Read about how our inaugural State of the Arts Summit went, learn about our 2019 Laura Zucker Fellowship final report, as well as an update on the Board of County Supervisor’s vote for the LA Phil to operate the Ford Theatres, and more!

With just over one month left in 2019, this Thanksgiving season reminds us of what we are thankful for and gives us the opportunity to share our gratitude.

Arts for LA is grateful to everyone who supported and attended our inaugural State of the Arts Summit on November 1st! It was inspiring to see over 220 registered attendees, representing 147 unique organizations come together to continue the work Arts for LA’s founding leadership established thirteen years ago.

We hope the State of the Arts Summit will build upon that legacy and provide a forum for arts leaders to work through the challenges and opportunities in 2020 and beyond. More on the State of the Arts Summit can be found below, and click here to see photos from the event!

November 1st also marked the release of the 2019 Laura Zucker Fellowship Research Report. Allison Agsten, our Research Fellow, studied the issue of affordable spaces for artists in Los Angeles County. See below for her staggering results.

Lastly, we are sharing an update on the outcome of the Board of County Supervisor’s vote on the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association to operate the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre Complex. We also share information about the AB5 law which, when it goes into effect in 2020, could potentially reclassify millions of California artists acting as independent contractors. Read on for more.

Onward,

Gustavo Herrera
Executive Director, Arts for LA

STATE OF THE ARTS SUMMIT 2019

On November 1st, Arts for LA hosted its inaugural State of the Arts Summit. The event convened arts and cultural leaders from across the region to think through various policy solutions addressing common challenges.

California State Senator Ben Allen, LA Times Columnist Steve Lopez, and Laura Zucker Research Fellow Allison Agsten each offered their own unique perspectives on the arts in Los Angeles County. Four interactive breakout sessions followed the welcome and keynote remarks, focusing on the issue areas of education, affordable space, jobs, and funding. After expert presenters quickly framed each issue, participants engaged in roundtable discussions evaluating the potential impact of various policy solutions. We will continue these discussions in a working group format throughout the month of December.

We want to thank our community partners who helped make this event successful:

Photographers: Las Fotos Project

Catering: HomeGirl Industries

Venue: Los Angeles Theater Center (LATC)

We also greatly appreciate our funders who supported the Summit: The Rosenthal Family Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Department of Cultural Affairs, LA County Department of Arts and Culture, Louis L. Borick Foundation, California Arts Council, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and our Arts for LA Members.

We hope you enjoyed the Summit as much as we did — see you next Fall!

 

2019 LAURA ZUCKER FELLOWSHIP FINAL REPORT

We are thrilled to present our 2019 Laura Zucker Fellowship final report, authored by Allison Agsten: (Re)inventing the Dream: Policies and Practices for Keeping Artists in Los Angeles. Allison’s research uncovered staggering facts about the current state of Los Angeles artists. Of 763 artists surveyed:

“89% stated that affordability of housing in Los Angeles County is a serious concern… [and] 90% said the same of workspace affordability.” (Agsten, p.8)
Furthermore, Agsten discovered:

“…The rate of present day and recent homelessness amongst artists surveyed is more than three times that of the current rate of homelessness in Los Angeles County.” (Agsten, p.8)
Her policy solutions highlight two important priorities: developing new affordable spaces, and preserving existing affordable spaces.

You can read her full report, including her complete findings and policy suggestions, on the Arts for LA website.

Read what The Art Newspaper had to say about Agsten’s report, and click here to share a Tweet about it!

 

LA PHIL STEWARDSHIP OF FORD THEATRES
On Tuesday November 12, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a lease agreement for the LA Phil to assume a lease over the Ford Theatre. Members of the arts community attended the meeting to express a variety of perspectives. During the public comment period, Arts for LA’s Executive Director Gustavo Herrera reiterated the call for greater transparency in the stewardship of the County’s cultural resources.

