Bellevue Arts Commission Meeting - January 14, 2026: Grand Connection Art Plan and 2026 Work Plan
Bellevue Arts Commission Meeting - January 14, 2026
The Bellevue Arts Commission met on January 14, 2026, to discuss the Grand Connection Crossing Art Plan update and the 2026 work plan. The meeting featured a presentation from artist Matthew Mazzota on potential art themes, followed by commissioner feedback, and a staff overview of the year's grants, public art projects, and committee activities.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A representative from Gage Academy of Art had emailed to thank the commission for grant support but was not present for the meeting. No other public comments were offered.
Discussion Items
- Grand Connection Crossing Art Plan Update: City public art specialist Scott McDonald introduced the project, which focuses on the pedestrian/bike bridge crossing over I-405. Artist Matthew Mazzota presented three potential themes for the art plan based on community engagement (over 100 community members met in September 2025):
- Repair: Addressing natural systems, social inequities, and future resilience.
- Refuge: Creating a space of safety, calm, and connection to nature, including aesthetic, social, and natural refuges.
- Technology and the Natural World: Exploring biomimicry and the integration of tech with nature, while acknowledging the city's dual identity. Commissioners provided feedback: they emphasized the importance of incorporating Bellevue's diverse history (e.g., agrarian roots, Japanese American community, immigrant groups), avoiding a fixation on fleeting technology, and ensuring the artwork fosters placemaking, inclusivity, and long-term relevance. The artist noted that the themes are designed to be flexible guideposts for future artists.
- 2026 Work Plan: Staff presented the upcoming year's priorities, including:
- Grants and Allocations Committee: Launch of all three grant programs (Project Grants, Eastside Arts Partnership, and Capital Facilities Grants) with a capital grants budget of approximately $1.8–2 million every two years. New grant software will streamline processes.
- Public Art Committee: Updates on Grand Connection, creative crosswalks, box wraps, and installation of Jill Ann Holt's "Rooted" artwork. Two emerging artist public art projects are planned for Lake Hills and Linkmont.
- Community Partnerships Committee: Drafting a letter to the Bellevue School District urging reopening of performance spaces for rentals.
- Committee of the Whole: Continued partner presentations and preparation for a formal cultural planning launch. Commissioners discussed creating a master calendar of grantee events and the possibility of youth members on the commission. Commissioner Chen has left the commission due to relocation; applications are open until January 19, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- No formal vote was taken on the art plan themes; the commission provided guidance for Matthew Mazzota to refine the themes, incorporating historical and cultural depth, and to present a draft art plan at a future meeting.
- The 2026 work plan was presented and discussed; no formal approval was needed. Staff will consider adding a master calendar of events and exploring youth membership options.
- Project updates included: 31 project grants approved by council on January 6, 2026; Bell Red Arts District code amendment update at the Planning Commission; artist selection for a public art piece in Factoria in mid-2026; and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Crossroads public art piece in first half of 2026.
- The meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone. I call this meeting to order. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? I motion. It's been moved. Do we have a second? Second. And moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Can I get a motion to approve the minutes? My motion. It's been moved. Do I have a second? A second. Moved and seconded. All in favor of the minute say aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries. Do we have any oral communications for this meeting? Um I did have someone email and request that I don't see them online. Um I do know they were from Gage Academy of Art. We wanted to thank you all for the grant support. Um, but unfortunately, I do not see them. Has the doors open. Yeah, are there any other any other public comment? All right. All right. Then we will move to action items and discussion items. And the first is Grand Connection Crossing Art Plan update. Yeah. Can everyone hear me? Okay. Yeah. Okay. Hello. Uh my name is Scott McDonald. I work with these fine people. Uh I am the city's public art specialist. Um, and I have that doesn't accurately describe my full scope of work uh here at the city. I work on predominantly large public art projects for the city, and then I also work on a lot of the city's cultural planning work. And so the item we're going to talk to you today about is kind of at the nexus of those two things, both public art and then cultural planning, art planning uh for the city, and specifically the Grand Connection Crossing. So today we're gonna we're joined by artist uh Matthew Mazzota. Um he is the selected uh selected artist uh that will be developing the art plan. He was selected by a panel, including Lydia uh and others. Um six months ago, I'm guessing. Um he's been a great advocate, and we'll get into some of the work that he's done to date, and he'll actually walk you through some of the things he's thinking about after going through the uh community engagement phase. Excellent.
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