The Redmond Arts and Culture Commission presented its annual report and a set of priorities to the Redmond City Council at a Sept. 23 special joint meeting, asking the council to support updates to the city’s public-art funding approach and a refresh of the public art master plan.

“The Redmond Arts and Culture Commission is a mayor appointed, council confirmed advisory commission. They advise the city on arts policies and programs,” said Chris Weber, the city’s cultural arts supervisor, as he introduced the commission’s presentation.

Commission Chair Kathy O'Keefe said the commission’s work this year focused on cultural inclusion, sustaining public art funding and developing an artist pipeline. “The commission consists of 9 commissioners plus 1 youth advocate,” O'Keefe said, noting staff and consultants will lead the public art master plan update.

Why it matters: commissioners told council that predictable, increased funding would help secure more permanent public artworks, expand temporary and asphalt art programs and retain local arts organizations. The commission pointed to installations at the Overlake station area and artwork selected for Sound Transit stations as examples of recent, visible projects and said it wants to broaden the kinds of investments eligible for public-art funding.

What the commission reported

Members reviewed accomplishments including permanent public artworks, rotating exhibits at the Redmond Senior and Community Center, and signature-event art components for Derby Days and Redmond Lights. Commissioners said their rotating exhibits and programs showcased local visual artists and that operating-support grants this year drew 12 applicants, with awards made to 10 organizations totaling $15,000. The commission described those awards as unrestricted support for eligible Redmond-based organizations with annual budgets under $500,000.

Commissioners identified four priorities: cultural inclusion and outreach, updating public-art funding, expanding the artist pipeline and completing a public art master plan. The commission said it is working with consultant MIG on the master plan, which the city seeks to make concise, to include an annual action plan and measurable performance targets and to reflect robust community engagement.

Funding and ordinance work

The commission reminded council that the city adopted a public art plan in 2017 and said the city’s 1991 public-art ordinance (referred to in the presentation as ordinance 6.1640) is out of date and vague in places. The commission asked for a clearer, predictable funding structure; commissioners and staff mentioned exploring whether to increase the city’s “1% for the arts” or otherwise revise how public-art dollars are calculated.

Council reaction and next steps

Council President Kritzer praised the commission’s work and singled out transit-station art as an asset, saying the pieces are “really quite phenomenal.” Council Member Stewart told commissioners the council has budgeted a pilot community event innovation fund to help small organizations stage events in 2026 and asked staff to ensure the commission and local arts groups receive the final documents when the program details are ready. “Earlier tonight, the council we looked at a second draft of something that's called the community event innovation fund,” Stewart said.

Staff signaled a timeline for the ordinance and funding discussions: the commission and staff plan to work with the city finance team this fall, start public conversations in November and bring recommendations back to council in February for further feedback.

Council Member Fields said she supports expanding performing-arts opportunities and noted LTAC had recommended some funds for a performing-arts event; Fields urged continued collaboration among council, staff and community groups to build performing-arts capacity.

No formal council votes or ordinance adoptions occurred at the meeting. The commission and staff were charged with continuing work on the public art master plan, clarifying funding options and returning to council with a more detailed proposal and schedule.

The commission closed by reiterating its commitment to equitable opportunities and broader community engagement as it moves into the master plan update and funding conversations.