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Artists and residents urge Santa Ana to review arts contracts after mural preservation concerns
Summary
Artists and residents told council that recent contracts appeared to require waiving artists' protections and lack clear preservation policy; councilmembers asked staff and legal counsel to review contracts and to ensure artists’ rights are protected.
Several local artists and community members used public comment to press the council to address what they described as problematic arts contracts and a lack of clear mural‑preservation policy.
Artist Alicia Rojas told the council that three recent contracts (referenced in public comment as coming from a contractor identified in the record as 'Airso Culture'—transcript spelling) appeared to give the contractor discretion to remove or destroy murals and to ask artists to waive protections. Rojas said the procurement and contracting process lacked timely communication with artists, that contracts had incorrect names and terms and that the arts office had not followed standard preservation practices.
Rojas and other speakers said the city has no consistent public‑art preservation guidelines, policies or funding for mural maintenance. They asked the council to direct the city manager and city attorney to review and revise contract language and to return with clear protections for artists.
Councilmembers responded in the meeting affirmatively: several members said they did not support requiring artists to waive rights, asked staff to correct contract errors and asked the attorney and manager to review the procurement process. The mayor and other councilmembers requested a follow‑up meeting with arts staff and advocates.
Council took no formal disciplinary action at the meeting, but staff were asked to report back to the council with corrected contracts and options to strengthen public‑art protections.
