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 …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. VIRTUAL MEETING Art in Public Places Panel may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: Art in Public Places Panel: June Virtual Meeting | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams. 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, contact Art in Public Places Manager Jaime Castillo at jaime.castillo@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-7852. CURRENT PANEL MEMBERS: Kristi-Anne Shaer, Chair Heidi Schmalbach, Arts Commission Liaison Andrew Danziger Camille Jobe AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Lindsey Millikan, Vice Chair Fatima Carbajal Bernardo Diaz 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 Art in Public Places Panel Regular meeting on May 4, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Art in Public Places Program, including Conservation, Current Projects and Milestones. Presentation by Jaime Castillo, AIPP Manager, Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. Discussion of Arts Commission Liaison Report on Action Items from May 18, 2026, Arts Commission Meeting. Presentation by Heidi Schmalbach, Arts Commission Liaison. Discussion of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment Creative Reset. Presentation by Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment. Discussion of Art in Public Places administrative review. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. 8. Approve a recommendation to Arts Commission for the Austin Convention Center Redevelopment (Phase 1) Art in Public Places Project Final Design. Presentation by Diego Miró-Rivera, Art in Public Places Artist, and Ileana Yordan-Cuevas, AIPP Coordinator Senior, Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. Art in Public Places Panel Guidelines and associated policies Working Group update and approval of letter to the Arts Commission. Establish Art in Public Places Panel Working Group to discuss community engagement within Art in Public Places projects. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to …
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 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 April 20, 2026 DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update on actions taken at the May 4th Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Schmalbach 3. Explore a Special Called joint meeting with the Music Commission STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Staff briefing on Creative Reset Part 2 with Candice Cooper, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, ACME. 5. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. 6. Staff briefing regarding update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. 7. Staff briefing regarding an update on the ACME Funding Programs 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. 9. Staff briefing regarding an update on ACME Museums and Cultural Facilities by Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager or Michelle Rojas, Acting Division Manager. 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. 11. Establish a working group with the Arts Commission, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) Advisory Board, …
Arts Commission Briefing: The Creative Reset Phase 2 Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment | May 18, 2026 ACME Facilities The Creative Reset Phase 2 ACME Facilities African American Cultural & Heritage Facility + Dedrick Hamilton House Asian American Resource Center Connelly-Yerwood “Pink” House Beverly S Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater Dougherty Arts Center Elisabet Ney Museum Emma S Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural & Genealogy Center Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex Montopolis Negro School O. Henry Museum Old Bakery & Emporium Susanna Dickinson Museum UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum 3 The Creative Reset Phase 2 Launched in October 2025 The Creative Reset Phase 2 Community-Centered Approach Reviewed Historical Data (2020-2025) Incorporated facility data received as part of Phase 1 Conducted Community Feedback Survey, Focus Groups, Open Houses, 1:1 and Jeffersonian Style Dinner. Research & Benchmarking Created Staff Vision Plans Performed Internal Assessments Streamline, Efficiency & Consistency Conducted Benchmarking 5 What We Heard: Top 8 Priorities Key Priorities for Austin’s Arts, Cultural & Museum Facilities Protect & Strengthen Community Assets Reduce Access Barriers Align Staffing Capacity with Demand Invest in Facilities Focus on Proven Programming Priorities Strengthen Communication & Community Engagement Balance Affordability & Sustainability Advance Systemwide Coordination 6 Virtual Focus Group Tuesday, May 19 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: https://zoom.us/j/98797374446 Wednesday, May 20 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: https://zoom.us/j/99201223652 Wednesday, May 20 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: https://zoom.us/j/93156310967 Take the survey: https://www.austintexas.gov/arts-culture/creative-reset Email us: acme@austintexas.gov 7 The Creative Reset Phase 2 Timeline October 2025 Kick-Off October- December 2025 • Conducted Outreach & Engagement • Collected Community Feedback January 2026 • Performed Internal Assessments • Analyzed Feedback February-March 2026 • Finalized Preliminary Data • Share with AACME Staff and City Leadership April-June 2026 July 2026 • Publish data • Gather Feedback at Boards, Commissions & Community Groups • Incorporate Feedback • Finalize Executive Report August 2026 • Publish Final Report 8 Next Steps The Creative Reset Phase 2 Next Steps Publish updated data on Public Input Host additional community engagement opportunities Analyze findings and develop recommendations Final report published in August 2026 Modified Timelines: Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex Montopolis Negro School …
Hotel Occupancy Tax Update Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | May 18, 2026 Hotel Occupancy Tax – April 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 April $59,170 $37,613,046 $37,672,216 $3,598,544 Year-to-date $619,760 $118,296,373 $118,916,133 $11,357,339 • Total HOT Collections April 2026 = $37,672,216 • 71% of FY26 Approved Budget of $167,288,265 • Cultural Arts Fund April 2026 = $3,598,544 2 HOT Short-term Rentals (STR) $10.6 million collected so far in 2026 3 Hotel Occupancy Collections – Significant Contributing Events • SXSW • Rodeo Austin • MotoGP Grand Prix • Foodieland Food Festival AUS Passenger Totals: 1,972,346 (March 2026) 4 HOT Cultural Arts Fund – FY26 Progress Approved Budget $15,968,425 CAF Actuals $11,357,337 5 HOT Cultural Arts Fund – Quarterly Comparison $15.65 M $15.57 M $15.34 M $12.9 M 6 HOT Cultural Arts Fund – COVID Comparison 7 Questions? 8
