[8:39] >> Good morning, colleagues in the city of Memphis and.
[8:44] I call to order the Arts & Youth Initiatives Committee,
[8:48] August 18th 2026, at 10:35 AM.
[8:55] Would you please call the roll?
[9:00] >> (Calling roll)
[9:04] >> Colleagues, we have two updates and presentations today.
[9:09] So there will be no voting today,
[9:11] but first we have an update from the urban Art
[9:16] Commission requested by Chairwoman
[9:23] Swearengen-Washington.
[9:26] Good morning, director.
[9:30] >> Good morning.
[9:32] >> If you can just say your name,
[9:34] give an address for the record, and you can proceed
[9:36] on your presentation.
[9:39] >> Lakisha Edwards, 42 North Cleveland, Memphis, Tennessee.
[9:46] Today I wanted to give a brief update on our FY27 projects
[9:54] that we will be beginning, of course, going into this fall,
[9:58] then also a quick update on FY26,
[10:02] specifically the fellowship program.
[10:05] I gave some handouts.
[10:06] They should be in front of your podiums.
[10:11] One of the things that I also wanted to mention is, of course,
[10:16] we are always going to put in this little funding overview --
[10:21] it's on the back -- of what the ordinance provides,
[10:24] can be received by Urban Art Commission,
[10:28] versus what we actually receive.
[10:30] There is a significant gap in that funding.
[10:31] We received a reduction in funding on our maintenance.
[10:34] I just wanted to make sure that I communicated that,
[10:37] just in case it wasn't widely known, simply
[10:42] because we had a lot of discussions last year, and also
[10:47] earlier this year, regarding maintenance and the need
[10:51] for a five year plan.
[10:53] I gave the five year plan -- the need for additional funding.
[10:56] Of course, I was requesting additional funding.
[10:58] Then we received a decrease, which I understand
[11:01] many departments did.
[11:02] So for this year, what I am asking
[11:05] is to use a portion of my project funds,
[11:08] actually, for some of that deferred maintenance,
[11:11] because regardless of the funding
[11:12] that we receive specifically from maintenance,
[11:16] it does not negate the fact that it needs to be done.
[11:18] The deferred maintenance that is specifically
[11:20] out of these project funds will be more so for upkeep,
[11:22] to keep our current collection from going into blight.
[11:26] There will be several opportunities
[11:28] for us to clean the pieces, to touch them up,
[11:32] and from that particular pot of money,
[11:35] it wouldn't be any new installs.
[11:37] It would simply be going through our collection, which
[11:39] we do already have a listing of those pieces that
[11:43] need that extra care.
[11:45] Also just wanted to give a shout out to MLGW and also
[11:51] public works.
[11:52] They have been amazing to work with,
[11:53] and they have been helping us with the piece that
[11:55] is in the entrance of the Tom Lee Park.
[11:59] That is going to be repaired.
[12:03] There are some pieces on it that have rusted over the years.
[12:06] I think that piece has been there 17 years,
[12:09] so of course it is time.
[12:10] We had to get some water turned on.
[12:11] We had to get some of their supplies out there.
[12:14] Was really grateful for that additional support.
[12:17] Thankfully, we do have a very good relationship
[12:20] with the different departments, so everyone pitches in to help.
[12:24] And we are grateful.
[12:25] For that piece, we wanted to, of course,
[12:29] get that one in tip top shape because of the new museum coming
[12:32] into that space.
[12:32] We have two other projects that are very close to the museum
[12:35] that we will also be completing, one of which
[12:38] is the South main tower sign revitalization.
[12:43] That's the first one on the list of your chart.
[12:45] That funding is specifically for the three towers
[12:48] that are on Main Street Mall.
[12:50] They are very outdated.
[12:53] They have not worked in several years.
[12:54] The lights are out of them.
[12:56] Urban Art Commission did not commission those projects,
[12:59] but because they are on city owned property,
[13:01] we are going to revitalize them.
[13:03] We will allow an artist to reimagine what
[13:06] those pieces can look like.
[13:09] The bottom portions will remain the same because, of course,
[13:13] we don't want to spend funding on completely tearing it
[13:15] down and starting over.
[13:17] They have already painted the bottom portion of it
[13:20] and repaired the bricks, so it is ready for us
[13:23] to reimagine the top of it, where it says South Main Mall.
[13:29] For South Main, South main association,
[13:32] some other constituents in that area
[13:34] have approached us asking about some crosswalks.
