Angela Means, director of the newly formed Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME), briefed the Economic Opportunity Committee on March 21 on the office’s structure and early priorities after the office’s formal establishment Feb. 24.

Means said ACME centralizes arts, cultural, music and entertainment functions previously dispersed across five departments — Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, Development Services, Austin Public Library and Aviation — to create a single office supporting artists, cultural organizations and events. The office is organized into three broad areas that staff described as Arts, Funding, Music & Events; Cultural Education & Programs; and administrative support.

Means listed a set of cultural facilities and programs that will be aligned under the new office, including the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility (George Washington Carver Museum), the Mexican American Cultural Center, the Asian American Resource Center, Daugherty Arts Center, multiple museums, and event‑related teams such as the Austin Center for Events. She said ACME will review grant guidelines and the Art in Public Places (AIPP) program with an eye toward accessibility, transparency and impact and that the review of grant program guidelines should be complete by this summer.

Councilmembers raised questions about facility ownership and asset management for venues such as the Millennium Youth Entertainment Center. Means said the Millennium currently remains in Parks and Recreation’s portfolio but that the office will evaluate facilities where management or program focus suggests a later transition to ACME. Means said ACME will explore funding options, including grants, sponsorships and private‑sector partnerships, and emphasized community engagement and phased implementation across planning, launch and growth phases.

The briefing was informational; the committee did not take formal action on the office’s organization or budgets at this meeting.