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Cultural Affairs outlines public‑art spending, murals and spring festival lineup
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Summary
Deputy Director Jennifer Cleven told commissioners the city's 'percent for the arts' ordinance funds public art; FY26 transfers to municipal arts were "a little over $395,000" and multiple mural and festival projects are planned for 2026.
Jennifer Cleven, deputy director of the Cultural Affairs Division, briefed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Feb. 3 about the division's role, funding and upcoming public‑art projects and events.
Cleven said the city's public‑art program is funded by an ordinance established in 2003 that allocates 1% of capital improvement project (CIP) dollars to the Municipal Arts Fund. "This allocates 1% of CIP dollars to the Municipal Arts Fund," she said, and she reported the FY26 transfer for permanent public artwork was "a little over $395,000." She described the approval process for art projects — staff scoping, Arts Commission review, then City Council authorization — and emphasized community engagement and maintenance funding needs for purchased artworks.
Cleven reviewed recent and planned projects: a Doc Romeo Skate Park mural completed in 2024 at roughly $74,000; a Mirabelli mural dedicated in December; Centennial Hills tile mural in progress; STUPAC wall work budgeted at $70,000; DuPette Community Center, Cimarron Rose Community Center, Doolittle Pool, and Pop Squires Park mural projects approved for FY26 with budgets ranging from roughly $15,500 to $70,000. She also described programming and festivals produced by the division, including the Bluegrass Festival at Centennial Hills Amphitheatre on April 11 (headliner Sierra Hull) and the Caribbean Heritage Festival on April 25 at the Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza.
Cleven encouraged local artists to apply for open calls and explained that the division uses prequalified artist lists for murals and sculptures but opens to broader calls when needed. Commissioners asked about outreach to youth justice partners and vendor selection for crowded festival sites; Cleven said the division partners with organizations that already work with those populations and typically has about 10 vendor spots at Sammy Davis Jr. Plaza, with some flexibility depending on stall size.
Cleven closed by noting the city's plan to convert a former library parcel into a West Las Vegas Arts Center and other ongoing efforts to expand arts programming in all wards.