Cultural Arts Funding Update Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | May 18, 2026 Agenda 1. Contracts & Payments 2. Grant Funded Activities 2 Contracts & Payments Contracts & Payments (as of 5/13/26) 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%) 226 (99%) 205 (90%) 102 102 (100%) 102 (100%) 102 (100%) 54 (53%) n/a 35 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 33 (94%) 27 (77%) See year 1 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 9 (26%) N/A N/A Total Dist. to date Total Allocation $9,137,500 (99%) $9,265,000 $486,000 (95 %) $510,000 $3,610,000 (94%) $886,500 (23%) $3,850,000 $3,850,000 4 FY24 Final Report Status (as of 5/13/26) 24 of 229 Elevate Final Reports Incomplete (10%) • Deadline: January 31, 2026 • 8 not submitted • 1 extension • 11 need revisions • 1 returning unused funds • 2 leadership changes in Submittable • 1 deceased 5 Grant Funded Activities Cultural Funding Grantee Activities (VisitAustin) The Gourds May 19-20 Austin Theatre Alliance (District 9) – Paramount Theatre The REALLY BIG (and really small) Drink Show May 20-23 Sage Studio & Gallery (District 9) – Sage Studio & Gallery I Scream Social May 22 Host Publications (District 7) – Alienated Majesty Books 8 Cultural Funding Grantee Activities (VisitAustin) Timeless Comfort, Modern Witness May 22 Conspirare (District 1) – Bates Recital Hall Austin Bat Cave's Puppet Storytime and Book Faire May 23 Austin Bat Cave (District 4) – Festival Beach Food Forest Sunday Sessions May 24 Sunday Sessions ATX (MSA) – Waterloo Park Moody Ampitheatre 9 Cultural Funding Grantee Activities (VisitAustin) SACRED BALANCE: The Dance of Shiva and Shakti May 31 Austin Dance India (District 10) – Austin Hindu Temple Community Hall Inversion presents String Theory featuring Invoke May 22 Inversion Ensemble Inc (District 10) – dadaLab 15th Celebrando Salsa & Heritage Festival June 7 Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance (District 3) – Puerto Rican Cultural Center 10 Questions? 11
Art in Public Places Staff Briefings Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Arts Commission | May 18, 2026 AIPP Exhibition Open Calls austintexas.gov/AIPP People’s Gallery at City Hall 301 W. 2nd St. Austin, TX 78701 Exhibition will run October 2026 – May 2028 Changing Exhibits at AUS airport 3600 Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719 12 galleries Exhibition will run January 2027 – December 2027 No submission fees. Applications close May 31 June 14, 2026 acme@austintexas.gov AIPP Coordinators – Jieun Beth Kim & Brittany Heinchon 2 AIPP-AUS Tunnel Community engagement by artist Saya Woolfalk Panel Discussion Saturday, May 30, 2026 11:00am – 12:30pm Women And Their Work 1311 E. Cesar Chavez St Austin TX 78702 Workshop series Asian American Resource Center bit.ly/AARCEventbrite AIPP Coordinator – Alex Irrera 3 Parque Zaragoza Bathhouse (left panel) Brown Birds & (right panel) Grackle by artist Samson Barboza Bathhouse ribbon cutting and Artwork celebration Wednesday, June 10, 2026 10:00am 2611 Webberville Rd. Austin, TX 78702 AIPP Coordinator – Ryan Runcie 4 AIPP Resolution No. 20250306-029 5 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 6
Draft: Art Commission Letter to City Council [Date] Mayor Kirk Watson and Members of the Austin City Council City of Austin Austin, Texas Dear Mayor Watson and Council Members, On behalf of the City of Austin’s Arts Commission, we respectfully submit this letter in support of a recommended FY2027 budget increase of $515,000 for the Latino Artist Access Program (LAAP) at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB- MACC). LAAP has played an important role in expanding access to ESB-MACC facilities for Latino and Spanish-language performing artists. The program supports artists through space access, technical assistance, professional development opportunities, and connections to broader City cultural resources. As demand for performance-based programming continues to grow, the Arts Commission recognizes the opportunity to strengthen LAAP’s capacity to deliver more consistent, sustainable, and equitable outcomes for participating artists. • The recommended funding increase would support: • Additional dedicated technical capacity to support rehearsals and performances without overextending existing sta(cid:431) • Essential lighting and sound infrastructure upgrades to the Auditorium and Black Box spaces • Centralized marketing and audience development support for LAAP programming • A modest expansion of the LAAP program budget to serve additional artists and groups These investments would allow ESB-MACC to build on existing strengths and further align LAAP with an incubator-style model that supports artist development, production readiness, and long-term sustainability—particularly for Spanish-language performing arts. As the City’s designated body for arts and cultural policy and funding recommendations, the Arts Commission views this investment as a strategic opportunity to advance cultural equity, strengthen Austin’s creative ecosystem, and support the continued growth of Latino performing arts in our community. This recommendation is also aligned with broader e(cid:431)orts to ensure that City-supported cultural programs are adequately resourced to meet community demand. We respectfully recommend that City Council consider this funding as part of the FY2027 budget process. Thank you for your continued support of arts, culture, and the diverse communities served by ESB-MACC. Sincerely, Chair City of Austin’s Arts Commission On behalf of the City of Austin Arts Commission