The Supervisors responded to this call – co-signed by over 150 members of the Arts for LA community – by attaching an amendment that mandates community engagement sessions be part of the lease agreement. An excerpt of the amendment language is below:

“The LAPA [LA Philharmonic Association] shall hold community engagement sessions with local artists and interested stakeholders…to discuss outreach, program development, and audience development, to include recommendations on maintaining accessible and affordable ticket prices.”

Arts for LA is grateful to the members and community advocates who reached out to us about this issue and took action to ensure the creative community’s voice will continue to be heard in these critical decision-making processes. We are committed to working with all stakeholders involved to facilitate constructive, meaningful conversations as the partnership moves forward.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Convening: Unpacking AB5 – Survive + Sustain

Save the date! Join the DRC, Californians For the Arts, Arts for LA, and the Actors Fund for a convening unpacking the details of AB5.
Special Guests: Julie Baker + Adam Y. Siegel

Wednesday December 11th
10:30am – 12:30pm

Venue: To Be Determined

Click Here for More Info

Webinar: Special Employment and Labor

When AB5 goes into effect on January 1, 2020, it could dramatically reshape the future of independent workforces in California and significantly impact workers in the state’s creative economy.

On Tuesday, December 3, at 10:00am, join Stoel Rives attorneys Vida Thomas and Bryan Hawkins at this webinar presented especially for the members and friends of Californians for the Arts to learn about this new legislation, and what it means for the state’s arts community. We will also be joined by Californians for the Arts Executive Director Julie Baker. Topics to be covered include:

What AB5 does
How it will be enforced
The definition of an ‘independent contractor’
Who is exempt from AB5, and who isn’t
Preparation and proactive steps
Click Here to Register
If you have any questions or need additional information, please email events@stoel.com.

Meet our presenter for the Arts Funding conversation at the State of the Arts Summit!

Meet our presenters for the Affordable Spaces for Artists breakout session at the State of the Arts Summit!

Meet our presenter for the Creative Career Pathways conversation at the State of the Arts Summit 2019!

October brings the announcement of the State of the Arts Summit, new team members, and more! Read on.

Thank you to everyone who supported last month’s successful Pop Up Art Show! We welcomed more than 350 attendees and featured 19 artists.

Arts for LA’s inaugural State of the Arts Summit is only three weeks away, on November 1st. Formerly known as LA Convergence, the Summit connects arts leaders to design solutions around some of the issues the arts and culture community faces. Read on for more information about the event and how to buy tickets.

Our 2019 Laura Zucker Research fellow, Allison Agsten, is finalizing a report offering findings and policy solutions to the topic of affordable space for artists. Join us at State of the Arts on November 1st to be the first to hear her important research findings.

We also welcome our newest team member this month: Aubrey Farkas Harris, our Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. Learn more about her below.

Arts for LA staff strives to build a collective voice of artists, arts organizations and community advocates that fight for a more equitable, healthy, and creative Los Angeles region. Become a member today. Include your voice and unique perspective in the Arts for LA 2020 arts and culture agenda, and be among the change happening in our field.

Onward,

Gustavo Herrera
Executive Director, Arts for LA

YOU’RE INVITED!
STATE OF THE ARTS SUMMIT 2019

STATE OF THE ARTS SUMMIT: PATHWAYS & PLACES
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019
LOS ANGELES THEATRE CENTER (LATC)
514 S SPRING STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90013
8:30 – 9:00am – Registration & Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15am – Welcome Addresses
10:30am – 1:00pm – Breakout Sessions (two, ~ 60 minutes each)
1:00 – 2:30pm – Lunch & Call to Action

Arts for LA’s inaugural State of the Arts Summit is only three weeks away, on November 1st. This half-day convening invites you to explore and champion solutions to some of the field’s most pressing issues. Themed Pathways and Places, the Summit will focus on finding solutions to address equitable access to: arts education, affordable spaces for artists, creative career pathways, and investments in the arts. Your voice and advocacy is vital as we strive to build equity within our creative economy.

Award-winning LA Times columnist Steve Lopez and California State Senator Ben Allen will headline our welcome address. Esteemed presenters from each issue area will share their perspectives and facilitate conversations about finding achievable solutions to our industry’s most pressing issues. We are honored to welcome Denise Grande, Director of Arts Education at the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, and Dr. Steven McCarthy, Director of Arts Education at LAUSD, as our presenters for the Arts Education discussion.

