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Commission hears Colton Hall exhibit plans and inspects damaged conference-center tile mural
Summary
Staff proposed Colton Hall exhibits for 2026 — including police and fire archives and a youth arts rotation — and reported NCIP funding recommendations for building repairs; commissioners also reviewed a public tile mural whose lower tiles have fallen and which ARG will inspect for conservation.
The Museums and Cultural Arts Commission on Feb. 5 discussed a slate of proposed Colton Hall exhibits for 2026 and received updates on capital project rankings and a damaged public mural.
Brian, museum staff, said the commission had hosted a series of successful exhibits in recent years — "we worked with Monterey County historical society on the Hathaway exhibit and we did an exhibit of photos there" — and proposed new displays that would bring archival material from the Monterey Fire Department and Monterey Police Department into Colton Hall to attract visitors. He said staff would develop a calendar and could either return a formal proposal to the full commission or work with a single assigned commissioner to refine plans.
Why it matters: Commissioners framed the proposals as a way to broaden Colton Hall's audience and engage local partners. Commissioner Wakowski suggested a future exhibit about the history of public schools, noting Colton Hall's historical connection to early schooling in the city.
Staff answered practical questions about display logistics and security. Brian said the museum can use foldable rolling display panels purchased with a Community Foundation grant for photo panels, and existing locking cases to secure small artifacts such as badges or handcuffs. He noted that the police and fire displays would likely require additional coordination with those departments and that some artifacts might need secure cases rather than open panels.
On capital projects, staff summarized recent NCIP (Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program) rankings sent to council: Colton Hall repointing and drainage work was recommended for $350,000; other projects in the prioritized list included a Via Del Monte/Casa Verde underpass hardscape (previously listed at about $548,238) and a smaller $60,000 shoreline fish-hopper restoration. Brian said council will review NCIP's prioritized list and make final funding decisions.
Mural conservation: Commissioners were also briefed on a public tile mural near the conference center whose lower tiles have separated. Brian said Architectural Resources Group (ARG) will bring an engineer to inspect the mural and propose next steps; "we still don't know exactly why those tiles have fallen off," he said, and temporary bracing has been installed to prevent further loss. Staff reported a security camera showed the tiles came loose rather than being struck by a vehicle, and that the mural's original artist is deceased.
The commission did not take a formal vote on exhibits or conservation work at the meeting. Staff said it will return with more detailed proposals, timelines and any necessary contract recommendations once ARG completes its inspection and when staff has met with the police and fire departments about potential archival displays.
The commission moved on to other agenda items after the updates; staff will report back at future meetings with a proposed Colton Hall calendar and conservation recommendations for the mural.
