December 16, 2025
City Council
DATE: December 16, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
Subject:
Richmond Arts and Culture Manager and Commission
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Richmond's vibrant and diverse arts community enriches
our City by creating spaces that make people feel
represented by fostering creativity and giving people a sense of belonging in their neighborhoods.
However, Richmond artists and arts organizations have
been encountering issues with the way City's contracting and grant processes work and have had difficulty
receiving the funds that the City has allocated for their purposes.
The Richmond arts community wants to collaborate with
the City to come up with equitable solutions that will
support their important work and allow them to thrive.
AGENDA
REPORT
December 16, 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
DIRECT the city manager to develop a transparent
community process on hiring an Arts and Culture
Manager and to report back to the arts community and
City Council on the results of the hiring process; and
DIRECT the city manager to meet and work with the
Richmond artist community, Richmond Arts and Culture
Commission, and City Council liaison to address the
challenges presented tonight and to develop a plan on
how to improve the whole grant process, including
contracts and requirements that the City asks of artists – Councilmember Claudia Jimenez (510-620-6565).
DISCUSSION:
Richmond has a vibrant and diverse arts community that improves the quality of life of the people of the City. However, artists and arts organizations are facing challenges accessing funds that the city council has allocated because of the complicated processes and requirements the city has put in place. The arts community believes that by working with the City, they can solve these issues in an equitable way by creating a transparent community process on hiring an Arts and Culture Manager and by collaborating with the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission, Richmond Staff and Council Liaison to address the challenges presented tonight with the public art contracting process.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
Richmond Public Art Master Plan
Public Art Program
Public Art Policies and Procedures
Arts and Culture Commission
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – A Seat At The Table: Improving Opportunities for Richmond Artists Attachment 2 – Presentation Map
Attachment 3 – NPA History by Michele Seville
Attachment 4 – Public Art Master Plan Recommendations
Attachment 5 – Excerpt from Letter of RACC Resignation
Attachment 6 – Richmond Artist Testimonials