[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_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":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6479297,"mediaKeyId","5701681-7ed1f1ae100431359800cdddb3d2a0fb","parentId",5701681,"title","Arts commission advances 2026 grant framework and approves two leadership scholarships and one grant report","audioSeconds",1669,"startMs",4987000,"endMs",6656000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701681-7ed1f1ae100431359800cdddb3d2a0fb&start=4987&end=6656","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701681-7ed1f1ae100431359800cdddb3d2a0fb/thumbnail_4987000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479297/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/Arts-commission-advances-2026-grant-framework-and-approves-two-leadership-scholarships-and-one-grant-report","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479297-6c389e3c2dfebf3ace25d4073dd69d78/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165797&Signature=gQYjKwRsXE7bByJHc4guF~w1sE~vYMKDHeO-PLdie6Hc6A-3mjfgr5Nrxv0s4sbr-80Qvo2c3soqgV9bCfZNItvkFMa0owPK9jYpSXhB4PQCws-CYmMoCw6ARGAzk3lcFJcSqEdjN8uZKrzYgWupv1GxqcEqR0MQSLWbWtDoW3HBbfh9S02Mj3D8PCcRJHguaap8yxwWwpZIhiIQTR4XttZyVTxtpyEEhg0meZFMCG73opvqrWwMC55lNl6pJbostYzVQfqKG1LX8QZrS-dxmbyv0ZnJ-VdDXtj1F9sVFVz4DXgv-Na7DoLJ1Xm2URclSrcL-bqckbL0hq-Wm-DBVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boulder City, CO","date","2025-08-29T08:57:15Z","article","The Boulder Arts Commission approved awards from the leadership pipeline fund, accepted a grant report, and reviewed a revised draft of the 2026 grants program that would create a new \"bedrock\" category for sustained general operating support.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve scholarships for the leadership-pipeline fund to support two named recipients (Journey Lebow and Kareem Gill). The commission also approved the Cultural Caravan arts-education grant report, which staff said served roughly 700 students under the awarded project.

Sarah (arts grants manager) presented step-two proposals for the 2026 grant program. Key revisions in her presentation included:

- A pre-application eligibility check (staff-screened) rather than a full pre-application review by panelists; panels would be allowed to ask up to two specific clarifying questions of applicants.

- Maintaining arts-education grants and piloting a \"lifelong learning\" pool for longer-term programming.

- A proposed \"bedrock\" designation: budgeted for five bedrock organizations (reduced from an earlier draft of eight) to provide multi-year, higher-level general operating support to organizations that meet a rubric of criteria (equity, collaboration, outreach and community impact, financial sustainability). Staff proposed a 50% cap on bedrock awards relative to an organization's operating budget as a working assumption.

- Keeping the existing general operating support (GOS) tiers while adjusting counts and award sizes so the program can fund more organizations overall; staff said 56 organizations would still receive GOS support under the current draft.

- Adjusting smaller line-item programs: staff proposed expanding professional-development awards (from prior counts of roughly 11 to a proposed 18\u0000to\u000036 awards, depending on demand) and continuing optional work-sample attachments to applications.

Sarah told the commission she had used a questionnaire to solicit feedback from previously awarded organizations and grant applicants; responses informed the changes to pre-application screening, clarifying questions for reviewers, and the bedrock concept. Commissioners and community liaisons urged clearer glossary definitions (for \"accessibility\" and \"neighborhood\"), asked staff to provide case studies or examples of similar programs from other municipalities, and requested more lead time for packet materials before final commission votes.

