Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting – May 11, 2026
Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission Meeting – May 11, 2026
The Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission of the City of Sacramento met on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 1:04 p.m. to 2:22 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. Chair Luisa Lavulo presided, with Commissioners Douglas Carter, Jeff Eisenberg, Walker Hershey, Rosa Maria Orozco, Steven L. Winlock, and Chair Lavulo present. Commissioner Nkiruka Ohaegbu arrived at 1:11 p.m., Commissioner Wellington Smith arrived at 1:10 p.m., and Commissioner Maya Wallace was absent. The meeting opened with a land acknowledgement led by Commissioner Hershey and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of April 13, 2026 DRAFT Minutes (File ID: 2026-00110) – Approved by a motion from Commissioner Winlock, seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was unanimous (6-0) with Commissioners Ohaegbu, Smith, and Wallace absent.
- Adoption of Commission Follow-Up Log (File ID: 2026-00204) – Approved by the same motion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Item 3 (Artlook Platform Relaunch): Speaker Lambert expressed strong support for the program, praised presenter Melissa Saron’s clarity and community connections, and noted he would share the information with his network. Speaker Sheera Lane (HM916 / Atrium 916) thanked staff for the tool, asked about directing artists with insufficient training to appropriate resources, and suggested the platform could be expanded to serve as a broader creative database for the film and media industry to avoid duplication of effort.
- On Item 4 (District 5 Art Summit Recap): Speaker Lambert congratulated Commissioner Carter, praised the summit as a model, and called for a similar summit in District 2. Speaker Sheera Lane thanked Commissioner Carter, noted that Atrium 916 serves over 880 regional artists with 150 local creatives in its marketplace, and offered to host a cross‑district creative economy meeting to educate on tools like Artlook.
- Public Comments – Matters Not on the Agenda: Speaker Lambert shared a personal story about an artist named Brianna who was pressured to go into debt for a restroom project; he advocated for her recognition and sought to connect with Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango.
Discussion Items
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Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) Arts Education Platform Relaunch – Artlook Sacramento Melissa Saron, Grants and Programs Manager, presented the relaunch of Artlook as a searchable online directory for youth arts education. She explained the pivot from a school‑focused data tool to a directory for teaching artists and arts organizations serving youth (pre‑K through 12th grade) in Sacramento County. Key features: eligibility requires a local presence, youth‑focused programming, and annual updates; disciplines include dance, music, media arts, visual arts, theater, literary arts, multidisciplinary, and traditional arts. The application process is open now, with heavy marketing to schools and community centers planned once profiles are robust. Commissioners reacted positively: Commissioner Winlock praised the pivot and noted alignment with Prop 28 funding; Commissioner Orozco raised concerns about school‑district red tape in using arts dollars and asked for help expediting the process; Commissioner Smith asked about connecting the directory to venues for educational programming; Commissioner Eisenberg asked about outreach to individual artists and suggested an in‑district workshop; Commissioner Orozco also suggested a QR‑coded postcard for easy distribution. Commissioner Winlock proposed a postcard with a brief description, and staff committed to adding text. The item was received and commented.
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District 5 Art Summit Recap Commissioner Douglas “Dino” Carter presented a recap of the first‑ever District 5 Art Summit, held April 11, 2026, at UC Davis Aggie Square. The free event attracted over 50 RSVPs and featured a panel with Jason Jong, Sheera Lane, and muralist Jaya King, focusing on turning creative work into a legitimate business (economic development, financial literacy, LLCs, taxes, working with the city). A video recap was shown. Commissioners praised the initiative: Commissioner Winlock asked about content determination (answered: council staff and commissioner identified key topics); Commissioner Orozco asked about feedback (positive, with desire for more time); Commissioner Smith asked about replicability (template to be created for other districts); Commissioner Eisenberg supported a cross‑district approach. Commissioner Carter acknowledged support from Councilmember Katie Maple’s office. The item was received and discussed.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved unanimously (6‑0).
- No formal votes were taken on Discussion Calendar items; both were received and discussed.
- Staff (Jason Jong) reported on upcoming public art meetings for the Birds and Benches project in Naitomas (remaining sessions May 14, 21, and 28) and noted two vacancies on the Commission (Districts 6 and 7).
- Commissioner Eisenberg invited all to the first annual Celebrate North Sacramento Festival on June 6, 2026 (noon–4 p.m., Robertson’s Park), with free booths and performance slots available.
- Commissioner Orozzo noted May as AANHPI Heritage Month and highlighted local high school cultural dance events.
- The meeting adjourned at 2:22 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready when you are. Good afternoon. Welcome to Monday, May 11, 2026, 1 p.m. meeting for arts, culture, and creative economy commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute for roll call. Commissioner Carter. Present. Commissioner Eisenberg. Present. Commissioner Hershey? Here. Commissioner O'Habu. Absent. Commissioner Orozco. Present. Commissioner Smith. Absent. Commissioner Wallace is absent. Commissioner Winlock? Present. And Chair Luvulo. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Thank you. I would like to remind members of the public and chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip before the item begins. After the item is called, we will no longer accept speaker slips. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. We will now proceed to today's agenda. Or our land acknowledgement. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands to the original people of this land, the Niseinan people, the Southern Maidu Valleys, and Mi Walk. Potwin Wintoon peoples and people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk besides us beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and the appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History Contributions and Lives. Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Chair. We have no speakers for this item. A second it was a motion by Commissioner Winlock with a second by Commissioner Carter. Did you want to go? Are there any commissioners? Thank you. Are there any commissioners who wish to? We've already said that. Is there a motion that we've already gotten from uh Commissioner Winlock and a second from Carter? All in favor, please say aye.
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