 

TOGETHER, WE’LL DIVE INTO THE ISSUES WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING A PROACTIVE, COLLECTIVE AGENDA TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS IN LOS ANGELES IN THE 2020 YEAR.
This event is part of Arts for LA’s ongoing commitment to provide valuable opportunities for the arts & culture community to connect with one another, learn together, and lead the field, united in discovering solutions to the major issues we face.

Tickets and Registration:

There is a two step process to register for the State of the Arts Summit:

Step 1: Purchase a ticket here.
(If your organization is a current, contributing, organizational member of Arts for LA, you are eligible for one complimentary ticket)

Step 2: Register for the event here.

State of the Arts Summit FAQs:

I think my organization used to be an Arts for LA member. Can I renew our membership and still get the free ticket? YES! Renew your membership today by clicking here! If you renew today, you will be eligible for a free ticket to the State of the Arts Summit.

My organization is a current member, and I have already registered for my free ticket. How can I purchase more for my team? Purchase more tickets for your team at a 40% discount!

What if I am an Individual Member of Arts for LA? If you have given at the ACTIVATE Alumni Champion or Arts Delegate membership level, you are eligible for a 15% discount!

Do you offer Cultural Equity Pricing for this event? Yes! Send us an email for more information.

Where does my money go? Ticket proceeds directly support the cost of holding this event.

If you have any other questions about the status of your membership, or State of the Arts Registration, send us an email to info@artsforla.org, we’ll be happy to help.

We hope to see you there!

ARTS EDUCATION PROFILE
The Los Angeles County Arts Ed Collective publishes an annual Profile – an interactive tool which helps parents, teachers, administrators, arts organizations, and others, to report on the state of arts instruction in LA County public schools. The Arts Ed Profile combines data from the California Department of Education, LA County K-8 statistics, and information from community arts partners to provide a complete understanding of arts education access across the County.

The Arts Ed Collective needs your help to update the Profile with 2019-20 data! Visit www.lacountyartsedcollective.org/arts-ed-profile to learn more about the Arts Ed Profile, and ask your schools get their data updated!

 

MEET: AUBREY FARKAS HARRIS
Aubrey Farkas Harris is a 15-year veteran of Los Angeles’ political and civic arenas.  She has held senior staff positions in the US Congress, California State Assembly, and preeminent nonprofit organizations, and has successfully run several political campaigns.

Aubrey’s lobbying accomplishments include creating California’s Homeland Security Grant Program for vulnerable nonprofits, and passing landmark anti-discrimination legislation. Aubrey spent her early career working for members of Congress and the California State Assembly, where she developed foreign and domestic policy positions and legislative initiatives. A veteran of high-profile political campaigns, Aubrey has a talent for distilling complex policy for wide audiences.

Aubrey earned a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Southern California and graduated from UC Davis with degrees in Political Science, Art History, and Middle Eastern/South Asian Studies. In her free time, Aubrey co-chairs the Glass Leadership Institute, and is on a personal journey to find the world’s best baked goods.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS
LOOK WHAT SHE DID!
Call for female artists of all disciplines in the City of Los Angeles to be featured in a video series funded by the California Arts Council!

About the Project:

We are filming a new series of short videos featuring one female artist from each of Los Angeles’ 15 council districts speaking about a remarkable woman who inspires her. The project will culminate in regional screening events around Los Angeles for the storytellers and their communities.

Through a community nomination process, a diverse panel of female artists will be selected for this series. Special regard will be given to diversity of art form and representation of the many cultural communities of Los Angeles. At least one artist will be chosen from each of Los Angeles’ 15 council districts. We are seeking nominations now through the end of the year!

To Nominate an Artist: CLICK HERE to fill out our easy online form!

