REGULAR MEETING OF THE EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ADVISORY BOARD WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 W. 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center may be participating by videoconference. 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 Michelle Rojas, 512-974-3771, Michelle.Rojas@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Angelica Navarro (D-8), Chair Hilario “Larry” Amaro (D-10), Member Lynda Quintana (D-6), Member Noemi Castro (D-2), Member Raul “Roy” Reyna (D-1), Member Alexander “Al” Duarte (D-7), Member Selma Sanchez (D-9), Member John Estrada (D-3), Member Vacant (D-4), Member Cynthia “Cy” Herrera (D-5), Member Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz (Mayor), Vice Chair 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 Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of January 7, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on January and February programs, marketing and outreach efforts, signature event planning, and staffing updates. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative, Austin Arts Culture, Music and Entertainment & Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager, Austin Arts Culture, Music and Entertainment DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. Update on Phase 2 Construction Project. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Heidi Tse, Capital Delivery Project Manager, Austin Capital Delivery Services Discussion on FY26-27 budget priorities regarding building operations, programming, and event planning. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presentation by community members on their experience with Cultural Arts funding. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Luis Ordaz, Hector Ordaz of Proyecto Teatro, Raquel Rivera of SUREM Dance, and Guicha Gutierrez of CasaCostura Presentation by past participants on their experience with the ESB MACC Latino Arts Residency Program. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Luis Ordaz, Hector Ordaz of Proyecto Teatro and Dr. Roen Salinas of Aztlan Dance Company DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Presentation and recommendation by Iván Dávila, Chair …
ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 7, 2026 EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026 MINUTES The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center convened in a Regular meeting on January 7, 2026, at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. (Some members of the ESB-MACC Advisory Board participated via videoconference.) Chair Navarro called the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Angelica Navarro, Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Noemi Castro, Alexander “Al” Duarte, John Estrada, Raul “Roy” Reyna, Selma Sanchez. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Cynthia “Cy” Herrera (arrived at 6:34 p.m.), Lynda Quintana. Board Members Absent: Anthony Martinez. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Mateo Hernandez, Teatro Vivo Board Member, reported on Teatro Vivo’s collaboration with the MACC on the production of La Pastorela. He noted that the event had a strong turnout, reaching more than 160 audience members, and that attendees expressed their gratitude for a bilingual performance that was culturally relevant to Latine communities. Mr. Hernandez shared that this year’s performance was designed as a participatory experience, inviting the audience to actively become a part of the story. He concluded by thanking MACC staff, AARC Staff, and Board Member Amaro for their support and contributions to the success of the production. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of November 5, 2025. The minutes from the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of November 5, 2025, were approved as amended on a motion by Board Member Duarte and a second by Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz. Amendments included revisions to Discussion Item 5, clarification of terminology from “Mexican American” to “Mexican- American.” The motion passed on a 9-0 vote. Board Members Herrera and Martinez absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on November, December, and January programs, marketing and outreach efforts, and updates on signature event planning. Erik Granados, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Coordinator, Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment, gave a briefing on Casa de la Cultura programming. 1 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 7, 2026 Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative, Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment, reported on Youth and Family Education programs; Caminos Teen Leadership programming; current and upcoming marketing and outreach efforts; signature events; collaborations; the Latino/a/e Artist Access …
EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER Phase 2 Improvements MACC Advisor y Board Update Heidi Tse Capital Delivery Project Manager February 4, 2026 Estimated Completion Late Spring 2026 The Re-opening may occur sometime between the project’s substantial completion and final completion. Substantial Completion (contractual term) is when the facility is deemed ready to be occupied by the owner, but other minor work still needs to be completed by the contractor. The exact date or alignment of the Re-opening will not be known until construction has significantly progressed. Must achieve TCO at a minimum. The anticipated project completion timeline is: 1. Target Substantial Completion: 11/03/25 11/19/25 12/2025 Late 2/2026 or 3/2026 2. Target Re-opening Late Spring 2026 Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) grants temporary, conditional use of a building for stocking or furnishing before all construction work is fully completed. MACC full building TCO on 1/23/2026 Certificate of Occupancy (CO) that proves a structure is habitable based on its legal use and type of property and meets all building codes. Targeted for Late February – March 2026 TCO vs CO Substantial Completion (Contract Promised Date 9/11/25) : 1. Create Punchlist of work to be remediated • Begin generating official Punchlist with each design discipline for conformity of design intent from December 2025 - January 2026 Items to complete: • January 2, 2026 – 3,335 January 29, 2026 - 1,699 • • • Completed ~50% 2. Provide Training for MACC staff on building systems. • Begin December 2025 - January 2026 Theatrical Rigging System (116133) Food Service Equipment (114000) Fire Suppression (211313) Heat Tracing (220533) Electric Water Heaters (223333) Direct Digital Control System for HVAC (230923) Water Treatment for Hydronic Systems (232500) Access Control System (281300) Video Surveillance System (282300) Network Lighting Controls (260943) Scheduled for 2/2 Multi-Purpose and Classroom A-V Systems (274120) 2/1 Project Milestones Updates • Ceremonial Groundbreaking: December 10, 2022 • GMP 1 (Site Work) Notice to Proceed issued: August 28, 2023 • GMP 2 (Building / Landscape) Notice to Proceed issued: March 7, 2024 • Steel “Topping Out”: September 11, 2024 • Target Major Construction Ends: February 2025 • Target Stocking: Late February 2026 • Target Staff Move-In: March 2026 • Target Grand Re-Opening: Late Spring 2026 Emergency Project • The The pipe has deteriorated to the point that 6” steel ductile is peeling off as layers with the 2” insulation. The picture indicates rust and stress …
EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER Phase 2 Improvements MACC Advisor y Board Update Heidi Tse Capital Delivery Project Manager February 4, 2026 Estimated Completion Late Spring 2026 The Re-opening may occur sometime between the project’s substantial completion and final completion. Substantial Completion (contractual term) is when the facility is deemed ready to be occupied by the owner, but other minor work still needs to be completed by the contractor. The exact date or alignment of the Re-opening will not be known until construction has significantly progressed. Must achieve TCO at a minimum. The anticipated project completion timeline is: 1. Target Substantial Completion: 11/03/25 11/19/25 12/2025 Late 2/2026 or 3/2026 2. Target Re-opening Late Spring 2026 Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) grants temporary, conditional use of a building for stocking or furnishing before all construction work is fully completed. MACC building additions TCO on 1/23/2026 MACC existing building TCO Stocking only. Certificate of Occupancy (CO) that proves a structure is habitable based on its legal use and type of property and meets all building codes. Targeted for Late February – March 2026 TCO vs CO Substantial Completion (Contract Promised Date 9/11/25) : 1. Create Punchlist of work to be remediated • Begin generating official Punchlist with each design discipline for conformity of design intent from December 2025 - January 2026 Items to complete: • January 2, 2026 – 3,335 January 29, 2026 - 1,699 • • • Completed ~50% 2. Provide Training for MACC staff on building systems. • Begin December 2025 - January 2026 Theatrical Rigging System (116133) Food Service Equipment (114000) Fire Suppression (211313) Heat Tracing (220533) Electric Water Heaters (223333) Direct Digital Control System for HVAC (230923) Water Treatment for Hydronic Systems (232500) Access Control System (281300) Video Surveillance System (282300) Network Lighting Controls (260943) Multi-Purpose and Classroom A-V Systems (274120) Project Milestones Updates • Ceremonial Groundbreaking: December 10, 2022 • GMP 1 (Site Work) Notice to Proceed issued: August 28, 2023 • GMP 2 (Building / Landscape) Notice to Proceed issued: March 7, 2024 • Steel “Topping Out”: September 11, 2024 • Target Major Construction Ends: February 2025 • Target Stocking: Late February 2026 • Target Staff Move-In: March 2026 • Target Grand Re-Opening: Late Spring 2026 Emergency Project • The The pipe has deteriorated to the point that 6” steel ductile iron is peeling off as layers with the 2” insulation. The picture indicates …