LAAP FY2027 Budget Request — Summary of Proposed Investments Purpose This one-page summary provides additional detail on the proposed $515,000 FY2027 budget increase for the Latino Artist Access Program (LAAP), based on cost ranges and role classifications provided by City sta(cid:431). The proposed investments build on existing MACC operations to strengthen consistency, capacity, and sustainability for performance- based programming. 1. Dedicated Technical Support (Ongoing) — $87,000 To adequately support rehearsals, performances, and participant needs without overextending existing sta(cid:431), this proposal assumes the addition of one dedicated full- time position. • Proposed role: IT Support Specialist (City job classification) • Function: o Support rehearsals and live performances o Coordinate lighting and sound setup o Troubleshoot technical issues o Orient artists to MACC systems and spaces • Annual cost: ~$87,000 (ongoing) This investment supports production readiness while reducing strain on current MACC sta(cid:431). 2. Lighting and Sound Infrastructure Upgrades (One-Time) — ~$300,000 Performance-based programs consistently encounter baseline lighting limitations in the Auditorium. • As part of the originally proposed MACC Phase 2 project, full upgrades to the Auditorium and Black Box lighting and sound systems were estimated in 2022 at approximately $300,000. • Scope includes: o Transition to fully integrated, state-of-the-art LED lighting o o Reduced maintenance and long-term operational burden Improved programmability and reliability This investment addresses recurring production constraints and supports scalable, professional-quality programming. 3. Centralized Marketing & Audience Development Support (Ongoing) — $78,000 This proposal includes dedicated capacity for more intentional, centralized promotion and audience development for LAAP programming. • Proposed role: Culture and Arts Education Specialist 1 of 2 • Function: o Coordinate promotion across MACC platforms o Support audience development strategies o Provide marketing templates and guidance to artists o Prioritize Spanish-language outreach • Annual cost: ~$78,000 (ongoing) This role would complement existing marketing sta(cid:431) and reduce reliance on artists to self- promote without institutional support. 4. LAAP Program Budget Expansion (Ongoing) — $50,000 • Current annual LAAP program budget: ~$90,000 • Current capacity: Approximately 11–15 artists/groups per year, depending on discipline Typical cohort mix supported by the current budget: • 2–3 theater groups • 3 dance artists/groups • 3 musicians • 3 multidisciplinary artists • Proposed increase: $50,000 • Resulting capacity: Approximately 20 artists/groups per year This modest expansion allows LAAP to serve more artists while aligning program scale with the proposed sta(cid:431)ing and infrastructure investments. Total Proposed FY2027 Budget Increase • Ongoing investments: o Technical …
Armadillo Water Tank Final Design Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Art in Public Places | May 4th, 2026 Armadillo Water Tank Project Phase Final design Artist(s) Name Bill Tavis Art Commission $225k Funding Type Sponsor Funded Sponsor Dept Austin Water Council District 2 Map – where project is located within Austin 910 Armadillo Road, Austin, TX 78745 Project Overview The City of Austin purchased the parkland that is now Armadillo Park in 1986 and through the support and advocacy of the surrounding neighborhood and community, the park was completed in 2014. Armadillo Park provides a natural outlet for recreation and community building. Near the park is a storage tank owned by Austin Water, the City’s water and wastewater utility, that is no longer in service and provides an opportunity to display public art that reflects Austin's identity and the history and importance of the Armadillo neighborhood. In 2023, Austin City Council passed Resolution No. 20230816-015 directing Austin Water to explore the feasibility of placing a mural on the Armadillo Park water storage tank. Austin Water has evaluated its water storage tank and agrees that it provides an opportunity to display public art for the community and its customers. 3 Project Goals A work of art of redeeming quality that advances public understanding of visual art and enhances the aesthetic quality of public places in relation to Armadillo Park and its community Conceptualizes a strong overall artwork design approach for all ages that integrates with the site and reflects the corresponding feelings around the surrounding natural environment Celebrates the historical fabric of South Austin, including the legacy of the Armadillo World Headquarters and the vibrant spirit of music, art, and creativity that defined the area and helped shape Austin's cultural identity Is permanent with an expected life span of at least 20 years Is easily maintained and vandal resistant in an exterior environment 4 Armadillo Water Tank – Scope of Work Scope of Work: • Engage with community to understand the context and vision of the mural • Carefully plan and design the mural to incorporate community engagement • Paint and seal the mural on the water tank Eligibility: Experience creating 2-dimensional permanent artwork in materials suitable for exterior environments Austin-based visual artists who reside in the seven counties bounding the Austin metro area (Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, and …
Airport Blvd Corridor NWSE project Final Design Artist Liza Fishbone Item #6 Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Art in Public Places | 4.30.2025 Airport Blvd Corridor NWSE – C5 section Project Phase Designing (Final) Artist(s) Name Liza Fishbone Art Commission 200,000 (C5 Section = $120,000) Funding Type CIP project Sponsor Dept TPW Council District 3 Project locations (address) 2 Project Overview Project Overview: • Located at Shady Lane and Bolm Road within newly created triangular greenspace • Artwork integrates large-scale sculptural form with public seating elements inspired by monk parakeet nesting behavior Project Goals: • • Support Corridor Construction Program mobility and pedestrian improvements • Create a landmark gateway element along Airport Boulevard • Provide functional seating and gathering space requested through community engagement • Deliver a work of redeeming quality that enhances public space and corridor identity 3 AIPP C5: Artwork at the intersection of Airport Blvd, Shady Ln, & Bolm, Rd. Creator | Sneaky Planet Studios World Building • Fantasy Murals • Immersive Art • Imaginary Friends www.lizafishbone.com @lizafishbone Responses to survey question C5: SE INSPIRATION Interesting places to sit Concept: Oversized Monk Parakeet Sculpture & Seating Inspired by the desire for a place to sit, pause and commune, these will be designed to be both artistic and functional. Monk parakeets are one of the only parakeets to build communal nests with “apartments.” Other animals (birds, squirrels) will occasionally take up residence alongside the parakeets, cohabitating in harmony. Mockups C5: SE Locations Monk Parakeet Sculpture placed in sunken green for people to commune (blue dashed oval indicates location) Shady Ln Bolm Rd Locations Shady LnBolm Rd C5: SE MOCKUPS "Monk Parakeets SE" (name tbd) is a singular oversized monk parakeet sculpture placed in the pocket park where Shady, Bolm and Airport intersect. The sculptures will incorporate seating elements, allowing visitors to rest under the shade of the parakeets’ wings. Shadows cast by the wings will shift throughout the day, creating a dynamic interplay of light and space Mockups FABRICATION, INSTALLATION: ART SEEN ALLIANCE www.artseenalliance.com | info@artseenalliance.com Lead Fabricator: Van Zinsmeyer | van@artseenalliance.com| (512) 718-5088 3D Modeler/Designer: Ian McKinney | ian@artseenalliance.com CHAIRS: CONCRETTI www.concretti.com | info@concrettidesigns.com | (702) 444-7711 PAINTING & FINISHING: (artist) LIZA FISHBONE | SNEAKY PLANET STUDIOS ENGINEERING: R.L.W.A. Engineers Renate' Woods | rwoods@rlwaengineers.com MATERIALS AND FABRICATION NEXT PAGE MATERIAL OUTLINE The body of the parakeet sculpture will be primarily welded from hot rolled steel. The posts …
