Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION May 18, 2026, 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 May 18, 2026 at Austin City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 1001. 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Chair Houston called the ARTS COMMISSION Meeting to order at 6:09 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Houston, Hussaini, Pownall, Banskota, Anderson, Medicharla Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Keys, Maldonado Board Members Absent: Garza, Schmalbach, Kracheni 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 MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL • Jenn Collazo from Filipino Young Professionals Austin spoke on their disappointment that FY26 Elevate awards were based on previous annual budget. They are asking that the Commission recommend that awards are not tied to previous operating budget • Sara Vanderbeek spoke on their support for Item 14 to not approve the AIPP ordnance changes. They are also asking for the Commission to support the AIPP panel recommendation to have an AIPP audit • Bianca Bailey spoke on their support for Sidewalks and Sounds that brings back the street performers in Austin. They are asking the Arts Commission to recommend funding for the project. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Arts Commission Regular Meeting on April 20, 2026 The minutes from the meeting of April 20, 2026 were approved on Commissioner Maldonado’s motion, Commissioner Pownall’s second on a 7-0 with Commissioners Keys, Garza, Kracheni, and Schmalbach absent. A motion to move items 10-14 approved on Commissioner Andersons’s motion, Commissioner Banskota‘s second on a 6-1 vote with Commissioner Pownall against and Commissioners Keys, Garza, Kracheni, and Schmalbach absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update on actions taken at the May 4th Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Schmalbach No Update Given 3. Explore a Special Called joint meeting with the Music Commission An update was given by Commissioner Medicharla STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Staff briefing on Creative Reset Part 2 with Candice Cooper, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, ACME. An update was given by Candice Cooper, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, ACME. A motion to move to Item 9 was approved on Commissioner Houston’s motion, Commissioner Anderson's second on a 8-0 vote with Commissioners Garza, Kracheni, and Schmalbach absent. 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 ACME Funding Programs by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, ACME. An update was given by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, ACME. 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. 9. Staff briefing regarding an update on ACME Museums and Cultural Facilities by Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager or Michelle Rojas, Acting Division Manager. An update was given by Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager, ACME. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 10. Discussion and possible action to approve possible collaboration with Coalition for Austin’s Arts & Spanish-Language Theatre for the expansion of the Latino Artist Access Program. Hector Ordaz from Proyecto Teatro spoke on the recommendation by the Coalition for Austin’s Arts & Spanish-Language Theatre to state that the proposal falls short in scope. Luis Ordaz from Proyecto Teatro spoke on Latino Artist Access Program and their disappointment that the program was paused until after the reopening of the Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center. A motion to move Item 10 to the June agenda was approved on Commissioner Houston’s motion, Commissioner Banskota second on a 7-1 vote with Commissioner Hussaini against and Commissioners Garza, Kracheni, and Schmalbach absent. 11. Establish a working group with the Arts Commission, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) Advisory Board, and the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission to work with ACME to create recommendations for Spanish language access in the next round of Grant Fundings. Raquel Rivera from Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico and SUREM spoke in support of Item 11 Hector Ordaz spoke in support of Item 11 Luis Ordaz spoke in support of Item 11 No Action Taken 12. Approve a recommendation for the Armadillo Water Tank Art in Public Places Project Final Design. 13. Approve a recommendation for the Airport Boulevard NWSE Art in Public Places Final Design. A motion to approve Items 12 and Item 13 was approved on consent on Commissioner Houston’s motion, Commissioner Maldonado’s second on a 7-0 vote with Commissioners Garza, Anderson, Kracheni, and Schmalbach absent 14. Approve a recommendation regarding updates to the Art in Public Places Guidelines and Policies per City Council Resolution No. 20250306-029. Presentation by Jaime Castillo, AIPP Manager, ACME. Kristi-Anne Shaer spoke on the AIPP panel’s recommendation do not advance the proposed changes to the AIPP ordinance The update was given by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Program Manager. A motion to approve the AIPP Panel recommendation was approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Keys’ second on a 8-0 vote with Commissioners Garza, Kracheni, and Schmalbach absent WORKING GROUP UPDATES 15. Update from joint Arts/Music Commission Working Group on Urban Core Issues with Commissioners Schmalbach (chair). 16. No update given 17. Update from Arts Commission Bylaws Working Group with Commissioners Houston, Garza, Keys, and Anderson (Chair) No update given FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Discussion and possible action to approve possible collaboration with Coalition for Austin’s Arts & Spanish-Language Theatre for the expansion of the Latino Artist Access Program. • Discussion and possible action to approve a recommendation to council on COTA RIDA • Discussion on possible organizations receiving duplicate awards • Discussion on stipends amounts at City owned galleries ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Houston adjourned the meeting at 9:19 P.M. without objection. The minutes were approved at the June 15, 2026 meeting on Commissioner Anderson's motion, Commissioner Hussiani’s second on a 6-0 with Commissioners Keys, Maldonado, Garza, Banskota, and Kracheni absent.