Initiatives
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act National Endowment for the Arts Subgranting Program:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), signed into law on February 17, 2009, recognized the nonprofit arts industry as an important sector of the economy and, through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), dispersed funds to preserve jobs in the nonprofit arts sector.
The Los Angeles County Arts Commission and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs each received funds from the NEA to sub-grant to arts organizations in the Los Angeles region. The agencies worked together to create a streamlined grant application and review process designed to ensure rapid deployment of funds.
In October 2009, grants totaling to $420,084 to support administrative staff positions that were critical to the organization's mission and in jeporady or had been eliminated as a result of the current economic climate were announced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Click here for the full press release.
Municipal Cultural Planning Initiative
In 2006/2007, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the L.A. County Quality and Productivity Commission’s Productivity Investment Fund to implement an initiative to support five municipalities in creating municipal cultural plans. A strong cultural plan is a valuable tool which builds community consensus, maximizes cultural assets, and resolves specific cultural/neighborhood development issues.
Each of the County’s 88 municipalities approaches the arts and cultural needs of its residents in different ways based on the community’s broader needs and their city governmental structure. In 2005, the Arts Commission surveyed municipalities, hosted a meeting of staff representatives of 23 cities, and convened its first-ever forum for municipal arts commissioners. These three activities provided an in-depth picture of the challenges faced in funding, advocacy, and governance.
Long Beach
Burbank
Beverly Hills
Municipal Resources
In 2005, the Arts Commission surveyed municipalities, hosted a meeting of staff representatives of 23 cities, and convened its first-ever forum for municipal arts commissioners. These three activities provided an in-depth picture of the challenges faced in funding, advocacy, and governance.
Forums for Arts Commissioners
In 2005, the Arts Commission hosted the first Countywide Arts Commissioner Forum designed to bring arts commissioners and their staff from throughout the county to discuss common issues, and challenges, and to inform arts commissioners about their role and how they can be most effective. Through a series of panels and breakout sessions, various topics including cultural planning, public art, arts education, and anything goes (a session where commissioners can discuss various issues), were presented by professionals and seasoned commissioners. Forums for Arts Commissioners have been hosted by the City of Glendale (2005) and the City of Culver City (2006).
Los Angeles County Municipal Arts Survey Report
In 2005, the Arts Commission assessed the level of arts programming among the county’s 88 municipalities, resulting in the Los Angeles County Municipal Arts Survey Report. Please contact the Arts Commission to request a copy.
Artful Solutions: Pathways From Homelessness
In 2007/2008, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the L.A. County Quality and Productivity Commission’s Productivity Investment Fund to implement an 18-month pilot program, Artful Solutions: Pathways from Homelessness grant initiative. This initiative was the nation's first regional effort to include the arts as an important component of support services for homeless populations and to provide data that can be used in the future to help solve the challenges of homelessness. To download the report on the initiative, Artful Solutions: Creativity, Self-Worth and the Path from Homelessness click here.
The Arts Commission awarded five pilot grants of $18,000 to arts organzations that partnered with a housing, shelter or social service agency to provide homeless individuals or families with quality arts programming. The partnership was central to the objective of the initiative, to stabilize the lives of participants and improve their access to permanent housing. Grantees and their partners were:
Armory Center for the Arts in partnership with Union Station
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in partnership with My Friend's Place
Imagination Workshop in partnership with New Directions
Los Angeles Poverty Department (LAPD) in partnership with Lamp Community
Venice Arts: In Neighborhoods in partnership with Ocean Park Community Center
(OPCC)
This initiative supports the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' Homeless Prevention Initiative, which funds a variety of projects within the County to address homelessness by providing housing and supportive services to those at risk of and/or experiencing homelessness. Click here for the full press release.