“Briefing by community members on their experience with Cultural Arts funding.” Luis Ordaz Gutierrez, Executive Director of ProyectoTEATRO Dr. Roen Salinas, Executive Director of Aztlan Dance Company Raquel Rivera, Executive Director of Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico de TX. Brief History of Austin’s Cultural Funding Programs 2020: Pause and Redesign 2020: Pause and Redesign 2023 Reset 2020: Pause and Redesign FY2025-2026 FY2025-2026 Closing
City of austin’s Cultural arts funding -------------------------------- Briefing by community artists on their experience with the city’s fuding programs Advisory Board Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz Presenters: Dr. Róen Salinas | Aztlan Dance Company Luis Ordaz Gutiérrez | ProyectoTEATRO Hector Ordaz Gutiérrez | ProyectoTEATRO Raquel Rivera | SUREM & Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklórico Brief history 40+ years of cultural arts funding • HOT Tax funding source • Long standing cultural contractors include all LARP artists to date • Institutionalized and systemic underfunding of non-white artists since programs were rolled out in the late 70s / early 80s. Issues are rooted in inequitable funding eligibility qualifications, budget matrices that favor white socioeconomic levels, and language accessibility barriers for non-english speaking artists. 1 2020: Funding distribution for Latino arts published 40+ years inequitable distribution All City of Austin cultural arts funding programs are frozen per 3rd party consultant recommendation. Research recommends: • More program outreach and accessibility communities. • Equal representation in the distribution of the cultural art funding • Priority to vulnerable communities that had been historically left out • Ability to apply in other languages other than english for BIPOC 2015-2021: Latino community only receives 9% of entire city funding. Pause, redesigning, and reset 2020 and beyond New Funding levels are proposed as: • Thrive for large organizations • Elevate for medium organizations • Nexus for small organizations or emerging artists With new funding matrices, less challenging applications, fewer eligibility requirements and… The opportunity to apply in 7 languages other than english! Latino artist can finally apply in Spanish! 3 Issues and challenges for spanish-speakers The start of a series of language accessibility issues Inaugural 2023 reset launch of new programs: • Negligent Translation errors; deadline to allow for Spanish speakers to receive application support. No contracts in spanish available. City moves to extend 2024 2nd Cycle of New Fudning programs: • Negligent Translation errors, community, poor attempts at supporting spanish speakers. Hispanic Quality of LIfe makes recommendation → No outreach to Latino 2025 3rd Cycle of New Fudning programs: • Negligent Translation errors, confusing eligibility process, lack of spanish language replies, still no contracts in spanish. 4 5 Community ask Moving forward 1. Appropriate outreach to Latino community regarding funding programs 2. Human translations of all documents in the process 3. Oversight of spanish-language process in its entirety 4. Contracts in Spanish 5. Metrics and data regarding distribution amounts of cultural …
esb-macc latino arts residency program -------------------------------- Briefing by past participants on their experience with the macc’s residency program from 2008-2021 Advisory Board Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz Presenters: Dr. Róen Salinas | Aztlan Dance Company Luis Ordaz Gutiérrez | ProyectoTEATRO Hector Ordaz Gutiérrez | ProyectoTEATRO Javier Jara | Los Bohemios Perdidos Juan Oyervides | Past MACC Advisory Board Chair 2008 grand opening & the first years A phase of trial and error driven by community feedback • Difficulty for artists and arts organizations to access the MACC for rehearsals, performances, and classes. Rental rates too expensive for community artists. High rates comparable to private event spaces for quinces and galas . • Operating hours were the same as city recreation centers; closing at 5PM during the week and 6PM on Saturdays. Closed on Sundays. • Staff aggressions towards community artists. The community spoke out and these issues catalyzed the creation of the LARP program. 