Staff said the draft rubric and reporting metrics remain in development; staff committed to bring scoring directives, application language and reporting requirements back to the commission in September. No final appropriation or adoption of the 2026 grant program occurred at the meeting; the commission approved the two named scholarships and the Cultural Caravan report, and provided staff direction to refine the bedrock rubric and application materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","8-27-25 Boulder Arts Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Boulder Arts Commission approved two leadership pipeline scholarships and accepted a grant report, and staff presented a revised 2026 grants framework that would introduce a \"bedrock\" designation for sustained support, pre-application eligibility checks, and changes to general operating support tiers.","taxTitle","Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado","taxId",3386,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479301,"City staff previews 2026 budget release; arts commissioners given timeline and fund details",2548,2758000,5306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701681-7ed1f1ae100431359800cdddb3d2a0fb&start=2758&end=5306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701681-7ed1f1ae100431359800cdddb3d2a0fb/thumbnail_2758000.jpg","/articles/6479301/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/City-staff-previews-2026-budget-release-arts-commissioners-given-timeline-and-fund-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479301-79ce1795efcd2314d601a4e01ded2614/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165797&Signature=AQZSgIdwPZdTtjGv208JtbFwWmr6zsFbCvg~KDbmSRJhQes7V-3A1IpIiGbai7CAmBm2J6W8KNtppmn10WSBHgMdel8R2jnD~i-T2NT88PALlUqU1WgF7TI0wSqOzXvNewBVj7Du9-RVNo~8fQpOZcL9H4KNWri9Z7i~alxGkDpfgKoS8uFimdzLduu6Iphknjbe-uCrJEGhD4lN4n8za9O48Tx8QVuXfDiDmeBrFfKrr7HwFphrBkjD47BBykSQXzucx5We93-8T9OOHH91RAUByM~945S05ScueGCti9AZtTUjantgxuNKxJNF2ul0S76e6YPUhGkdbm~-jlCbPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Boulder finance staff walked the Boulder Arts Commission through the city\u0000budget publication and review process for the 2026 fiscal year, explained where arts funding is summarized in the online budget book, and outlined deadlines and public-hearing opportunities for commissioners and community members.

Elliot (city finance staff) told commissioners the proposed 2026 budget was scheduled to be released to the public in two days. He said the commission would receive an emailed link to the online budget book and instructions for navigating program- and fund-level pages. Key dates given in the meeting: a council study session on Sept. 11 (no public comment), first reading with public hearing on Oct. 9, and second reading with public hearing on Oct. 23; final reading is planned for Oct. 29.

Elliot emphasized that the city manager\u0000recommends the proposed budget but City Council appropriates funds and can make changes between first and second reading. He guided commissioners to the OpenGov \"fund financials\" appendix where the Arts, Culture & Heritage fund (the 2A tax fund) is listed and cautioned that the 2025 revised figures will differ from the 2026 recommended numbers because of updated sales-tax projections and budget adjustments. He said staff would present an in-depth, program-level breakdown of the Arts, Culture & Heritage fund at the commission\u0000meeting in September.

During public participation, Nick Forster, representing Create Boulder and identifying himself as a venue owner, said voters had \"passed overwhelmingly\" a ballot amendment to support the arts and urged commissioners to advocate for the arts and for a more transparent, user-friendly budget process. Forster said the arts generate local economic activity and described the budget timeline as \"truncated,\" asking commissioners to push for earlier and clearer community input into city budget decisions.

Finance staff said the online budget book includes multi-year fund forecasts, operating budgets by program, and an appendix with fund definitions and fund financial tables. Staff noted some arts-related line items are funded from multiple sources (for example, transportation or capital funding may contribute to public art) and that the public art portfolio and grants are funded from combined sources, not solely the 2A tax.

Staff also reviewed the arts-related line items commissioners had recently discussed: a public art budget figure presented in the meeting and a separate note that the Dairy Arts Center reported having invested nearly $10 million in improvements and has budgeted a capital HVAC/roof replacement project estimated at $1 million. Staff committed to share fund-detail pages and a simplified summary intended for community audiences.

