Approval of Agreement for General Public Art Consulting Services with L.W. International Art Acquisitions d/b/a Art Fusion Galleries

Issue Statement:
The City of Oakland Park currently has an agreement with L.W. International Art Acquisitions d/b/a Art Fusion Galleries to provide public art planning and consulting services. The scope of services under the existing agreement includes reviewing the City’s public art process, recommending policy enhancements, and engaging with the Art and Culture Board. The City aims to continue fostering and promoting public art that reflects Florida’s native flora and fauna, along with the cultural history and diversity of Oakland Park and South Florida, through a new agreement with an expanded scope of work.

Recommended Action:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a new agreement with L.W. International Art Acquisitions d/b/a Art Fusion Galleries for continued public art plan and consulting services in an amount not to exceed $30,000.

Background:
The City of Oakland Park first entered into an agreement with L.W. International Art Acquisitions d/b/a Art Fusion Galleries in 2023 to develop recommendations for a process and procedure to foster, promote, and approve public art projects. The agreement was renewed on December 30, 2024, for a subsequent one-year term.

Since the initial engagement, the consultant, represented by William Braemer, has delivered comprehensive public art consulting services aligned with the City's vision to showcase artwork that reflects the native environment and celebrates Oakland Park’s cultural diversity.

To date, the consultant has completed significant work in the following areas:

• Provided ongoing support for the planning, review, and implementation of Oakland Park's public art program, in coordination with the City's Art & Culture Board 
  
  
• Participated in multiple meetings with City staff, engineers, and stakeholders to advance the City's public art initiatives, including the installation of sculptures and nature-inspired artwork at City Hall, Jaco Pastorius Park, and other public facilities.

• Played a lead role in planning and executing the quarterly Oakland Park Art Walk, including talent coordination, vendor management, site planning, and post-event evaluations.  Under William Braemer’s leadership, the Oakland Park Art Walk (OPAW) has become a strategic economic development tool that advances the CRA’s objectives by activating the downtown, supporting small businesses, increasing visitation, and strengthening Oakland Park’s identity as a regional destination. OPAW attracts approximately 1,300 attendees downtown and generates significant evening foot traffic during peak business hours, directly benefiting downtown restaurants, bars, and retail businesses and reinforcing its role as an area-wide activation.

• Advised on the removal, selection, and potential installation of sculptures for the Art Park, including coordination with fabricators, artists, and permitting officials.
  
  

• Collaborated with multidisciplinary staff and artists to address considerations related to artwork safety, durability, and appropriate site placement.
  
  
• Participated in regular meetings with City staff to align art initiatives with broader city projects.

• Participated in meetings and presentations to the City’s Art & Culture Advisory Board to present recommendations related to public art policy and installations 

To continue advancing Oakland Park’s public art vision, the City proposes entering into a new two-year agreement with L.W. International Art Acquisitions d/b/a Art Fusion Galleries, represented by William Braemer, beginning February 1, 2026. The updated agreement includes an expanded scope of services, as outlined in Exhibit A, reflecting the City’s growing interest in incorporating art in public spaces, with a contract amount of $30,000 per year. The agreement term is two years from the effective date, with an automatic one-year renewal unless terminated earlier in accordance with the agreement terms.

William Braemer, owner of Art Fusion Galleries, relocated his gallery from Wynwood to Downtown Oakland Park in 2023. He is a nationally and internationally recognized artist, curator, and gallery owner with more than three decades of experience in the arts. Mr. Braemer played a formative role in creative placemaking efforts in Miami by initiating art walks that helped activate the area now known as the Miami Design District. His career includes exhibitions and curatorial work in major art markets around the world.

As the founder of Art Fusion Galleries, Mr. Braemer has built a global platform that supports emerging and mid-career artists while fostering meaningful community engagement through art. His work demonstrates a strong understanding of how arts and culture can serve as catalysts for economic development and place-based identity.

Mr. Braemer’s deep understanding of artistic expression, combined with his familiarity with Oakland Park’s community identity and vision, uniquely positions him to guide the City’s public art initiatives in a way that reflects Oakland Park’s character, celebrates its cultural diversity, and enhances public spaces through curated, impactful installations and programming.

Entering into the proposed agreement supports the continued success of public art initiatives that directly advance CRA goals by increasing visitation, strengthening small businesses, and reinforcing Downtown Oakland Park as a vibrant, walkable destination.