Title
Evaluate the 2026 Cultural Arts and Arts Programming Proposals and Recommend Funding Awards.
Body
To: Honorable Chairperson Rush and Members of the Public Art Commission
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City of Alameda's (City) Public Art Ordinance (Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-98) requires commercial, industrial and municipal development projects having a building development cost of two hundred fifty thousand ($250,000) dollars or greater to devote one percent (1%) of building development costs for public art in Alameda. Any in-lieu fees collected are deposited in the dedicated Fund and can only be used to provide or support public art. The Council adopted Alameda Public Art Master Plan (Plan), calls for the "release [of] a grant application for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming." The Public Art Program's Biennial Work Plan calls for annual cultural art grant calls to support performing arts such as theatre, dance, music; literary arts, storytelling and more. On January 29, the City released the 2026 Request for Proposals (RFPs) for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming. Eighteen (18) proposals were received and all were deemed eligible for consideration. The purpose of this evening's meeting is for the Public Art Commission (PAC) to evaluate the proposals and recommend funding awards for the 2026 grant cycle.
BACKGROUND
The City's Public Art Ordinance requires commercial, industrial and municipal development projects costing $250,000 or more to devote one percent (1%) of building development costs for public art in Alameda. Developers can fulfill the 1% Program Allocation by installing on-site public art, paying an in-lieu fee or a combination of the two. Any in-lieu fees collected are deposited in the dedicated Public Art Fund (Fund) and can only be used to provide or support physical art, cultural arts, and arts programming for the benefit of the community. Physical artworks refer to tangible objects like sculptures and murals that are installed in public...
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