City of Clearwater – Public Art and Design Board - 10/8/2026

The City of Clearwater Public Art and Design Board met on October 8, 2026. City staff presented the recently approved FY2027 budget, totaling just over $800 million across all funds, and discussed the Arts and Cultural Affairs Fund. The presentation described a funding limit of $200,000 per art project and noted potential FY2028–29 planning reductions, including elimination of the approximately $20,000 annual public arts grant program; these were planning scenarios, not approved budget actions. The transcript’s figure for the fund balance and the description of another possible $10,000 annual reduction are unclear.

Staff reported that the Coachman Park iconic sculpture call, with an estimated budget of $200,000–$250,000, received 179 applications; finalists and stakeholder review are still being considered, and no award was made at this meeting. The board also received updates on new downtown sculptures, the Chalk the Bay festival, and other arts initiatives. Members discussed ways to increase visibility and opportunities for local artists, including a possible artist database and meetups, but took no formal procurement-related vote or action.