Posting Language
Title
Authorize the negotiation and execution of an agreement with The Trail Conservancy for managing the Temporary Public Arts Program 2025 cycle for temporary Art in Public Places installations on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail in an amount not to exceed $225,000. Funding: $225,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of the Economic Development Department.
De
Lead Department
Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $225,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of the Economic Development Department.
Prior Council Action:
April 13, 2023 - Council approved The Trail Conservancy’s Arts and Culture Plan for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Town Lake Metropolitan Park.
August 31, 2023 - Council approved the negotiation and execution of The Trail Conservancy agreement to manage the TEMPO Program 2024 cycle for Temporary Art in Public Places installation on the Trail.
For More Information:
Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment, (512) 974-7873; Matthew Schmidt, Acting Cultural Arts Division Manager, Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment, (512) 974-6415.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
March 6, 2023 - the Trail Conservancy Arts and Culture Plan was recommended for approval by Art in Public Places (AIPP) Panel. Vice Chair Villanueva motioned for approval. Vice Chair Carr seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0.
March 20, 2023 - the Austin Arts Commission unanimously approved the Trail Conservancy’s Arts and Culture Plan. Commissioner Gray motioned for approval. Commissioner Mok seconded. Motion passed 7-0-0 vote (Commissioner Garza absent).
Additional Backup Information:
To maintain consistent civic standards for the administration of public art through municipal partnerships, the AIPP program contracted with the Trail Conservancy on December 21, 2021, to support a public art vision planning process. The contract led to the development of specific goals for future AIPP projects along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake (Trail).
A key component of public art vision planning was the successful creation of the Arts and Culture Plan for the Trail, developed by The Trail Conservancy in collaboration with a team of arts and culture planners, including local experts in urban planning, parks, creative placemaking, public art, and community engagement. The plan addresses how arts and culture can broadly serve Trail users and surrounding communities; enhance the experience of the Trail; and support the experience of the natural environment. It also established an art-based community engagement and public art process aligned with the City’s AIPP Ordinance for future artwork.
Since 2016, AIPP has administered a program for temporary public art installations (TEMPO). Funds for TEMPO are derived from a portion of the revenues from the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax. Texas Tax Code Chapter 351.101(a)(4) authorizes Hotel Occupancy Taxes to be used for the encouragement, promotion, improvement, and application of the arts. The intent of TEMPO is to promote tourism, cultivate curiosity, spark imagination, and engage the community in meaningful dialogue about public art; while fostering work by local artists and cultivating exploration of the City. Temporary public art plays an important role in attracting new and emerging artists to participate in the city’s public art program, enrich the civic dialogue, engage public spaces in unique ways, and cultivate an attraction and sense of destination along the Trail. The TEMPO program provides an introductory opportunity for artists to experience the public art commission, requirements, and how to navigate the process in partnership with the community.
In 2024, AIPP contracted with The Trail Conservancy to manage the TEMPO Program’s 2024 cycle for temporary AIPP installation on the Trail. This has allowed AIPP to focus on building internal staff capacity and long-term strategy while enabling The Trail Conservancy to pilot their temporary exhibitions process outlined in The Trails Conservancy’s Art and Culture Plan for the Trail. As a core function of ACME, AIPP will work strategically to implement the TEMPO program across the city in the future, bringing art to every corner of our community.
Building on our past success of this collaboration, AIPP seeks to continue the partnership with The Trail Conservancy to manage the 2025 TEMPO Program cycle for temporary AIPP installation on the Trail as recommended by the AIPP Panel Working Group Prequal/TEMPO.
Art in Public Places Panel Working Group Prequal/TEMPO:
• Stephanie Lemmo, AIPP Panel Chair
• Taylor Davis, AIPP Panel Member
• Jaime Castillo, AIPP Program Manager.