For more information about this project, click here. Contact Community Programs Manager, Jeanine DiTomasso with any questions. jeanine@lookwhatshedid.com

LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE: DANCE ALL DAY FESTIVAL!
The Lula Washington Dance Theatre, (LWDT) invites you to our annual Dance All Day Festival, Saturday October 19, 2019, during the historic Taste of Soul. This festival brings dance performances, classes, vendors, and fun for the entire family!

Have a seat under our shady canopy and enjoy performances on our beautiful outdoor stage. Kids can play on our rock wall, make arts and crafts, or bounce in the Bouncer. Our stage is proud to host performers from the very young to the well-seasoned, including Ricks & the Hot-Flashers, and professional dance companies such as Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s international touring company. You can also participate in our free dance classes throughout the day.

Dance All Day takes place during the popular Taste of Soul, which attracts close to 300,000 people on Crenshaw Blvd. Join our event, located at the LWDT parking lot on the corner of Crenshaw and Coliseum.

This entire event is free! (Festival of Tutus: Free for registered LWDT students; $5 per person general public). Dance All Day is sponsored in part by LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and Council President Herb Wesson. Other collaborators include LA Dance Resource Center and Arts for LA.

Meet our panel for the Arts Education discussion at the State of the Arts Summit 2019!

Arts for LA exists to connect you as individuals and organizations around key issues that contribute to the creative vibrancy of Los Angeles. Learn more about our upcoming events and growth!

Hello Arts for LA Family,

First and foremost, Happy National Arts in Education Week Los Angeles!

Arts for LA exists to connect you as individuals and organizations around key issues that contribute to the creative vibrancy of Los Angeles.

In this spirit, we invite you to two upcoming events to connect with one another: in less than 8 days we will host a Pop Up Art Show 2019 on September 21st at Art Share LA.  On November 1st, we will host our inaugural State of the Arts Summit, scroll down to learn more. Arts for LA organizational members receive free tickets to the State of the Arts Summit. If your organization has not done so already, become an organizational member today!

We are also pleased to introduce our new team member, Cordelia Istel. Cordelia will serve as our community’s Director of Organizing. Learn more about her below.

Lastly, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs is hosting their Public Art Triennial CURRENT:LA, with this year’s focus on food. You don’t want to miss it. More information below!

Onward,

Gustavo Herrera
Executive Director, Arts for LA

INTRODUCING: YOUR NEXT FAVORITE ARTIST!

What: 3rd Annual Pop Up Art ShowWhen: September 21 6pm-10pm (5pm with VIP Admission)

Where: Art Share LA 801 E 4th Place, Los Angeles
An extraordinary multi-discipline venue in the heart of LA’s Arts District

How: $10 General Admission Tickets
$100 Early Admission VIP Tickets
All ticket proceeds go directly to Arts for LA

Why: A chance to own exclusive and one-of-a-kind art by some of LA’s most imaginative artists -AND- support Arts for LA.

18 LA-based artists who spend their days designing and inventing the worlds we all have grown to love – Disneyland, Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers – are sharing and selling their personal art.

This is your chance to own sculpture, photography, paintings, sketches and more from some of the world’s most creative minds! In previous years, more than 70% of these unique pieces were sold, and this year, there are over 120 works you can make your own. Each artist is donating at least one piece, and the proceeds of the sale of those pieces comes back to Arts for LA.

For the best chance to bring your favorite piece home, join the VIP Experience. You’ll have an exclusive first look at the art work for sale (from 5pm-6pm), along with free parking, drinks, food, and the musical stylings of LA’s latest rising star: Eva B. Ross, whose first album will be released on October 25th!

So, stop by Art Share LA on September 21st to meet great people, find your next favorite artist, and help Arts for LA keep fighting to make LA a better place for all.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

STATE OF THE ARTS SUMMIT
How do I play a part in shaping Arts for LA’s public policy agenda for 2020?

Join Arts for LA at the Los Angeles Theater Center on November 1st and be among the first of a growing community working to reimagine solutions to the field’s most pressing issues.

Come and enjoy great conversation, be a part of thinking through solutions, and discover how your voice can shape a proactive collective agenda for the arts in Los Angeles. Organizational members receive free tickets to this event, become a member today!