To: Austin Arts Commission From: Art in Public Places (AIPP) Panel Ordinance Working Group Re: Recommendation Regarding Proposed Updates to the Art in Public Places Ordinance The AIPP Panel recommends that the Arts Commission reaffirm its unanimous April vote and decline to advance the proposed updates to the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Ordinance at this time. Our review of the proposed changes has occurred alongside ongoing requests for clarification regarding how the 2% for art requirement has been historically calculated across City capital projects. Those requests remain unresolved. While supplemental materials were shared on May 8, 2026, they were limited in scope and did not provide the level of clarity or completeness necessary to evaluate either past compliance or the impact of the proposed revisions. Based on the information provided to date, the panel has identified significant discrepancies and cannot verify consistent adherence to the 2002 ordinance. Advancing amendments under these conditions risks formalizing practices that may be inconsistent with the ordinance’s original intent. Below is the panel’s rationale for recommending against adoption at this time: 1. Incomplete and Unreconciled Financial Documentation City staff acknowledged that historical calculation materials do not fully reconcile and that discrepancies have been flagged but not resolved. The panel has not received comprehensive, project-level data demonstrating how AIPP allocations have been calculated over time. Materials provided to date include only a limited number of recent examples and do not include a clear, side-by-side comparison of: the calculation method as defined in the 2002 ordinance, • • how it has been applied in practice, and • how it would change under the proposed revisions. Without this information, the panel cannot assess compliance or the fiscal impact of the proposed changes. 2. Need for an Independent Audit The panel continues to request an independent audit of AIPP funding. Preliminary materials suggest a meaningful gap between expected and actual allocations. Establishing a verified baseline is essential before modifying the ordinance. Proceeding without this step risks codifying discrepancies rather than correcting them. 3. Early Integration of Public Art Is Required and Undermined by Current Practice The 2002 ordinance requires that AIPP be incorporated as early as possible in project planning. Best practices in capital development similarly recognize public art as most effective when integrated at the outset. Delayed or inconsistent inclusion diminishes the quality, relevance, and public value of the work, and undermines the ordinance’s stated intent. 4. …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Arts Commission Recommendation Number: 20260518-14: Recommendation to Decline Proposed Updates to the Art in Public Places Ordinance Date of Approval: May 18, 2026 Recommendation Given the unresolved discrepancies in funding calculations, the absence of complete and verifiable financial data, and the risk that the proposed changes would weaken the program’s funding structure, the Arts Commission recommends that the City Council decline to support the proposed ordinance amendments at this time. We further recommend that the City: • Complete a transparent, independent audit of historical AIPP calculations • Provide full documentation demonstrating compliance with the existing ordinance • Reaffirm AIPP as a required and early-integrated component of capital project planning Only after these steps are completed should substantive revisions to the ordinance be considered. Rationale 1. Incomplete and Unreconciled Financial Documentation City staff acknowledged that historical calculation materials do not fully reconcile and that discrepancies have been flagged but not resolved. The panel has not received comprehensive, project-level data demonstrating how AIPP allocations have been calculated over time. Materials provided to date include only a limited number of recent examples and do not include a clear, side-by-side comparison of: the calculation method as defined in the 2002 ordinance, • • how it has been applied in practice, and • how it would change under the proposed revisions. Without this information, the panel cannot assess compliance or the fiscal impact of the proposed changes. 2. Need for an Independent Audit The panel continues to request an independent audit of AIPP funding. Preliminary materials suggest a meaningful gap between expected and actual allocations. Establishing a verified baseline is essential before modifying the ordinance. Proceeding without this step risks codifying discrepancies rather than correcting them. 3. Early Integration of Public Art Is Required and Undermined by Current Practice The 2002 ordinance requires that AIPP be incorporated as early as possible in project planning. Best practices in capital development similarly recognize public art as most effective when integrated at the outset. Delayed or inconsistent inclusion diminishes the quality, relevance, and public value of the work, and undermines the ordinance’s stated intent. 1 of 2 4. Public Art Is a Core Capital Cost, Not a Discretionary Add-On Public art is not an optional enhancement layered onto a project after core costs are established. The 2002 ordinance defines AIPP as an integral component of capital project delivery. Like architecture, engineering, and environmental mitigation, it …
Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | May 18, 2026 Awardee Status (as of 5/18/26) Program Total Awardees Pre-Agreement Not Submitted Pre-Agreements Submitted- Need Revisions Pre- Agreements Approved (Contracting Phase w/ TLC) Payment Phase ALMF Elevate CSAP HPG TOTAL 396 277 22 22 717 4 10 2 0 16 5 58 1 12 76 96 80 19 10 205 291 128 0 0 420 2 Funding Disbursement Status (as of 5/18/26) Program Total Awardees Total Funds # of Awardees Paid % of Awardees Paid $ of funds disbursed % of funds disbursed ALMF Elevate CSAP HPG 396 277 22 22 $7,045,000 $12,616,773 $1,320,000 $3,000,274 292 128 0 0 74% $2,795,000.00 46% $2,735,615.50 0% 0% $0 $0 40% 22% 0% 0% TOTAL 717 $23,982,047 420 59% $5,530,615.15 23% 3 Survey Results ▪ 360-degree perspective ▪ Panelist Reviewer Experience (68 responses) ▪ Application Experience Survey (152 responses) ▪ Commissioner Perspectives Survey (6 responses) ▪ The goal was to understand: ▪ Was the application design accessible/ clear? ▪ Did support systems and communications meet community needs? ▪ Was scoring/ panel processes consistent and understandable? ▪ What improvements should be prioritized ahead of the July 7th launch? ▪ Overall: The content of the programs is strong, but the experience of navigating them needs clearer structure, better tools, and more intentional support. 4 Major Themes – Applicant Experience Streamline and Simplify the Three- Step Process Improve Email Communication (Clarity, Consistency, Tone) Improve Deadline Communication Reduce Documentation Burden and Repetitive Requirements Clarify Eligibility Rules Improve Instructions for Attachments, Budget Tables, and Technical Fields Expand Support Options and Increase Availability Address Language Access Gaps Improve Marketing and Awareness Make Application Questions More Relevant, Less Redundant Improve Tech Reliability Provide Transparency About Review Process Responses came from: 78 ALMF, 57 Elevate, 22 CSAP, 18 HPG Applicants 5 Major Themes – Commissioner Perspective Provide Clearer Eligibility Guidance Upfront Simplify or Better Explain the Three- Step Process Strengthen Reviewer Training Improve Deadline & Timeline Clarity Increase Marketing & Public Awareness Expand & Better Advertise Assistance Resources Improve Technical Reliability & Reduce Upload Difficulties Increase Transparency of Scoring Clarify the Role of the Third-Party Administrator Improve System Accessibility & Language Access Responses came from: 5 Music Commissioners, 1 Arts Commissioner 6 Major Themes – Panelists Better Training More Consistent, Clearer, Centralized Communication Improve Submittable User Experience Reduce/ Right-Size Workload Panel Day lacked purpose Adjust Structure of Applications Strengthen Bias …
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, …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL MONDAY, MAY 4, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. VIRTUAL MEETING Art in Public Places Panel may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: Art in Public Places Panel: May Virtual Meeting | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams. 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, contact Art in Public Places Manager Jaime Castillo at jaime.castillo@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-7852. CURRENT PANEL MEMBERS: Kristi-Anne Shaer, Chair Heidi Schmalbach, Arts Commission Liaison Bernardo Diaz Lindsey Millikan AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Andrew Danziger, Vice Chair Fatima Carbajal Camille Jobe 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 Art in Public Places Panel Regular meeting on April 6, 2026 and Art in Public Places Special Meeting on April 15, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Art in Public Places Program, including Conservation, Current Projects and Milestones. Presentation by Jaime Castillo, AIPP Manager, Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion of Arts Commission Liaison Report on Action Items from April 20, 2026, Arts Commission Meeting. Presentation by Heidi Schmalbach, Arts Commission Liaison. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Approve a recommendation to Arts Commission for the Armadillo Water Tank Art in Public Places Project Final Design. Presentation by Bill Tavis, Art in Public Places Artist, and Bryana Iglesias, AIPP Coordinator, Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. Approve a recommendation to Arts Commission for the AFD 53 / ATCEMS 42 Goodnight Ranch Art in Public Places Project Final Design. Presentation by Re:Site Studio, Art in Public Places Artist, and Lindsay Hutchens, AIPP Coordinator, Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. Approve a recommendation to Arts Commission for the Airport Boulevard NWSE Art in Public Places Final Design. Presentation by Liza Fishbone, Art in Public Places Artist, and Frederico Forte, AIPP Coordinator Senior, Austin, Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. Approve a recommendation to …
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL Regular Meeting Minutes The Art in Public Places Panel convened a regular meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, virtual regular meeting. Chari Kristi-Anne Shaer called the meeting to order at 6:04 PM. Panel Members in Attendance: Kristi-Anne Shaer – Chair, Vice Chair – Andrew Danziger, Heidi Schmalbach – Arts Commission Liaison, Fatima Carbajal, Bernardo Diaz, Camille Jobe, and Lindsey Millikan. Staff in Attendance: AIPP Manager: Jaime Castillo; AIPP Coordinator Senior: Rebecca Rende and Frederico Forte; AIPP Coordinator s: Bryana Iglesias and Lindsay Hutchens; Cultural & Heritage Tourism Division Manager: Melissa Alvarado; Acting Cultural Funding Division Manager; and Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, Austin, Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes of the Art in Public Places Panel Regular Meeting on April 6, 2026 and Art in Public Places Special Meeting on April 15, 2026. Camille Jobe made a motion to approve of the minutes from Art in Public Places Regular Panel Meeting on Monday, April 6, 2026 and Art in Public Places Special Meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Commissioner Schmalbach seconded. Motion passes 7-0. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Art in Public Places Program, including Conservation, Current Projects and Milestones. Presentation by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager, Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion of Arts Commission Liaison Report on Action Items from April 20, 2026, Arts Commission Meeting. Presentation by Heidi Schmalbach, Arts Commission Liaison. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. 7. Approve a recommendation to Arts Commission for the Armadillo Water Tank Art in Public Places Project Final Design. Presentation by Bill Tavis, Art in Public Places Artist, and Bryana Iglesias, AIPP Coordinator, Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. Commissioner Schmalbach made a motion to approve the final design for the Armadillo Water Tank Art in Public Places project. Bernardo Diaz seconded. Motion passes 7-0. Approve a recommendation to Arts Commission for the AFD 53 / ATCEMS 42 Goodnight Ranch Art in Public Places Project Final Design. Presentation by Re:Site Studio, Art in Public Places Artist, and Lindsay Hutchens, AIPP Coordinator, Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. Camille Jobe made a motion to approve the final design for the AFD 53 / ATCEMS 42 Goodnight Ranch Art in Public Places project pending collaboration with staff to work on safety features for the project. Lindsey Millikan seconded. Motion passes …
