The Beverly Hills Arts and Culture Commission met Sept. 8 to review its 2026-27 work plan, discuss the 2026 Concerts on Canon season, continue planning for the 2028 Olympics and receive updates on the city’s public art collection.
The meeting also marked the introduction of Jamie Bumia, the city’s new director of community services.
“I am very excited and honored to be here and to be able to work closely with you as our events go on and as everything comes up,” Bumia said. “This team is fantastic, so I am very thrilled to be able to support them in all we are going to do this year.”
Commissioner Tony Krantz said the commission has historically been underutilized and should take a more active role in developing cultural initiatives.
“We might become a little rambunctious as a commission,” Krantz said. “We’ve been underutilized in terms of our capability.”
He said commissioners should not simply attend meetings and vote but should actively pursue projects and partnerships.
“We actually really do want to go to work,” Krantz said.
The commission then turned to its 2026-27 work plan. Arts and Culture Commission Chair Maralee Beck assigned commissioners to the Beverly Hills Festival, arts education, World Cup and Olympic programming, community outreach, fine art acquisition, developer-owned art and ArtWalk.
Commissioners also discussed a potential app or digital resource for residents and visitors. The app could provide information about cultural events, restaurants, galleries, retailers and other activities in Beverly Hills. Commissioners discussed whether an existing city application could be adapted before creating a new one.
“This app, if we were to really think about what this could be and it comes out of arts and culture, which could be a huge project for us,” said Krantz.
Festival Beverly Hills was also on the agenda. Staff said the festival remains in the work plan, but the city is conducting a broader evaluation of its special events and programs. Planning for a 2027 festival will continue after that process provides additional direction.
The discussion then turned to the arts education and programming surrounding the 2026 World Cup and a look ahead to the 2028 Olympics. Staff described the World Cup programming as a “dry run” for the greater Olympic effort.
One suggestion was to incorporate Beverly Hills’ history with the 1984 Olympics to inform future programming. Maralee Beck said a Beverly Hills resident who was involved in arts programming during the 1984 Games may provide notebooks and other materials for the commission to review.
“I just wonder if we can force a timeliness to some of this stuff, because these things do take time,” said Krantz.
The commission is expected to receive monthly Olympic updates. The next LA28 City Council Liaison Standing Committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17.
The commission also reviewed the 2026 Concerts on Canon season and what is in store for 2027. Staff noted the concert series is in roughly its 24th or 25th season and continues to grow, with the program potentially outgrowing its current footprint at Beverly Canon Gardens.
The city received 50 applications for the 2026 season over approximately five and a half weeks. Applications for 2027 will open Nov. 30 and close Feb. 26, with artists notified April 2. The season is scheduled to begin the first Thursday of June.
Commissioners discussed attracting younger audiences and emerging performers while maintaining the familiar music that has traditionally drawn crowds.
“Maybe you experiment with next season. It’s one special night that kind of gets a light on it so that people are more aware of it,” said Commissioner Pamela Beck.
Staff said previous concerts featuring emerging artists through Live Nation in 2023 and 2024 included more original music that was unfamiliar to audiences. Audience feedback has generally favored recognizable songs that people can sing and dance along with.
The commission then moved into fine art acquisition and developer-owned artwork.
Staff reported that City Council had declined to acquire Judy Chicago’s “Trinity” from Jeffrey Deitch Gallery. The process was described as a learning experience that could inform future acquisition discussions.
The commission also discussed the relocation of “I/O” and “Home,” as well as developer-owned artwork. A presentation on “I/O” is expected to go before City Council in November, with the commission recommending the Burton Way median as a potential location.
The relocation of Charles Arnoldi’s “Home” remains paused while landscaping work at Memorial Plaza is considered. The commission recommended Coldwater Canyon Park, while the City Council liaison recommended Beverly Gardens Park.
Commissioners also discussed Alex Israel’s “Finn,” a developer-owned work. Options include donating the piece with an endowment for restoration and maintenance, paying an in-lieu fee or replacing it with another installation subject to commission approval.
The commission also viewed a Beverly Hills TV video featuring ArtWalk docent Judith Tuch giving a virtual tour of sculptures along the Burton Way median. Tuch described Beverly Hills as an “open-air museum” with more than 100 works of art throughout the city.
The fall ArtWalk tours are scheduled for Oct. 11 and 25 and Nov. 8 and 22, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Lily Pond in Beverly Gardens Park. The fee is $10 per person, with walk-ups welcome.
