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ARTS FOR LA JOINS THE LA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO CELEBRATE APRIL AS ARTS, CULTURE & CREATIVITY MONTH AND THE APPROVAL OF THE CREATIVE JOBS COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE

April 4, 2023 (Los Angeles, CA) — Arts for LA, the leading voice for arts advocacy in Greater Los Angeles, joined the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today as they declared April as Arts, Culture, and Creativity month to celebrate and recognize the impact of the arts and creative workforce in the state of California. The Board of Supervisors also unanimously approved the Creative Jobs Collective Impact Initiative motion, introduced by Supervisors Hilda L. Solis, District 1, and Lindsey P. Horvath, District 3, in support of Arts for LA’s coordinated effort to create 10,000 living wage jobs in the creative sector, especially in BIPOC communities.

“Artists and organizations in the creative space have never fully recovered, and passing this motion is another important step to fixing that. By focusing on cross-sectoral partnerships, funding, and culturally responsive practices for the betterment of all residents, we can prioritize intersectional and real-time responses to disparities in the creative sector exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “I’m proud to lead this effort during Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month and call on all Angelenos to take some time this month to support artists and creative workers—a critical backbone of our economy.”

This motion aims to support the goals of the Creative Jobs Collective Impact Initiative (CJCII), a 7-year effort led by Arts for LA that includes the LA County Department of Arts and Culture and the Department of Economic Opportunity on its steering committee, among other arts and creative economy leaders, and envisions a thriving and equitable arts and culture sector. This motion will specifically focus on the CJCII goals of creating 10,000 creative sector jobs centering youth and adults from historically underrepresented communities, parity between the regional population demographics and creative workforce representation, and a sector-wide median entry-level wage that is at or above the region’s living wage as determined by MIT’s living wage calculator. It also highlights the ongoing work of the County to build an equitable arts and creative sector, as well as data reports released by the Department of Arts and Culture that point the way to addressing wage disparities for entry-level BIPOC arts administrators and opportunities to address barriers to creative career pathways for underrepresented youth.

“As it stands, artists and creative workers can’t afford to live and work in Los Angeles,” said Gustavo Herrera, CEO, Arts for LA. “Compensation for entry-level arts administrators in Los Angeles County is well below a living wage standard – this disparity is most pronounced for BIPOC creative workers which stands at $32,027 for entry-level wage. It is no wonder that we hear from so many emerging arts leaders, particularly emerging leaders of color, that they cannot afford to work in the arts and culture field. It is going to take all of us, working across the sectors, to create a more inclusive and sustainable creative economy for all Angelinos.”

“Arts and entertainment are the cornerstone of Los Angeles life and our local economy. With today’s motion, we are seeing an enormous opportunity to develop a robust future creative workforce with diverse talent from our local communities,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District. “I proudly join Supervisor Solis and Arts for LA in advancing the Creative Jobs Collective Impact Initiative to create 10,000 creative jobs centering local youth from communities that are underrepresented in the arts.”

“Investment in arts and culture today means a more robust creative sector, richer cultural life for our communities, and a stronger creative workforce for generations to come,” said Kristin Sakoda, Director of the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. “This Board of Supervisors motion builds on decades of ongoing programs, grants, internships, research, and coalition building by the Department of Arts and Culture that have expanded access to creative career pathways, invested in the arts workforce, and cultivated the capacity of our region’s arts ecosystem of organizations, educators, artists, emerging leaders, funders, and advocates. Yet there is more to be done to increase equity in our creative industries. I am excited to further this work with the Creative Jobs Collective Impact Initiative.”

About Arts for LA

Arts for LA, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, was incorporated in 2006 by a group of arts leaders who had met informally for years to discuss and address the region’s most pressing arts issues. Since that time, Arts for LA has expanded its reach and deepened its roots in neighborhoods and school districts across Los Angeles County. Today, Arts for LA includes 55,000 supporters, 400 Member Advocates, and 165 Member Organizations.