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CAC ACTION ITEM - Consideration of the Deaccession of Media in Motion, a permanent public art located at 10950 Washington Boulevard.
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Meeting Date: August 19, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Sam Lee / City Manager - Office of Economic & Cultural Development
Phone Number: (310) 253-6001
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (08/14/25);
Department Approval: Sally Unsworth, Cultural Affairs Manager (08/05/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) approves the deaccession request for the permanent public artwork, Media in Motion, by Paul Novacek and Nick Seierup, located at 10950 Washington Boulevard.
BACKGROUND
Media in Motion is a permanent, public artwork currently located at the northern boundary of the 10950 Washington Boulevard property, which once served as the headquarters for the National Football League (NFL) cable network. The artwork, which intermingles with the site’s address as signage, was originally commissioned by Skye Partners, Inc. (property owner at the time) to fulfill their Art in Public Places Program (APPP) requirements in 1998. The sculptural installation, measuring 13’ x 9’ x 6’ (height x length x depth), comprises two flat galvanized steel panels, representing television screens that have frosted glass with abstract silkscreened images of the site incorporated into them. The artwork weighs approximately 2,500 lbs. and required $65,000 to complete, although the original 1% APPP allocation was approximately $8,000. The creation was a collaboration between Paul Novacek, an accomplished environmental and graphic artist, and Nick Seierup, a known Southern California-based architect.
Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (Hudson 10950, LLC) is the new property owner of 10950 Washington Boulevard and has requested the deaccession of Media in Motion. In September 2024 the owner submitted a comprehensive plan proposing a new mixed-used, multi-family project with 508 residential units, 14,087 square feet of commercial/retail space, and parking both at grade and in one subterranean level. 79 total units will be reserved for low-income tenants. The existing building will be demolished, and this new development will be constructed in its place.
Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Section 15.06.175 provides guidelines for deaccessioning permanent artworks commissioned in conjunction with the APPP. Per the guidelines, artwork must have been installed for at least five years as a basic requirement for deaccessioning. In this instance, the artwork has been on public view for 27 years. Relocating the artwork to a new site is not possible because the artwork functions as the address signage of the site in its design, which diminishes its cultural value. The artwork reflects a different period, commissioned by the previous property owner, and doesn’t align with the aesthetics and concept of the new development. Furthermore, Cultural Affairs staff was successful in contacting Paul Novacek and Nick Seierup in May 2025; both artists have expressed in writing that they have no objections to the new property owner’s deaccession request; both artists are also not interested in taking back the artwork, which was offered to them as an option. (See Attachment #3) Having met the minimum installation timeframe and receiving both artists’ acknowledgement, Media in Motion is recommended by staff to be decommissioned, as the most appropriate and cost-effective action in this instance. The costs associated with the demolition/deinstallation of Media in Motion will be absorbed by Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
On June 24, 2025, at a Special Meeting of the CAC Public Art Subcommittee (Brenda Williams and Ehsaan Mesghali), the agenda included Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.’s deaccession request. (See Attachments #1 and #2) CAC Public Art Subcommittee thoroughly discussed the deaccession request at that time and is now recommending the final approval of the deaccession request by the Cultural Affairs Commission.
Per the CCMC, Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. has several options for replacing the deaccessioned artwork, including providing new art for the site or paying an in-lieu fee to the Cultural Trust Fund. They have indicated an intention to pay the Cultural Trust Fund. As Media in Motion has been installed for over 27 years and exposed to outdoor conditions throughout that period, the artwork has experienced significant wear and tear resulting in a sizable reduction in its valuation.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Staff estimates that the current value of the artwork is $1. (See Attachment #4) All costs associated with estimated depreciated value of the artwork as well as the demolition and deinstallation of Media in Motion will be absorbed by Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. The 1% APPP requirement for the pending development will likely be paid to the Cultural Trust Fund; and impact on staff resources is minimal for coordination and oversight.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 25-08-19_ATT 1_10950 Washington Blvd. Deaccession Presentation
2. 25-08-19_ATT 2_Deaccessioning Media in Motion Letter
3. 25-08-19_ATT 3_VARA Waiver_Signed
4. 25-08-19_ATT 4_Staff Memo Valuation and Recommendation
RECOMMENDED MOTION
That the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission:
1. Consistent with the recommendation from the Public Art Subcommittee, approve Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.’s (Hudson10950, LLC) request to deaccession Media in Motion by Paul Novacek and Nick Seierup for the property located at 10950 Washington Boulevard.