2 Latino arts residency program larp The following 4 arts organizations led the inaugural 2013 LARP cohort 3 larp Feedback & Recommendations Inaugural cohort shared these recommendations to improve LARP: MACC Facility: Most spaces at the MACC were not appropriate for artists’ creative process nor performances. It was evident that artists’ were not part of the design and build-out of any of the rooms throughout the cultural center. Remodeling recommendations were made to 5 spaces. Policies and Procedures: Operation procedures hindered the standard creative process of arts organizations. LARP programs clashed with ESB-MACC programs. Calendar process was implemented by LARPers. Hours of Operation did not align with a cultural center. Rehearsal hours were granted till 10PM and Performance nights were granted till 11PM. Staff: PARD Staff did not have the experience to support and maintain the MACC’s technical inventory nor the LARP program itself. • Tech Coordinator was created • LARP coordinator was created • PT assisted in tech trainings for MACC staff • Tech equipment inventory was created 4 Multipurpose auditorium→ Performance auditorium • Install risers to correct audience sightlines • Paint curved wall black in lieu of wall removal • Install raised Tech booth • Install lighting grid + dimmer controls • Install choir mics • Install acoustic panels (shells) • Install speakers for front of house sound R r RR Rr Rr rr multi-use “Black box”→ Performance Black box • Paint all silver aluminum walls black R r RR Rr • Shift lighting grid & …
Coalition for Austin’s Arts and Spanish- Language Theatre From Access to Incubation Strengthening LAAP to Support Emerging Artists A partnership between the ESB-MACC and CAAST Who We Are Coalition of Spanish-language performing artists and companies Active in Austin for 20+ years, with local and national recognition Focused on aligning existing City infrastructure to better support artists Coalition for Austin’s Arts & Spanish-language Theatre Why LAAP Must Evolve Current realityLAAP has expanded access to MACC facilities for Latino artistsThe program has been intentionally designed as a space-access model,supported by technical assistance, professional development, and staff support.LAAP artists have gone on to contracts, funding opportunities, rentals, and Citypartnerships.Core insightLAAP has laid a strong foundation; but evolving into an incubator requires sustainedcapacity to deliver consistent, repeatable outcomes for artists. The Gap We’re Addressing The level of hands-on support can vary by project and timing due to limited staffing capacity. Outcomes vary across cohorts based on artist readiness and available staff support. Sustained progress is not experienced consistently from project to project. What It Takes to Do This Right To move LAAP from access to true incubation, investment must address three things simultaneously: 1. People 2. Infrastructure 3. Program capacity. Funding only one or two elements would perpetuate the current gap rather than resolve it. Our proposal calls for an additional annual $515,000 investment, which represents the minimum level required to deliver consistent production readiness, artist empowerment, and language equity as a cohesive system. Design Principles for a True Incubator 1. Production Readiness 2.Artist Empowerment and Sustainability 3.Language and Cultural Equity What Production Readiness Requires C. Centralized Marketing & Audience Development Support (FTE) A. Dedicated Technical Support (FTE) Removes technical burden from artists Ensures consistent quality across productions Builds in-house expertise rather than outsourcing B. Lighting & Sound Infrastructure Upgrades Enables artists to work at professional standards Reduces technical barriers for future cohorts Positions MACC for scalable programming without Phase 3 construction Investment: $87K + $300K + $78K = $465K PRODUCTION READINESSBuilds artists’ long-term audience capacityReduces burnout and inequityStrengthens ESB-MACC’s relationship withSpanish-speaking communities From Access to Incubation Current LAAP: ~$90K annually 11–15 artists/groups Access to space Limited project-based support Artists operate largely independently Total investment: $465K + $50K = $515K Proposed Expansion: +$50K annual investment ~20 artists/groups Infrastructure + technical staff Integrated production and promotion Practical skill-building Artists exit with tools to sustain their practice PRODUCTION READINESS Capacity-Building Beyond the Stage of ESB-MACC Building …