[13:37] They are also raising some private dollars
[13:40] to do some additional signs and things
[13:43] of that sort for that area, but it
[13:47] is specifically so that when someone is coming off
[13:50] of Bill Street, they have a reason
[13:51] to look down South Main to continue walking to the shops,
[13:57] celebrating the local artists that are in that space,
[13:59] as well as those local businesses and some of the newer
[14:02] hotels.
[14:03] This is also a part of tourism to ensure that we are --
[14:08] when people are coming into our downtown space,
[14:10] they actually see reasons to stay, to spend money,
[14:14] and to support our city.
[14:15] The last one for the downtown area
[14:17] is the library, which is directly beside the new museum.
[14:21] We have a set of six planters there that, unfortunately,
[14:25] right now, the unhoused are sleeping in, as well as,
[14:29] we don't have any plants in them.
[14:32] It is definitely a waste of space.
[14:35] But again, it's one of those situations where the planters
[14:37] are already there in.
[14:38] They have already been put there.
[14:40] We are not going to spend money removing them.
[14:42] But we are going to turn them into functional art
[14:44] so that we can utilize that space
[14:47] and not be an eyesore right beside this new development in.
[14:52] Any -- new development.
[14:57] Any questions so far?
[14:59] Next is the City traffic Safety Crosswalk project.
[15:02] This is a project that we are also talking with city
[15:05] departments regarding -- because we have an issue at the corner
[15:10] of Summer and Highland.
[15:11] It's actually recorded as one of our most dangerous intersections
[15:14] in the city.
[15:15] And we want to calm again, use creative placemaking
[15:19] to ensure that we are bringing light to people needing to slow
[15:23] down and knowing which parts of the street
[15:25] where they are supposed to actually be crossing.
[15:28] The cultural Heritage Mural project --
[15:30] that is a project that is near and dear to my heart.
[15:33] I just wanted to specifically set aside some funds for us
[15:37] to have at least one project that would acknowledge
[15:41] cultural history of at least one of the communities
[15:46] that are underrepresented in our public art collection.
[15:49] So that may be Indian heritage.
[15:51] It may be Asian heritage.
[15:53] But wanted to ensure that we had some funding to be sure
[15:56] that all voices are heard.
[15:58] Pine Hill Community Center is the next one on the list.
[16:01] There is a deteriorated mural that is on that wall
[16:06] that you can see from the golf course.
[16:08] We would like to remove that.
[16:09] It has been there probably -- close to 20 years.
[16:13] I think it has been there 18 years to be exact.
[16:16] We wanted to replace that one.
[16:18] Then the public art collection signage
[16:21] is because we have so many of our pieces
[16:23] that have aged and have no signage
[16:26] either because it has been removed
[16:28] or it was never placed there.
[16:30] We also have some mural projects that we just simply
[16:32] did not have the budget to create the proper signage.
[16:35] We want to make sure that the city of Memphis emblem
[16:38] is on every piece in our collection.
[16:41] The deferred maintenance -- that is the $45,000 that I am asking
[16:44] to use from our project funds for maintenance.
[16:49] Again, that maintenance is mostly
[16:51] for just basic cleaning, upkeep, painting things that
[16:55] need to be cleaned up and things that
[17:00] need just a little bit of help.
[17:01] These are no major maintenance projects,
[17:03] but this is just basic upkeep to add to the maintenance funds
[17:07] that were reduced for FY27.
[17:10] And then of course, contingency, just in case something happens.
[17:15] That brings us to 328 and then our project management fees
[17:18] are in the total that we are assigned,
[17:21] and that is the 18% by contract.
[17:23] Last but not least, I wanted to mention --
[17:28] I sent everyone a copy of our Moveable Collection catalog.
[17:31] Hopefully you received it.
[17:33] This, just in case you didn't know what you were receiving,
[17:36] is the newest version of what we are putting
[17:38] into the public libraries.
[17:39] Every library in the city of Memphis has local artists in it,
[17:43] and this is the 2026 collection that was recently purchased.
[17:50] So these are all local artists that we did a direct purchase
[17:54] program with.
[17:55] So once a year, we go and we ask artists to give us
[17:59] pieces of artwork that they have already created,
[18:02] that we don't commission, then we purchase from them to put
[18:05] them in public spaces to, again, highlight our local artists.
[18:11] The last sheet that you have that is in color --
[18:13] those are the different projects from the fellowship that was
[18:17] actually awarded in FY26.
[18:21] The first seven projects are the ones
[18:23] for each of the seven districts.
[18:25] So there is a fellow that is associated with each district
[18:28] throughout the city.
