Costa Mesa Arts Commission Meeting September 3, 2026

The City of Costa Mesa Arts Commission held a meeting on September 3, 2026, focusing primarily on updates and planning related to local arts programs and events. Key procurement-related discussions included the upcoming call for artists for the utility box art program, with submissions due by October 5 and a review planned for January. The commission also discussed the timeline for hiring a new arts specialist, with recruitment expected to begin in late October or early November and onboarding anticipated by early February. Additionally, the commission reviewed the progress of the Arts Master Plan, which is nearing final approval and will be introduced for discussion in the October meeting. Other highlights included updates on community arts events such as the annual Art Venture exhibit and award ceremony scheduled for September 12, and the sidewalk poetry contest with plans to embed winning poems in concrete at Shalimar Park, funded in part by a $15,000 grant awarded to the local poet laureate. The commission also elected a new vice chair to fill a recent vacancy. No direct contract awards or budget allocations were reported during this meeting, but several initiatives and grant-funded projects were noted that could influence future procurement and vendor opportunities in the arts sector.