Click the image below if you are interested in attending this event and would like to receive more information.

 

JOIN OUR MOVEMENT TODAY!
Arts for LA is your only cross-discipline, cross-sector advocacy organization with a mission to give the arts a voice at the decision making tables of Los Angeles. When you become a member of Arts for LA, you are joining a movement of artists, arts administrators, arts organizations, and arts advocates united in support of the same goal: ensuring the arts and culture in Los Angeles County continue to thrive.

Our members are vested partners in shaping what we advocate for in the arts. Arts for LA is an agent for change. Become a member today and be a part of that change.

 

MEET: CORDELIA ISTEL
Arts for LA is pleased to introduce our newest team member, Cordelia Istel! Joining us as our Director of Organizing, Cordelia is an organizer, educator, and administrator with over a decade of experience working at the intersection of cultural programming and social justice.

Before joining the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) as an External Organizer, she served as Director of Programs for White Bird Productions, Manager of the New York Metropolitan Opera’s Education Department, and helped create the United States Department of Arts & Culture – a national network of activists using arts-based strategies to address urgent issues facing their communities.

Cordelia is a graduate of Yale University (degrees in Political Science and Theater Studies) as well as the California Institute of the Arts (School of Theater). She is thrilled to join the Arts for LA team, and will start on September 30.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Department of Cultural Affairs CURRENT:LA Food

LA’s Public Art Triennial

CURRENT:LA democratizes the way people access art. The initiative shifts away from the museum environment and places temporary public art projects and public programs in the neighborhoods of Los Angeles where residents and visitors live, work, and play. CURRENT:LA uses contemporary art as a way to deepen connections on issues affecting Los Angeles and other global cities to inspire civic discourse on those particular issues. Artists and public programmers will highlight the advances – as well as the challenges – we face as producers and consumers throughout 15 LA sites ranging from the San Fernando Valley to Watts.

CURRENT:LA is funded by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

For updates about CURRENT:LA FOOD, follow CURRENT:LA on Facebook, Instagram @current_la, and Twitter @current_la.

#currentLA

MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS!
We would like to formally introduce you to our three new board members: Rochelle Mills, Felicia Rosenfeld, and Cliff Warner

Growth and expansion! If you’ve been keeping up with us you already know we’re in the hiring process. There are two vacancies, Director of Organizing and a Director of Public Policy, so if you or anyone you know might be a good fit, visit our Job Opportunity page! Our team is getting bigger which means we are more equipped to serve our mission.

Our current board is full of dynamic individuals who embody and push forward the mission of Arts for LA. We are coming in with, not one, not two, but THREE new board members this summer, if we weren’t already a force to be reckoned with, we are now! Please welcome Rochelle Mills, Felicia Rosenfeld, and Cliff Warner as they join our remarkable team. We are so excited to have aboard these stellar individuals. Read more about them and their journey below.

Rochelle Mills is President and CEO of Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO) where she is responsible for implementing the organization’s vision and growing its portfolio of high-quality affordable housing. Prior to joining IHO, she and her husband founded Mills Studio. Their high-end designs were featured on FineLiving, Homes Across America and other television and print publications. Mills also founded Architours, a boutique art and architecture tour and symposia company. Her diverse background includes UCLA and Otis extension instructor, editor of LA Architect, community planning, construction administrator, and lecturer and writer on art, design, and culture. Mills was appointed to two terms on the South Los Angeles Area Planning Commission and the Crenshaw Community Design Review Board. She has served on the California Cultural Tourism and LA Metro Expo Art advisory committees, as well as the boards of the SoCal Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, Association of Women in Architecture (now AWA+D), Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH), and Fellows of Contemporary Art. She presently serves on the boards of Kennedy Commission and the California Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies.

