Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION March 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, March 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 6:02 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Celina Zisman, Heidi Schmalbach, Acia Gray, Sharron Anderson, Gina Houston, Nagavalli Medicharla, Felipe Garza Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Monica Maldonado, Keyheira Keys Board Members Absent: Faiza Kracheni CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Celina Zisman - Chair, Heidi Schmalbach - Vice Chair, Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Gina Houston, Acia Gray, Faiza Kracheni, Sharron B Anderson, Nagavalli Medicharla AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Natalie Earheart of Almost Real Things spoke about their Touch The Art event Daniel Llanes spoke about his desire to bring humanity back to arts funding by creating a task force that includes artists like himself APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on February 24th, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of February 24, 2025 were approved 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. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Report of the Art in Public Places Liaison concerning actions taking during the March 3rd meeting of the Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Maldonado An update was given by Commissioner Maldonado 3. Presentation by Board Members of Austin Creative Alliance on the most recent petition to Council An update was given by Commissioner Zisman 8. Presentation by Artists Margo Sawyer, Paula Priour, and Dr. John Yancey on their efforts to save their pieces that are slated to be destroyed (rather than deaccessed/sold) when the Convention Center is rebuilt. The presentation was given by Artists Margo Sawyer, Paula Priour, and Dr. John Yancey STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor The presentation was made by Matthew Schmidt, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager 5. Staff briefing on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor The presentation was made by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor 9. Staff briefing to Arts and Music Commissions about Rally Austin Bond etc.by Anne Gatling Haynes, Chief Transactions Officer The presentation was made by Anne Gatling Haynes, Chief Transactions Officer at Rally Austin DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 10. Discussion and approval on the 2026 Budget Recommendations A motion to move items 11 –16 ahead of item 10 approved on Commissioner Shmalbach’s motion, Commissioner Gray’s second on a 9-0 vote with Commissioner Kracheni absent. Motion to approve the 2026 Budget Recommendations approved on Commissioner Gray’s motion, Commissioner Houston’s second on an 9-0 vote with Commissioner Kracheni absent. 11. Appoint new representative to the Downtown Commission No Action Taken 12. Presentations by Commissioners who are interested in serving as Officers of the Arts Commission Presentations were made by Commissioner Houston and Commissioner Gray 13. Approve the Final Design for the Brush Square Art in Public Places Project by artist George Sabra. 14. Approve Artist Selection Recommendations for Red Bud Isle Art in Public Places Project – Emily Eisenhart Recommended Artist, and Philippe Klinefelter Recommended Alternate Artist 15. Approve Artist Selection Recommendations for Armadillo Water Tank Art in Public Places Project – Bill Tavis Recommended Artist, Candy Kuo Recommended Alternate Artist, and Efren Rebugio Recommended Third Alternate Artist. Motion to approve items 13 – 15 approved on Commissioner Gray motion, Commissioner Schmalbach second on an 9-0 vote with Commissioner Kracheni absent. 16. Approve the 2025-2027 Art In Public Places Pre-Qualified Texas Public Artist Pool. Motion to approve the Art In Public Places Pre-Qualified Texas Public Artist Pool approved on Commissioner Schmalbach’s motion, Commissioner Houston’s second on an 9-0 vote with Commissioner Kracheni absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Gray, and Schmalbach (chair). An update was given by Commissioner Schmalbach 7. 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) An update was given by Commissioner Medicharla Commissioners Anderson, Schmalbach, Kracheni, Houston, and Keys were appointed to the Community Engagement Working Group with Anderson as Chair FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Zisman adjourned the meeting at 9:35 P.M. without objection. The minutes were approved at the April 21, 2025 meeting on Commissioner Garza's motion, Commissioner Schmalbach’s second on a 6-0 vote with Commissioner’s Schmalbach and Anderson abstaining and Commissioners Maldonado, Gray, Hussaini, Kracheni and Medicharla absent.