[18:28] They have been doing their community service projects.
[18:31] They have gone into the communities.
[18:33] We had one, in particular, that went to a Juneteenth event
[18:37] at Douglas Park, and she had a time, to say the least.
[18:42] I can show some pictures.
[18:43] She really had a time.
[18:45] It was very good to see that the community embraced
[18:47] her and really was excited to see someone
[18:49] coming into their community that wanted to know more
[18:52] about the community itself before creating
[18:55] the artwork for them.
[18:58] That's it.
[19:03] >> Wonderful.
[19:03] Thank you for joining us and letting us
[19:06] know about all the updates in.
[19:08] Let the record show that we have been
[19:09] joined by Councilwoman Logan.
[19:12] In the queue, we have Councilman Logan and Chairwoman
[19:22] Swearengen-Washington.
[19:23] >> Thank you, chair, and thank you for the update.
[19:25] I appreciated, and for the work that you do.
[19:27] My question, first, is, how do you determine --
[19:32] I see these projects.
[19:34] What is the criteria to determine
[19:37] what the project will be?
[19:41] >> It is community-driven, and the selection committee
[19:43] determines what the final product would look like.
[19:46] So the selection committee would be the individuals, which
[19:49] are all listed on our website.
[19:51] Every project, we list the people
[19:53] that are on the selection committee
[19:54] so you know who the decision makers were.
[19:56] We always try to give residents, business owners --
[20:03] we actually send the invite to all of city council,
[20:05] and we make sure that the public knows that these meetings are
[20:08] happening.
[20:08] They are also recorded.
[20:10] And those conversations that the selection committee has
[20:14] is what forms what the artist will actually produce.
[20:22] >> How do we bridge beautification and public art?
[20:26] For instance, the neighborhood markers
[20:29] will add art plus navigating or wayfinding
[20:33] or identification signs for the different communities.
[20:35] I know we often hear -- we hear from constituents,
[20:39] as well as ourselves, as council members, that other communities,
[20:44] such as municipalities, they have beautiful flowers.
[20:47] They have different planters along their roadway.
[20:52] I think I mentioned to you before, how do we bridge --
[20:55] because we need those, or would like those,
[21:00] in the communities inside of Memphis.
[21:02] That could be seen as art, as well.
[21:06] How do we bridge those two, or have you given any consideration
[21:09] to how we can use the public art dollars and have those artists
[21:15] that you work with also make art that could serve dual purpose,
[21:23] that could help with the, that could help with bringing those
[21:27] --
[21:27] that could help with the beautification, that
[21:31] could help with bringing those things to our communities,
[21:33] as well?
[21:36] >> Those are things that we have done in previous projects.
[21:37] Many of our projects do include other aspects,
[21:39] such as the Welcome to Orange Mount sign --
[21:43] that has a planter.
[21:44] That has additional flowers.
[21:46] That has a community that actually
[21:47] committed to keeping up with what's happening in that space.
[21:50] I think we do have several projects that are dual- purpose,
[21:55] but I will say that the communities that are more
[21:59] engaged are the ones that probably get more
[22:02] of the additional add-ons, simply because they are willing
[22:07] to come together and help to maintain it,
[22:09] such as an orange --
[22:13] as in Orange Mount.
[22:15] They have a very solid selection committee
[22:16] that committed to ensuring that it would be maintained properly.
[22:18] We do have, even with the crosswalks,
[22:20] as I spoke before, that's a safety issue.
[22:23] We are working with the city to say, where do we
[22:25] have the spaces where we know we need
[22:27] to put some type of artistic design
[22:28] to draw people's attention to where
[22:31] they should cross the road, when they should slow down?
[22:34] We also have a crosswalk that's going in at downtown elementary
[22:38] because there were several complaints of people coming
[22:41] over the hill, and they didn't realize
[22:42] there was even a school there.
[22:44] So we are creating projects that are serving dual purposes
[22:49] with just about every project.
[22:53] >> So if we did have an organization in our district
[22:55] that would like to partner to do some of those things or to be
[22:59] a part of the maintenance of it, we could do more of those,
[23:02] if you could identify some nonprofits or agencies that
[23:07] wanted to help
[23:11] ?
[23:12] >> Or even CDCs.
[23:14] >> Great.
[23:15] I'm very much interested and we'll be reaching out to you.
[23:17] Thank you.
[23:23] >> Thank you, Councilwoman.
[23:24] Chairwoman Swearengen-Washington?
[23:28] >> Yes.