REGULAR MEETING of the ARTS COMMISSION April 20, 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 jesus.varela@austintexas.gov or at 512-974-2444. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Gina Houston - Chair, VACANT - Vice Chair, Keyheira Keys, Monica Maldonado, Felipe Garza, Heidi Schmalbach, Kirtana Banskota, Muna Hussaini, 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 March 23, 2026 DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update on actions taken at the April 6th Art in Public Places Panel by Commissioner Schmalbach 3. Update on actions taken at the April 15th Downtown Commission meeting by Commissioner Houston 4. Update on the Downtown Austin Space Activation (DASA) Artist Residency Program, presentation by Cat Carter, DASA Artist Resident 5. Presentation on possible collaboration for expansion of the Latino Artist Access Program by Ivan Davila STAFF BRIEFINGS 6. Staff briefing on ACME-Long Center contract review by Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, ACME. 7. Staff briefing regarding an update on the Hotel Occupancy Tax by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. 8. Staff briefing regarding update on the Cultural Arts Funding Programs by Jesús Pantel, Cultural Funding Supervisor. 9. Staff briefing regarding an update on the AACME Funding Programs by Laura Odegaard, Acting Division Manager, AACME. 10. Staff briefing regarding an update on Art in Public Places by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places Manager. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 11. Conduct officer elections for Chair and Vice Chair. 12. Approve a recommendation for updates to the Art in Public Places Ordinance, Guidelines and Policies per City Council Resolution No. 20250306-029. Presentation by Jaime Castillo, Art in Public Places …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Arts Commission Recommendation Number: 20260420-12: Recommendation not to adopt the proposed changes to the Art in Public Places ordinance. Date of Approval: April 20, 2026 Recommendation Council does not adopt the proposed changes to the Art in Public Places (AIPP) ordinance, pending greater clarity on how redefining capital project costs will impact the AIPP budget. Rationale The Arts Commission unanimously voted to follow the Art in Public Places (AIPP) panel recommendation not to approve the proposed changes to the AIPP ordinance (included in attachment). Following AIPP panel, the Arts Commission is supportive of all the recommended revisions with a critical exception: we do not support the proposed change to the capital project cost definition and calculation. It has become clear that, in practice, sponsor departments and capital delivery services have not followed the definition of “construction cost” that is outlined in the current ordinance, currently defined as total project cost, minus five eligible deductions. Eric Bailey, Deputy Director of Austin Capital Delivery Services confirmed that the 2% calculation has in fact been based on “construction costs” interpreted as hard costs only--not including planning and design fees (20-30% of total budget). This is a major discrepancy. The definition of eligible costs is far more important than the term used to describe them. We know from what is written in the current AIPP ordinance (2002 update), from archival documentation of AIPP and Arts Commission meetings from 2002, and from confirmations with people who served on those bodies at that time, that the intent of the ordinance was to have a 2% for art program based on total capital project costs. Moreover, the benchmarking done by AIPP program staff confirm that 70% of the 13 peer cities studied have no allowable deductions in the public art calculations. Despite this industry standard, the current recommendations suggest adding more deductions to the cost calculation. We do not believe this was council’s intent when resolution 20250306-029 was created. The Arts Commission further recommends that the City Council affirm the intent for a true 2% for Art program in Austin by amending the Capital Project Cost Calculation to be defined and implemented as: the full cost of a project (hard and soft costs) to the City after deducting: (1) debt issuance cost; (2) demolition cost; (3) equipment cost; (4) permit and fee cost; and (5) real property acquisition cost. Motioned By: Commissioner Schmalbach Seconded …
Hotel Occupancy Tax Update Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment | April 20, 2026 Hotel Occupancy Tax – March 2026 Approved Budget March Year-to-date H/MOT Penalties & Interest Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax Total Revenue $511,252 $166,777,013 $167,288,265 Transfer to Cultural Arts Fund $15,968,425 $123,045 $2,022,944 $2,145,989 $204,942 $560,590 $80,683,327 $81,243,917 $7,758,794 • Total HOT Collections March 2026 = $2,145,989 • 49% of FY26 Approved Budget of $167,288,265 • Cultural Arts Fund March 2026 = $204,942 2 Hotel Occupancy Collections – Significant Contributing Events • Austin Marathon and Half Marathon • San Antonio Spurs at Moody Center • The ATX Open AUS Passenger Totals: 1,482,483 (February 2026) 3 HOT Cultural Arts Fund – FY26 Progress Approved Budget $15,968,425 CAF Actuals $7,758,794 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 | April 20, 2026 Agenda 1. Contracts & Payments 2. Grant Funded Activities 2 Contracts & Payments Contracts & Payments (as of 4/19/26) 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 230 230 (100%) 230 (100%) 230 (100%) 229 (99%) 190 (83%) 104 103 (99%) 103 (99%) 103 (99%) 39 (38%) n/a 35 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 32 (91%) 23 (66%) See year 1 35 (100%) 35 (100%) 9 (26%) N/A N/A Total Dist. to date Total Allocation $9,056,250 (98%) $9,265,000 $483,000 (93 %) $520,000 $3,610,000 (94%) $886,500 (23%) $3,850,000 $3,850,000 4 Grant Funded Activities Cultural Funding Grantee Activities Austin Latinx New Play Festival April 23-25 Teatro Vivo (District 9) – Zach Theatre 2026 Rhythm Routes April 25 Dance Africa Fest (District 1) – Blue Moon Dance Co Origin Stories at Esquina Tango May 1 Beerthoven (District 9) – Esquina Tango 6 FY 24-25 Cultural Funding Grantee Activities Space May 2-3 SoCo Women’s Chorus (District 3) – First Austin Church Film in ATX: 4th Annual Film Festival May 3 The Gallery ATX (ETJ) – Hyperreal Film Club Ajanta May 9 Agni Foundation for the Arts (District 3) – East Side Performing Arts 7 Questions? 8
