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Arts and Culture Advisory Commission

July 17, 2025 ·4:00 PM Final

City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th Street, Merced, CA 95340

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 18 items

  1. 1 NOTICE TO PUBLIC
  2. 2 WELCOME
  3. 3 At least 72 hours prior to each regular Board/Commission meeting, a complete agenda packet is available for review on the City's website at www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk's Office, 678 W. 18th Street, Merced, CA 95340. All public records relation to an open session item that are distributed to a majority of the Commission will be available for public inspection at the City Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Assisted hearing devices are available for meetings held in the Council Chamber.
  4. 4 PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE BOARD/COMMISSION CLERK
  5. 5 Members of the audience who wish to address the Board/Commission are requested to complete a speaker card available at the podium against the back of the Council Chamber. Please submit the completed card to the Board/Commission Clerk before the item is called, preferably before the meeting begins. Material may be emailed to (insert Board/Commission contact email) no later than 1 PM on the day of the meeting. Please specify which portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example, Report item # or Public Comment. Your comments will be presented to the Board/Commission at the appropriate time. Any correspondence received after 1 PM will be distributed to the Board/Commission and retained for the official record.
  6. A. CALL TO ORDER
  7. B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  8. C. ROLL CALL
  9. D. PUBLIC COMMENT
  10. 10 Members of the public who wish to speak on any matter not listed on the agenda may speak during this portion of the meeting and will be allotted 3 minutes. State law prohibits the Board/Commission from acting at this meeting on any matter raised during the public comment period. Members of the public who wish to speak on a matter that is listed on the agenda will be called upon to speak during discussion of that item.
  11. E. ACTION ITEMS
  12. E.1. SUBJECT: Approval of Community Outreach Plan for 2025/26 Public Art Funding REPORT IN BRIEF Approve the development and rollout of a community outreach plan to gather the community’s input on allocating $75,000 in City Council-directed funding for 2025/26 public art projects, with a focus on identifying the types of projects residents are most interested in. RECOMMENDATION Arts and Culture Advisory Commission - Adopt a motion to approve the development and rollout of a community outreach plan to gather the community’s input on allocating $75,000 in City Council-directed funding for 2025/26 public art projects, with a focus on identifying the types of projects residents are most interested in seeing. 25-660
  13. F. REPORTS
  14. F.1. SUBJECT: Report on Status of Approved Art Projects REPORT IN BRIEF Provide an update on the status of approved public art projects, including expected timelines and details on when RFQs and RFPs will be issued. RECOMMENDATION Information Only. DISCUSSION RFQ for Brown Bag Concert Series - - A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) will be issued on July 17, 2025, with a submission deadline of August 7, 2025. - A subcommittee will review all submissions between August 8 and August 11, 2025. - The Arts and Culture Advisory Commission (ACAC) will hold a special meeting to review submissions and select three performance artists or groups. - Final selections will be presented to the City Council for review and approval at its meeting on October 6, 2025. - The selected performances will take place at the newly renovated Bob Hart Square in downtown Merced. These events will feature talented local and regional musicians and offer a welcoming space for the community to relax, recharge, and enjoy live music. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic or purchase food from nearby vendors. Please note that alcohol will not be served at these events. - Evening performances are scheduled on the following dates at Bob Hart Square: o November 13, 2025 o December 11, 2025 o January 8, 2026 RFQ for logo design for Downtown Arts District signage - A request for Qualifications (RFQ) will be issued on July 24, 2025 and will close on August 29, 2025. This RFQ will invite graphic design artists to submit their qualifications for a public art signage project. - A subcommittee will review submissions and recommend a selected design to the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission (ACAC) at its meeting on October 16, 2025. The ACAC will then present its recommendation to the City Council at the November 3, 2025, meeting. - One artist will be selected and commissioned to create a logo and signage design that visually represents the Downtown Merced Arts District. The initial focus will be on developing a simple, single-color logo that can be incorporated into the City’s standard street signage. This approach will allow for cost-effective production and scalability as the district grows. - Arts District signs will be fabricated by the City’s Public Works Sign Department. - These signs will be installed along Main Street, from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to O Street, by the City’s Public Works Street Crews. RFP Art Mural To Be Installed Along the R Street and Fahrens Park Multiuse Path - An RFP for muralists for the R Street multiuse path undercrossing will be issued on July 24, 2025 with a close date of August 29, 2025. - A subcommittee will review submissions and make recommendations at the October 17, 2025, ACAC meeting - The ACAC will recommend selections to the City Council on November 3, 2025. - This mural will transform the frequently used pedestrian and bicycle path into a vibrant community space. The design should depict a lively scene, with interactive elements that create optical illusions such as a bear or Tullie Elk chasing a bicyclist or runners sprinting through the tunnel. The goal is to foster a sense of pride and ownership within the community by celebrating local culture while making the space more welcoming and enjoyable for all. RFP for a Recycled Item Sculpture at Fahren’s Park - An RFP for a sculpture artist for the Recycled Item Sculpture will be issued August 14, 2025 with a close date of September 30, 2025. - A subcommittee will review the submissions and make recommendations at the October 16, 2025 ACAC meeting. - The ACAC will recommend selections to the City Council on November 3, 2025. - Recycled sculpture art, also known as trash sculpture, or garbage art, challenges our perception of beauty. By incorporating discarded objects found in the park the sculpture will repurpose our everyday waste. RFP for Utility Box Refresh Project - Pending “Work in Lieu” Partnership - This project is currently on hold while we work through the process of preparing the utility boxes for the next mural installation. Before we can move forward, the existing paint and decals need to be removed. Staff is coordinating with Public Works and outside partners to identify the most effective method for cleaning and prepping the boxes so we can resume the project. - Staff will provide an update at the September 2025 ACAC Meeting. IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES No impact on City resources at this time. ATTACHMENT None. 25-659
  15. G. BUSINESS
  16. G.1. SUBJECT: Request to Add Item to Future Agenda REPORT IN BRIEF Provides members of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission to request that an item be placed on a future Arts and Culture Advisory Commission agenda for initial consideration by the Boards/Commissions. 24-930
  17. G.2. SUBJECT: Commission Comments REPORT IN BRIEF Provides an opportunity for the Chair and/or Member(s) to make a brief announcement on any activity(ies) she/he has attended on behalf of the Commssion and to make a brief announcement on future community events and/or activities. The Brown Act does not allow discussion or action by the legislative body under this section. 23-268
  18. H. ADJOURNMENT