No appropriation vote occurred at the commission meeting; staff advised commissioners how to submit comments to council and how commission recommendations would be considered ahead of the council public hearings.","City finance staff reviewed the 2026 budget publication process with the Boulder Arts Commission, including how to navigate OpenGov fund financials, the arts, culture and heritage tax fund, and key public hearing dates. A Create Boulder representative urged greater budget transparency and called for council advocacy for arts funding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479305,"Arts commission approves finalist, recommends Mario Echeverria for Central Avenue Bridge mosaic",680,1949000,2629000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701681-7ed1f1ae100431359800cdddb3d2a0fb&start=1949&end=2629","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701681-7ed1f1ae100431359800cdddb3d2a0fb/thumbnail_1949000.jpg","/articles/6479305/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/Arts-commission-approves-finalist-recommends-Mario-Echeverria-for-Central-Avenue-Bridge-mosaic","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479305-a00752fe67e18619ef2baeb58d3c78ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165797&Signature=o7vt-gOufbkMfj-SLcdX9~B9xC-DVMfCfcv5-Cgu5n-DAlwZ7Di7gSGQBLov~cd2agQtzhrGIeYnSl-8qYeKNAfC7ivnKMJMlxB0-euxBPQOX7p75azHKba8T~jBoiRiZOuLRfSx7cQkOiEvhqwm9jR5nDfTYBXyX6o6P5x7wnClOrYKtKt9csHquNNAPxO5P~9Yb6Gq0w73ceh7E-0XoAsp-5iOap3RIl0POSy3L~Lfyh-hwcNqrUwwFWXcEnpi1TwjiweXPLv1FQ2DPOlBhXV54LlLGEFpBIOTF-zuTnsr4IQPUcEOwt1IwfuZv~xM88C6Oaf-NyyZNhD9obsU6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Boulder Arts Commission voted to approve the finalist selection process for public art on the new Central Avenue Bridge and recommended that the city manager advance the proposal by Longmont artist Mario Echeverria for contracting.

The commission\u0000was presented with four finalist proposals and a technical review summary by staff. The project has a budget of $40,000 and calls for two mosaic artworks, each approximately 20 feet long, 2.5 feet high and recessed about a half-inch into the bridge walls that face the sidewalk and street.

Panelists favored a mosaic approach and heard presentations from Marco Garcia (Longmont), Annette Coleman (Lakewood), Leo Bumbakini (Louisville) and Mario Echeverria (Longmont). Staff summarized the panel\u0000and technical-review comments: Garcia\u0000offered bright, Boulder-themed doodles but panelists found it somewhat simplistic; Coleman proposed abstract \"water and air\" imagery with iridescent glass but reviewers found the composition uneven; Bumbakini proposed nature- and bird-themed tile work that was technically polished but not distinctively Boulder; Echeverria proposed a series of handmade ceramic portraits and the panel called it \"inspiring, innovative, thoughtful\" and noted the artist's strong record in mosaics while flagging the need for further design development.

The selection panel voted and the commission moved to \"approve the process as properly conducted and recommend that the proposal by the artist Mario Echeverria advance to the city manager for final approval and contracting.\" Commissioners then confirmed the recommendation; commissioners indicated they would work with staff to refine the final design before contracting. Staff said installation is likely in 2026.

Brandon Ford, public art staff, told the commission the technical review committee raised no major installation issues for mosaics at this site, and that staff would include preliminary- and final-design steps in the contract to ensure constructability and durability.

Commission discussion focused on design development: a commissioner asked to see an updated, more detailed proposal prior to final contracting; staff committed to follow-up design refinement and to flag any concerns about imagery that might read as overly game-like or excessive repetition. The commission's recommendation will move to the city manager for contracting review and the procurement process.

The commission did not record a roll-call vote tally in the meeting minutes; the chair reported the commission voted in favor and the motion will advance to the city manager for final contract approval.","The Boulder Arts Commission voted to approve the finalist process and recommend Longmont artist Mario Echeverria\u0000to advance for contracting to produce mosaic work for the new Central Avenue Bridge. The commission\u0000approved the decision after reviewing four finalist proposals and technical review feedback; install is anticipated in 2026.","actionData","errors"]

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Arts commission advances 2026 grant framework and approves two leadership scholarships and one grant report

City staff previews 2026 budget release; arts commissioners given timeline and fund details

Arts commission approves finalist, recommends Mario Echeverria for Central Avenue Bridge mosaic