invited the Arts Commission to their event called (You)nity Nights APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on January 27, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of January 27, 2024 were approved on Commissioner Gray’s motion, Commissioner Garza second on a 7-0 vote with Commissioner’s Medicharla, Keys, and Medicharla absent.  DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion of DEI words that will no longer allowed to be used by the Trump administration by Chair Zisman An update was given by Commissioner Zisman 3. Report of the Art in Public Places Liaison concerning actions taking during the February 3rd meeting of the Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Maldonado No update given 4. Update on actions taken at the January 15th Downtown Commission meeting by Commissioner Mok An update was given by Commissioner Mok STAFF BRIEFINGS 5. Staff briefing regarding the establishment of the Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment by Matthew Schmidt, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager The presentation was made by Matthew Schmidt, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager and Angela Means, Director of the Office of Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment 6. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Matthew Schmidt, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager The presentation was made by Matthew Schmidt, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager 7. Staff briefing on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor The presentation was made by Matthew Schmidt, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. Action to Approve Request for Qualification for the Asian American Resource Center Art in Public Places Project The motion to approve the Request for Qualification for the Asian American Resource Center Art in Public Places Project was approved on Commissioner Mok’s motion, Commissioner Garza’s second on an 8-0 vote with Commissioner’s Schmalbach and Keys absent. 9. Action to Approve Final Design for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Terminal Expansion Phase (TEP) II “A” Art in Public Places Project The motion to approve the Final Design for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Terminal Expansion Phase (TEP) II “A” Art in Public Places Project was approved on Commissioner Mok’s motion, Commissioner Garza’s second on an 8-0 vote with Commissioner Zisman abstaining, and Commissioner’s Schmalbach and Keys absent. 10. Discussion and possible action on recommendation for the evolution of the Cultural Arts Grants in 2025 and beyond, after presentation by Commissioner Medicharla, on behalf of the CAD Grants Working Group Motion to consolidate items 10 – 13 approved on Commissioner Kracheni motion, Commissioner Maldonado’s second on an 8-0 vote with Commissioner’s Schmalbach and Keys absent. 11. Discussion and possible action on recommendation for specific updates to the Elevate grant for a potential May/June 2025 rollout, after presentation by Commissioner Medicharla, on behalf of the CAD Grants Working Group. Motion to approve the submission of this document as a bassline reference document ot be use by staff to continue building and shaping our cultural funding program by Commissioner Medicharla motion, Commissioner Garza’s second on an 8-0 vote with Commissioner’s Schmalbach and Keys absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 12. Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Gray, and Schmalbach (chair). 13. Update from the Community Feedback on most recent release of the Cultural Funding Programs Working Group with Commissioner’s Kracheni, Maldonado, Gray, Houston, Medicharla (chair) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Officer presentations ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Zisman adjourned the meeting at 9:33 P.M. without objection . The minutes were approved at the March 24, 2025 meeting on Commissioner Houston’s motion, Commissioner Gray’s second on a 7-0 vote with Commissioner’s Schmalbach and Anderson abstaining and Commissioner Kracheni absent.