Funding Programs Update Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment | April 20, 2026 Updated Awards ▪ 717 Awards (1,606 applications submitted) ▪ $24 million in grant awards ($67+ million in requests) Austin Live Music Fund Creative Space Assistance Program • 395 awards • $7.03 million • 22 awards • $1.32 million Elevate • 278 awards • $12.6 million Heritage Preservation Grant • 22 awards • $3 million 2 Awardee Status (as of noon on 4/20/26) Program Total Awardees Pre-Contract Phase I Pre-Contract Phase II Finance Form Phase Contracting Phase Ready for Payment Have already attended Pre- Contract Meeting/ received link to watch recording. Pre-Agreement Form not Submitted yet. Pre-Agreement Form submitted and needs COA review/approval; OR need updates from awardee; OR previous contract needs to be closed out. Approved to receive Finance Form; OR Waiting on awardee to verify Test Payment Ready to sign Agreement when available! ALMF Elevate CSAP HPG TOTAL 395 278 22 22 717 13 25 2 1 41 44 142 10 16 212 267 86 7 4 364 71 25 3 1 100 18% 9%2 14% 5% 14% 3 Appeals Process ▪ Funding Appeals Request Form Deadline: March 30th ▪ Only three reasons for an eligible appeal (Appendix C of Guidelines) ▪ Panel Administration error; Conflict of Interest; Reviewer or staff error ▪ 88 Appeals Submitted (4 in Spanish) ▪ Staff Role: ▪ Compiled information/ completed a preliminary analysis ▪ Sent analysis to Appeals Working Group ▪ 6 deemed Eligible to move forward to Appeals Working Group ▪ 1 Austin Live Music Fund; 1 Heritage Preservation Grant; 4 Elevate ▪ Appeals Working Group (2 Arts Commissioners, 2 Music Commissioners): ▪ Met on Friday, April 17th ▪ Action for approval: April 20th Arts Commission meeting 4 Nexus Program Updates ▪ Nexus Program ▪ Application: March 10th - April 16th ▪ 452 applications submitted (8 in Spanish) ▪ $500k available for 75 awards (17% of applications) ▪ $5k and $10k level ▪ Outreach: ~20,242 people reached through multi-lingual postcards, newsletters, community events, and radio placements ▪ 84 people received direct Application Assistance: ▪ 166.5 staff hours of assistance through workshops, office hours, and 1:1 meetings ▪ Next steps: ▪ 15 reviews will be trained next week. Assignments begin May 4th. No panel meeting – it is an independent review of at least 2 reviewers per application, and scores are averaged. ▪ Award announcements mid-June! 5 Next Steps: Process Improvements …
Art in Public Places Resolution No. 20250306-29 Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Art in Public Places | April 2026 Resolution No. 20250306-029 Directives Policy Updates Include 2% Public-Private Partnerships Encourage 2% Other Private Developments Allow flexible use of funds for artwork care, relocation, and re-installation Art Placement Flexibility Curatorial Services for major projects Programmatic Updates Communication Updates Address obstacles to local participation Clearly explain rights & responsibilities to artists Support for artists on private property Engage stakeholders (artwork removal) Chapter 7-2 review and associated program 2 Stakeholder Engagement External Engagement AIPP Panel Working Group + Arts Commission • Community advisory committee of the Arts Commission • Austin community arts professionals in design/architecture and visual arts fields Targeted focus groups and 1-1 conversations • Artists who experienced deaccessions, removals, and relocation of artworks • Curators, fabricators, and developers working in public art Internal Engagement Cross-Departmental Working Group • 17 departments reviewed recommended changes City Council Offices + CMO • Mayor Watson, Mayor Pro Tem Vela, Council Members Alter, Qadri, and Ellis Improve program clarity and communications Key Takeaways • • Clarity around the AIPP program • Define roles and responsibilities • Where to find resources • Simplified visual flowcharts • Information sessions 3 Public-Private Partnership (P3s) Directive: Include public-private partnership capital projects (P3), while exempting affordable housing costs, where applicable, and providing a process for alternative compliance that meets or exceeds City standards • AFS explained what city council referred to as a P3 project is more accurately described as an alternate delivery model that utilizes a Public Facilities Corporation. • Ordinance update requiring capital projects utilizing alternate delivery models (including the use of a Public Facilities Corporation); allocate 2% of project cost (affordable housing exempt) • Policy updates to incorporate clear definitions (Public Facilities Corporation) • Allow alternate delivery models to utilize AIPP’s prequalified artist pool for faster delivery method • Develop a decision tree to collaborate with AFS Redevelopment team for AIPP inclusion Big Chiller Buses by Ann Adame; Austin Convention Center 4 Private Developments Directive: Include a review of public art requirements in other private development regulations and programs, including but not limited to planned unit developments, density bonus programs, and Cultural Districts Alternate compliance fees (donation to public art fund) collected can be utilized for maintenance of the AIPP collection • Ordinance update encouraging private developments to incorporate public art, providing an option to incorporate public art …