[23:29] I wanted to share that, colleagues,
[23:31] as a percent for our ordinance requires that the Urban Art
[23:35] Commission receive 1% of the annual CIP in an amount
[23:41] not to exceed $1 million.
[23:43] And within the FY27 CIP budget being over $110 million,
[23:49] their allocation should have been $1 million.
[23:52] However, our former engineering administration would
[23:59] historically only advocate $400,000 to them.
[24:03] So they are in the back working on a resolution.
[24:07] I may have to just bring it back for executive.
[24:10] But I would like to transfer $512,000 in unused CIP
[24:17] allocations from project GA07018,
[24:21] which is FYMSCS upgrades, because we haven't been
[24:27] utilizing those funds.
[24:28] And this is something that we could have and evenly
[24:30] distribute between all of the districts
[24:32] and add some beauty into some of the spots that needed.
[24:40] >> You said you were going to bring this to the executive
[24:44] later?
[24:45] >> Yes, because I thought they would be up here by now,
[24:46] but they are not up here yet.
[24:48] So we may have to do it executive.
[24:51] >> Okay.
[24:52] Thank you, chairwoman.
[24:53] Is that all?
[24:55] We'll be looking forward to that resolution later.
[25:01] Councilwoman Cooper-Sutton?
[25:05] >> Thank you.
[25:06] Jonathan, can you pull up that picture for me, please?
[25:09] This is at -- in Raleigh.
[25:16] I think this is your district.
[25:18] I just heard our chairwoman say that she is
[25:20] going to allocate some funding.
[25:22] This needs to be fixed.
[25:28] >> I've already reached out.
[25:29] We didn't get a response.
[25:31] >> I'm responding right now.
[25:32] I'm sitting in this place because that
[25:34] isn't our community.
[25:36] Our constituents sit there, and we
[25:38] need that fixed ASAP, for weatherization reasons
[25:45] and just for presentation, as well.
[25:46] I guess after we get this resolution
[25:48] and we look at what needs to be done,
[25:50] we need to get that fixed ASAP.
[25:55] >> Yes, ma'am.
[25:57] >> It's what?
[25:58] It's on order?
[26:01] Perfect, perfect.
[26:05] >> Yes.
[26:05] When it was brought to our attention, and as he spoke it,
[26:08] there were a lot of people that were concerned and readily
[26:11] looking to fix it.
[26:13] Of course, we have some drawbacks to it
[26:16] not being our particular property,
[26:18] but I'm very happy to hear that it is already being ordered.
[26:21] We did look into it and got some quotes.
[26:24] Yes.
[26:25] There are several other projects that are in queue.
[26:33] How would you all like to see those updates?
[26:35] Because, of course, I sent emails,
[26:38] but I know you get a million emails.
[26:40] Would you like for me to come quarterly?
[26:42] Because I can create a presentation of our current
[26:47] maintenance projects, our current projects that are
[26:49] in queue so that -- if I had a presentation today,
[26:53] that would have been in my queue,
[26:55] and it would have been able to say, we have that in line.
[27:03] >> Director Collins, is a quarterly maintenance update --
[27:08] whether you want it by email, you want her in person --
[27:11] would you --
[27:13] I'm sorry, Edwards.
[27:14] I know another Lakeisha.
[27:30] >> This is so important.
[27:31] This is part of the presentation of our city
[27:33] and what it looks like.
[27:35] >> And we are tracking it.
[27:36] We send it actually to the engineering division weekly.
[27:38] We give a weekly report.
[27:40] I don't know who sees it or who has access to it,
[27:44] but we do send it to the primary engineers, specifically Michael
[27:48] Swindell and Deborah Higgins.
[27:49] But we send it to them every Wednesday.
[27:55] >> Is that possible to send that report to council, as well?
[28:00] >> Yes.
[28:02] >> Okay.
[28:04] Director Edwards?
[28:06] Okay.
[28:09] Councilwoman Cooper-Sutton, and thank you, director Edwards.
[28:17] There's only two lakisha's in my phone.
[28:22] You all are the only two in.
[28:24] Can you talk about -- when you see things like what
[28:27] Councilwoman Cooper-Sutton put up,
[28:31] who is actually in charge of repairing or maintaining that?
[28:36] Because that's a bus stop with a UAC artwork
[28:46] that's on a city sidewalk.
[28:47] Who's in charge of that, when we see things like that?
[28:52] >> Excellent question.
[28:52] When that came through, I reached out to the director,
[28:54] and we spoke about it.
[28:56] He said, yes, it has already come to his attention.
