Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION November 17, 2025, 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 17 ,November 2025 at Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001. 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Commissioner Houston called the ARTS COMMISSION Meeting to order at 6:01p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Gina Houston, Acia Gray, Felipe Garza, Faiza Kracheni Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Heidi Schmalbach, Sharron B Anderson Board Members Absent: Muna Hussaini, Celina Zisman CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Gina Houston - Chair, Acia Gray - Vice Chair, Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Heidi Schmalbach, Muna Hussaini, Celina Zisman, Faiza Kracheni, Sharron B Anderson, Nagavalli Medicharla MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL • Maria Luisa Guitierrez from Casa Costura asked for assitance with Spanish language assistance for the AACME grants. They are not clearly translated and the contract . They would like to City to consider offering the contract in Spanish. • Luis Ordaz from Proyecto Teatro spoke on their experience assisting Spanish language applicants. They are advocating for the Arts Grants contracts to be provided in Spanish. • Hector Ordaz from Proyecto Teatro spoke on their concerns with funding disparities and with the quality of the equipment at the cultural centers. • Cedric ___ from ___ spoke about their upcoming holiday market. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on October 20, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of October 20, 2025 were approved on Commissioner Gry’s motion, Commissioner Maldonado’s second on an 7-0 vote with Commisisoner Garza, Kracheni abstaining and Commissioners Hussaini, Zisman absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update on actions taken at the November 3rd Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Schmalbach The update was given by Commissioner Schmalbach. 3. Update on actions taken at the October 15th Downtown Commission meeting by Commissioner Houston The update was given by Commissioner Houston 4. Update on the TEMPO 2025-26 Artist Selection by Mandi Thomas, Chief Operating Officer, The Trail Conservancy and Rebecca Rende, Art in Public Places Coordinator Senior. The update was given by Mandi Thomas, Chief Operating Officer, The Trail Conservancy and Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. STAFF BRIEFINGS 5. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. An update was given by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor 6. Staff briefing regarding update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. An update was given by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor 7. Staff briefing regarding an update on the AACME Funding Programs by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, AACME. An update was given by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, AACME. 8. Staff briefing regarding an update on Art in Public Places by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. An update was given by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Approve the Final Design for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Atrium Infill / Terminal Expansion Phase II B Art in Public Places Project – Matthew Mazzotta and Josef Kristofoletti The motion to approve the Final Design for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Atrium Infill / Terminal Expansion Phase II B Art in Public Places Project – Matthew Mazzotta and Josef Kristofoletti was approved on Commissioner Gray’s motion, Commissioner Garza’s second on a 9-0 with Commissioners Hussaini and Zisman absent. 10. Approve Art Call for the Northeast Service Center Garage Façade Art in Public Places Project. The motion to approve Art Call for the Northeast Service Center Garage Façade Art in Public Places Project was approved on Commissioner Garza’s motion, Commissioner Gray’s second on a 9-0 with Commissioners Hussaini and Zisman absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 11. Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Schmalbach, and Gray(chair). No update given 12. Update from Arts Commission Bylaws Working Group with Commissioners Houston, Garza, Keys, and Anderson (Chair) The update was given by Commissioner Anderson FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Presentation on Phase 2 Creative Reset Discussion and possible recommendations to Spanish language contracts for AACME grants Discussion on creating technical workshops at Cultural Centers Presentation on VisitAustin partnership Presentation on AACME marketing Update on AACME staff vacancies ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Houston adjourned the meeting at 8:43 P.M. without objection. The minutes were approved at the December 15, 2025 meeting on an 8-0 vote with Commissioners Keys, Hussaini, and Kracheni absent.