Arts Commission President Aurelia Brooks, marking the start of the 50th anniversary year of the organization, noted:

"Fifty years ago, long before there was a state arts council or a National Endowment for the Arts, your County Board of Supervisors demonstrated their belief that the arts are an integral part of our community by establishing the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

"Founded to foster excellence and vitality in the arts and to insure diversity and accessibility to the arts in the County, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission is the second oldest, local arts agency in California. (The San Francisco Arts Commission was established one year earlier.)

"Originally called the Music Commission, the name was expanded in the 1970s to include the words 'and Performing Arts' to recognize the growth and diversity of the arts community. Recently, the name was shortened to Arts Commission to signify support for the entire nonprofit arts community as we look forward to the next 50 years."