[28:58] We couldn't replace that window.
[29:02] You had to replace the whole thing, which
[29:05] is already on order.
[29:08] >> When the whole thing is replaced,
[29:10] who pays for the art to go back on?
[29:13] >> We need to follow up and confirm,
[29:14] but it would likely be right here.
[29:18] >> It's Chairwoman Swearengen-Washington,
[29:21] and she says, if there's a gap in that,
[29:23] and that includes maintenance, things like this would also be
[29:26] included in the budget, even though you don't have your full
[29:30] complement?
[29:31] Thank you.
[29:32] That's all I wanted to ask you.
[29:35] Okay.
[29:36] Councilwoman Green?
[29:40] >> Thank you.
[29:40] I wanted to thank you for the opportunity
[29:42] to be at the ribbon cutting for the Chelsea Floodwall.
[29:44] If you haven't had a chance to go out and see it,
[29:47] it is gorgeous.
[29:50] The points have been made here today --
[29:53] especially Councilwoman Logan -- it's a great way for a dual
[29:57] purpose to happen, for us to incorporate something that is
[30:00] structure and safety and keeps that neighborhood from floods,
[30:03] but also infuses art.
[30:05] Mayor Young was there and spoke, and he talked about his visits
[30:09] to Detroit.
[30:10] He asked them, how do you turn things around?
[30:15] The leadership there specifically mentioned
[30:17] public art.
[30:17] He said, when you have public art from local artists,
[30:21] then people start caring about the neighborhood.
[30:23] They start caring about that one space,
[30:25] then it spreads to other spaces.
[30:26] That helps investors come because they
[30:28] can see the vision of what the neighborhood can be,
[30:32] and the people in the neighborhood
[30:33] can see the vision of what you can be.
[30:34] I love learning about all the different places
[30:36] that we have this.
[30:37] That is -- I mean, I don't even know how many hours we're put
[30:41] into the Chelsea Floodwall because it is a mile long,
[30:44] and it is double sided.
[30:46] The one section that I was standing in front of
[30:48] was the kids part, where we had students actually design and do
[30:52] panels, which is also really very, very cool.
[30:56] Thank you for letting me be a part of that.
[30:58] Thank you for doing this, because -- unto your point --
[31:01] this is the way that other places who have dug their way
[31:06] out of light issues, they have started with the public art.
[31:10] It is important that we invest in it properly.
[31:13] Thank you.
[31:16] >> Thank you, Councilwoman.
[31:18] I actually had on my list to shout out
[31:21] Director Edwards for her work in the Chelsea Green line, as well.
[31:25] It was years before we get that money to be able to do that.
[31:29] And so I'm glad that you made that a priority, and also
[31:33] the other projects that are on your list, as well.
[31:36] Did you want to add anything before we close out this item?
[31:42] >> I'm still fussing about -- can you do anything to help us
[31:45] with that?
[31:48] >> Who owns the property?
[31:50] What piece of property is it?
[31:54] >> Chief, it is on Lamar, off of Willette.
[31:58] And paint Memphis, which is one of the organizations,
[32:03] colleagues, that is asking for grant funding,
[32:06] put a big snake -- no, it's a rat.
[32:11] It's a rat -- on the wall.
[32:13] And that's right around the corner
[32:15] from Rozelle Elementary School, going to the medical district,
[32:19] and it looks horrible.
[32:20] So we want to make sure that, when people are putting murals
[32:25] up, that we are looking at it to see what the plans are,
[32:30] exactly what the art looks like.
[32:31] It can't be just a sign off.
[32:33] We really have to be engaged to know what's going on.
[32:39] >> I agree.
[32:39] There are some kind of safety points for urban Art Commission
[32:42] that prevents that from happening.
[32:44] So number one, we have a community engagement piece
[32:48] with our selection committee.
[32:52] UAC does not make those determinations.
[32:54] We actually ask the community to give their vote
[32:57] and to talk to the artist and have that direct say so.
[33:00] Number two, we have a PAOC Committee.
[33:07] They meet once a month.
[33:08] Those meetings are also public, and we submit the recordings
[33:10] every month.
[33:11] That is for a committee that there is --
[33:15] I know summer attends those meetings.
[33:17] We also have two other individuals that
[33:20] are appointed by City Council.
[33:22] One person is appointed by the mayor and myself
[33:26] and my team just there as advocates.
[33:30] That also is a place where that committee has
[33:33] to sign off on the schematic design, the final design,
[33:36] and also the fabrication.
[33:37] On top of all of that,