City of Austin File ID: xx-xxxx Council Meeting Backup: Date ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 7-2 RELATING TO THE CITY’S ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: PART 1. City Code Section 7-2-1 (Definitions) is amended to alphabetize the list, revise existing definitions, and add new definitions to read: In this chapter: (1) ART means a unique work of art or an artistically designed art feature that enhances the aesthetics of a building, bridge, streetscape, park, or other project for which funds are appropriated as described in this chapter and includes a mural, sculpture, garden, water feature, or other feature that appeals to the senses or the intellect. (2) [CONSTRUCTION] CAPITAL PROJECT COST means the cost of a project to the City as determined in accordance with Section 7-2-6 ([Construction] Capital Project Cost Calculation). (3) CULTURAL DISTRICTS means districts primarily focused on preserving, promoting, or celebrating the cultural heritage, arts, and creative expression of a community. (4) DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM means a program that provides modifications to Title 25 (Land Development) and other regulatory-related benefits in exchange for community benefits. (5) GUIDELINES means the established process for how the City implements the Art in Public Places program, including but not limited to the selection, purchase, commission, placement, maintenance, and repairs of works of art generated. (6) (7) PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) means a development that combines two or more zoning uses on a property. PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT means land or property development or redevelopment undertaken on private property. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 4/20/2026 9:55 AM Page 1 of 10 COA Law Department 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 City of Austin File ID: xx-xxxx Council Meeting Backup: Date (8) PRIVATE PROPERTY means property or assets owned by individuals, businesses, or organizations that are not controlled by a governmental or public entity. (9) PROGRAM MANAGER means the individual designated in Section 7-2-2 (Art In Public Places Program Manager). (10) PROJECT means a capital project funded in whole or in part by the City: (a) to construct or remodel a building, …
The AIPP Panel unanimously voted not to approve the proposed changes to the AIPP ordinance at this time, pending greater clarity on how redefining capital project costs will impact the AIPP budget. We appreciate the extensive work that has gone into this process over the past year in response to the City Council’s directive. This effort was intended to strengthen the program, bring greater transparency to elements of the public art commissioning process, and better support artists. We are aligned with the proposed ordinance updates, with one exception: the redefinition of capital project costs. The Panel’s priority is to ensure that the AIPP program is funded at a true 2% level in a manner that is transparent, consistent, and aligned with national best practices. The AIPP program was originally established by ordinance in 1985, born from the dedicated advocacy of local artists, institutional leaders, and community supporters who wanted to see the creativity of Austin reflected in our shared built environment. In 2002, the ordinance was revised, again through local advocacy, to increase the allocation from 1 to 2% and to remove certain deductions included in the original framework. We can see this intent not only in the language of the 2002 ordinance but in archival records of past AIPP and arts commission meetings. This intent has been confirmed by community members who served on these bodies at that time. As currently proposed, however, the revised definition of capital project costs may result in a net reduction in funding for AIPP. The Panel has requested transparent accounting of how sponsoring departments have calculated AIPP allocations over the past two decades, but this data has not yet been provided. Based on our current understanding, departments have largely calculated AIPP contributions based on hard construction costs, despite the ordinance outlining allowable deductions from total project cost. If so, the effective percentage allocated to AIPP has been meaningfully below 2%. Moving forward without clarification risks codifying a system that continues to underfund the program. For the Panel, the central question is: What percentage of total capital project spending has historically been allocated to AIPP, and what percentage would be allocated under the proposed framework? Without this information, it is not possible to determine whether these changes advance or undermine the ordinance’s original intent. This is not solely a technical matter; it is a matter of public trust, transparency, and alignment with voter and …
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport West Gate Expansion Sculptural Seating AIPP Project Final Design Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Art in Public Places | April 20 WGE Sculptural Seating (formerly Playscape) Project Phase Designing (Final) Artist(s) Name Reinaldo Correa Art Commission $445,820 Funding Type CIP Sponsor Dept Austin Aviation (AUS) Managing Dept Austin Aviation (AUS) Council District 2 Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) 3600 Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719 2 WGE Sculptural Seating Overview Project Overview: • Originally scoped as a Playscape for people of all ages in the Austin- Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) West Gate Expansion (WGE) • When Austin Aviation expressed the need for the WGE to have a play area specifically for children during Concept Design review, the artwork design was reconceived as a playful sculptural seating element in the hold room adjacent to the original play area site Project Goals: • Advance the power of connection by engaging and entertaining young travelers and those who are young at heart • Hands-on infrastructure • Interactive elements with design flexibility and the ability to add new components • Accessible for users of all abilities Eligibility: • Local | Texas | National AUS WGE – Artwork Location 3 WGE Sculptural Seating – Scope of Work Revised Scope of Work: • Primary artwork use is seating, minimum 12 seats • Maintain modularity of artwork design as well as whimsical, artistic elements • Modules loose from floor, movable by 2 people • Materials = comfortable, durable, easily maintained Revised Timeline: • 2024 – Contract Executed + Community Engagement • 2025 – Concept Design Review + Revised Concept Design Review • March-April 2026 – Final Design Review • May-August 2026 – Fabrication • September 2026 – WGE Site Fully Opened + Artwork Installed AUS WGE – Artwork Site 4 WGE Sculptural Seating – Artist Introduction Artwork Examples (if applicable) Reinaldo Correa, Artist Prarie Revival, 2017 5 Community Engagement Community engagement sticker activity at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, November 2024 Community-designed stickers During our on-site engagement, each participant was invited to draw their Austin story using custom stickers, creating spontaneous compositions that captured personal memories, landmarks, music, food, nature, and moments of connection unique to their experience of the city. These layered sticker drawings became a powerful visual archive of Austin as seen through many lenses. This collected imagery is now translated into a dynamic graphic language that are integrated via vinyl expressions applied to the top …
