Consideration of and action on CITY OF SUGAR LAND RESOLUTION NO. 18-46: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (NEA), FISCAL YEAR 2019 ARTS ENGAGEMENT IN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES (AEAC) GRANT PROGRAM AND DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, AS AUTHORIZED GRANT OFFICIAL TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPT, REJECT, ALTER, OR TERMINATE THE GRANT AND TO EXECUTE ALL GRANT DOCUMENTS.

The City of Sugar Land adopted its first Public Art Plan in December 2016. Each year, the Public Art Plan calls for the development of an Annual Work Plan and budget. The document is a way of planning for and prioritizing public art projects. For FY19, the Annual Work Plan includes several projects:

• City Hall Atrium (60th Anniversary),

• Temporary public art exhibition (60th Anniversary),

• Recycled material temporary project,

• Acquisition of a Sharon Engelstein outdoor sculpture, and

• Further funding of a bridge enhancement at Brooks Street Bridge.

Since the inception of the Public Art Program in 2016, the City has made great strides to incorporate artwork in public areas that meets the program’s goals to:

• Create memorable, meaningful places that are focal points for civic and community life,

• Anchor activity centers,

• Create whimsy and delight in everyday places,

• Enhance the appearance of infrastructure,

• Enhance the appearance of civic facilities, and

• Reflect Sugar Land’s history and heritage.

From time to time there become outside funding opportunities to support the City’s Public Art Program. Currently, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), an independent arts funding agency of the US federal government, has a matching grant available that can go toward public art projects. The NEA has expressed interest in the City of Sugar Land applying to the 2019 Arts Engagement in American Communities (AEAC) grant program. These matching funds are ideal for the pre-existing 2019 Public Art Program, wherein the City plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary through public art with a temporary exhibition that features the history of our community.

It is staff’s recommendation to apply for the NEA grant for match funding for this upcoming project, for which the City has already committed $25,000 and is requesting $10,000 from the NEA grant. Resolution No. 18-46 authorizes the City Manager to submit an application to the National Endowment for the Arts for the 2019 Arts Engagement in American Communities grant program.