The City Manager appointed the Art Center Advisory Group ("ACAG") membership on December 18, 2023. The ACAG is comprised of the following individuals:
• Community Member: Jean Goldman
• Emeryville Celebration of the Arts Representative: Sharon Wilchar
• Performing Arts Focus: Nancy Karp
• Funding Focus: Frances Phillips
• Art Center Operations Focus: Holly Alonso, Archana Horsting, Jose R. Rivera
Through 2024 and into 2025, the ACAG has periodically convened to meet with staff and provide advice and recommendations on advancement of the project, as well as review of consultant deliverables.
February 20, 2024, the City Council authorized the execution of a contract with consultants Art is Luv and Jean Johnstone Consulting (AIL/JJC) for advancement of the project through the performance of the following tasks:
-
Review of background documentation (including prior studies, business plans, pro-forma financial statements, cost estimates, etc.)
-
Conduct robust outreach to update prior visioning exercises and arrive at a current vision for the project that is responsive to community needs
-
Engage and help form agenda topics for Advisory Group discussion, input and advice
-
Evaluate the feasibility of reuse of the existing building through architectural and structural subconsultants to determine the most efficient method of delivering a usable building
-
Analyze operational funding and partnership models
-
Develop a framework for organizational structure for operations
AIL/JJC conducted outreach to inform the current vision for the project through interviews, focus groups, and studio site visits with subject matter experts, artists, and local arts organizations. AIL/JJC also led a discussion of the ACAG to identify key guiding principles for the project, to inform the refresh of the visioning process. Key conclusions reached by the ACAG include:
-
The ACAG values fulfilling community needs and developing sustainability (both fiscal and environmental) over project expediency
-
The community desires a comprehensive facility which can provide a gallery space as well as a working theater space and educational/flex studio spaces and open areas for events, which will provide a sense of connectedness to City Hall and the cultural life of Emeryville.
-
While funding models, economic feasibility, and potential organizational structures still need to be assessed in order to gain a full understanding of how the Arts Center can best be realized and run, the arts community recognizes the need for building strong partnerships, and a clear vision in order to fundraise and coalesce broader support from institutions and donors.
AIL/JJC, through its subconsultant Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (LMS), conducted an analysis of the feasibility of reusing the existing structure at 4060 Hollis as compared to new construction. LMS' report describes a development program that includes flexible gallery space, performing arts space, classrooms and support spaces to allow for a comparative analysis of adaptive use and new construction.
The analysis found that the costs of these two options are comparable, embodied carbon is also comparable when considering the operating period for the building, and new construction provides for more flexibility to meet the operational needs of art center uses.
The analysis included high-level cost estimates and found that the construction costs range from $38m to $45m for adaptive reuse and from $41m to $46.5m for new construction. As these figures substantially exceed the approximately $11m currently available for the project, a reduction in project scope, phasing of project elements, or identification of additional funding is required.
On October 10, 2024 and October 29, 2024 the ACAG met with representatives from AIL/JLC and LMS to discuss the analysis and implementation options. The ACAG expressed strong support for advancing the project comprehensively by identifying additional funding sources, rather than phasing the project. The ACAG also noted the importance of locating the Art Center near City Hall as part of the “civic center” of the City and recommended that staff engage the services of a capital fundraising consultant with experience in capital campaigns to develop options and a plan for funding.
On November 19, 2024, the above referenced report and ACAG's recommendations were provided for the City Council's consideration. As noted above, the City Council directed staff to:
1) Procure the assistance of a fundraising consultant to raise the funds required to build the project as envisioned, and
2) Proceed with the project as new construction rather than adaptive reuse of the existing structure at 4060 Hollis