AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin City Council is set to vote next Thursday on three art contracts worth $10.6 million as part of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s (AUS) expansion. The contracts, under the Art in Public Places (AIPP) program, have sparked debate due to their selection of out-of-state artists.
The proposed contracts would fund works by Saya Woolfalk (New York), Jim Campbell (San Francisco) and Yvette Mayorga (Chicago). According to the Economic Development Department, the AIPP program often engages a mix of local, state and national artists. Critics argue that local talent has been overlooked in this phase of the airport’s development.
Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes expressed concerns about the lack of local representation.
“I believe our local artists should be incorporated into every phase of the expansion program,” Fuentes said, emphasizing the importance of reflecting Austin’s cultural identity in public art.
Fuentes said from talking to airport officials, she learned the three contracts are for the first of three phases. She said the first phase is focused on national artists, the second phase is focused on state artists and the third phase will be local artists. Local taxpayer money is not being used to fund these contracts.
According to an Economic Development Department spokesperson, of the 18 permanent artworks at AUS commissioned through AIPP, 12 are authored by artists who are from or live in Austin.
An AUS spokesperson said there are two art programs for the airport. The second involves rotating art, managed by the Department of Aviation, which features local artists only.
Local artists raise concerns
Local art advocates have voiced concerns over the selection process. Jake Bryer, cofounder of Austin Art Garage, criticized the outreach efforts.
“You would think that maybe part of [the budget] should be allocated towards marketing to let local artists know,” Bryer said, noting that he was unaware of the opportunity despite owning a gallery specializing in local art.
At the same time, Bryer said he knows some of the out-of-state artists have large teams for large installation projects but local artists are what keep Austin weird.
“Those people bring a vibrance to our culture here, and if we’re supporting local artists then we’re supporting people that beautify our town, not San Francisco, not Chicago, not New York,” said Bryer.
Balancing local and national talent
The Economic Development Department said the AIPP program artist selection is dependent on the scale, specialty, complexity, experience level and specific requirements for each project.
In a statement, a spokesperson said, “While some projects may require broader outreach to meet specialized needs, there is always a strong commitment to prioritizing Austin- and Texas-based artists whenever possible.”
Despite these assurances, many Austinites feel more could be done to support local creatives, especially financially.
“The artists in Austin could really use it,” Bryer added, highlighting how local art has shaped Austin’s unique identity.
Austin City Council is expected to talk about the contracts at its work session on Tuesday. The decision on Thursday next week will determine whether these contracts move forward or if adjustments will be made to better incorporate local talent into the first phase of AUS’s ongoing expansion.