The Metro Arts Commission’s public art committee provided a progress update on several city projects, saying some works are moving into fabrication and others will require further coordination with permitting or partner agencies.

Atelio Murga, who provided the update for the public art committee, said the Arthur Avenue project has experienced “unforeseen delays, specifically with sourcing materials and scheduling,” but staff still expect completion in 2026. Murga said the Bordeaux Triangle project has advanced through coordination with NDOT and is preparing an application that will go to counsel and then to legislation for final approvals.

Murga said the commission is working with legal on contract edits for a sculpture commission by William Massey and expects to finalize that contract soon. He told the commission that the Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment project — described as an “empowerment collection” of wall-hung works by about 30 artists — will be brought to the full commission for approval at the next meeting.

Other project updates included Amari Booker’s Struggle House project, which is finalizing drawings and moving into fabrication with an anticipated installation in 2026, and a completed commission for the Old Hickory Community Center with installation scheduled for December and a tentative dedication week in January (staff said the exact date was to be confirmed).

Committee members asked about budget advocacy for Bordeaux Triangle after staff described community meetings and community feedback asking for increased funding. Murga said staff intend to complete site and budget work before proposing any amendment and that the public art committee would discuss budget adjustments when the project is further along.

Why this matters: The updates show multiple public artworks are moving from planning into fabrication and installation phases, which affects neighborhoods where pieces will be sited and establishes timetables for upcoming dedications and community engagement events.

What’s next: The commission will be asked to approve the empowerment collection for the Youth Campus for Empowerment at the next meeting; staff said they will return with a finalized timeline and contract details for the Massey commission once legal review is complete.

Quotes

“We're expecting completion in 2026,” Atelio Murga said of Arthur Avenue.

“We're gonna come back and then have that discussion with the public art committee” on budgets and site questions, Murga said of Bordeaux Triangle.

Clarifying details

- Arthur Avenue: Project in progress; completion targeted for 2026; delays caused by material sourcing and scheduling.
- Bordeaux Triangle: Coordination with NDOT; application being finalized and then routed to counsel for legislation; budget discussions to follow after site/budget details are finalized.
- William Massey sculpture (NYC sculpture project): Contract edits in review with Metro Legal; staff anticipate moving to contract soon.
- Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment: Staff plan to present an empowerment collection (about 30 artists, wall-hung works) for commission approval at the next meeting.
- Struggle House by Amari Booker: Drawings finalized; moving into fabrication; installation expected 2026.
- Old Hickory Community Center: Artist work complete; installation scheduled for December; dedication planned for a week in January with exact date to be confirmed.

Speakers

- Atelio Murga — public art staff member (provided committee update).
- Commissioner Hardin — Metro Arts commissioner (asked clarifying questions and thanked staff).
- Commissioner West — Metro Arts commissioner (absent; noted in update).

Authorities

- No new statutes or ordinances were cited; project coordination with NDOT and counsel was described.

Provenance

- {"block_id":"1880.23","local_start":0,"local_end":180,"evidence_excerpt":"Starting with public art committee, I know, commissioner West is absent today, but it looks like, mister Murga has agreed to make an update.","reason_code":"topicintro"}
- {"block_id":"2328.93","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"If there are no further questions, I will thank Atelio for your update. Looking forward to some of these projects being completed and and the dedications.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}

Sections

- lede: "Metro Arts public art committee reported several projects are moving from planning into fabrication, with Arthur Avenue expected to complete in 2026 and multiple installs and dedications planned in the coming months and year."
- nut_graf: "The committee update covered site coordination, legal review for contracts, and upcoming approvals the commission will need to consider, including an empowerment collection for the Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment."
- ending: "Staff will return with finalized budgets, timelines and contract documents for the commission to review."