Felicia Rosenfeld, through FARconnector, serves as thought partner, organizational catalyst, infrastructure architect and creative strategist, working with artists and creative organizations to define and attain success. Rosenfeld has been involved in the not-for-profit world for most of her working life. After graduating with honors from Swarthmore College, she worked at Pentacle (in New York) and also for David Gordon Pick Up Company. Receiving a J.D. from Fordham Law School, Felicia practiced for five years, concentrating in entertainment, copyright and trademark law. Rosenfeld returned to Pentacle as Director of Educational Programming in 2002, then became Director of Programming, and ultimately Co-Director. Rosenfeld served as Executive Director of Dance Resource Center, the service organization for dance in the Greater Los Angeles Area from 2015-2018, professionalizing a 30 year-old all-volunteer organization and making it a leading example of arts service. Since relocating to Los Angeles in 2006, she also has worked and consulted with many arts individuals/organizations and social service organizations. Rosenfled also sits on the Boards of Directors of Dance Resource Center and Koreatown Youth & Community Center. She is a member of the Ford Theatre Connector Council, Americans for the Arts and Californians for the Arts. Rosenfeld was a member of the Dance/USA Board of Trustees for six years; the Co-Chair of Dance/USA 2018 Conference Host Committee; and served on Pentacle’s Board of Directors; the Advisory Board of Show Box LA, as a Trustee of New Roads School, and on the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Karsh Social Service Center Steering Committee.

Cliff Warner has garnered a reputation for being one of the top producers of award-winning experiences including Universal Studios’ WaterWorld Stunt Show, FiestaAventura’s Templo Del Fuego, Bollywood Park and Motiongate including the THEA Award-winning DreamWorks Animation Zone. Having earned his MFA at the Yale School of Drama, Warner has collaborated with some of the most creative people in the entertainment industry (notably as producer on Tokyo DisneySea and DisneyFest Asia). Warner was one of the original founders of Thinkwell Group for which he served as CEO and Chairman for over a decade. Warner produced notable projects including Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter; Sesame Presents: The Body touring exhibit and many more projects for Universal Studios, Walt Disney Entertainment, Harrah’s Entertainment and MGM Studios. In 2011, Warner founded the entertainment development company Mycotoo, Inc., which was designated a top media company by Inc. 500 in 2017. As chairman, Warner has continued to build on his reputation of delivering compelling experiences. Mycotoo’s design collaborations have resulted in the opening of two theme parks (Motiongate and Bollywood Parks) for which Warner oversaw the production development, strategic planning and team staffing. He built the award-winning creative team and served as liaison to facilitate master planning, production design, engineering and management of the specialty groups involved with both parks. Warner has been an invited speaker on multiple industry panels. His roots in theatre keep him anchored to like-minded organizations. He serves as a board member for the Yale Global Alumni Leadership Exchange (YaleGALE) – an international leadership exchange with China, France, United Kingdom, South Africa and Mexico; and Ojai Valley Playwrights Association – a non-profit group that champions the introduction of new, aspiring playwrights to wider audiences off and on Broadway.

We’re growing, we’re hiring, and we’ve got events! Read on for more!

We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. To our parents, students, and educators, we trust preparation for a new school year is well on its way! Last month, we introduced a new programmatic direction for Arts for LA. We are excited to share our progress and invite you to our upcoming public programs.

This fall, Arts for LA will present two invigorating arts community events to connect this great community of arts advocates. First, join us for a very special Pop-Up Art Show on September 21 at Art Share LA. All proceeds support Arts for LA and its programs. And, this November 1, arts advocates will come out in force for our inaugural State of the Arts Summit: Pathways and Places!

Arts for LA is expanding! Our new board members bring us a broad breadth of experience from entertainment production, urban development and planning, and arts administration. Also, Arts for LA  hiring a Director of Organizing and a Director of Public Policy and Advocacy.

We thank you for your support of Arts for LA, and we ask that you become a contributing member of Arts for LA today. Our new Membership Program invites individuals and organizations to deepen your investment with Arts for LA and to join our movement to advocate for arts for all.

Lastly, Arts for LA is assessing the affordability of live and workspace for artists in the county. If you are an artist who has lived in LA within the last two years, we invite you to fill out this survey and share your input. Your responses to this brief survey will help inform Arts for LA’s 2020 policy agenda.

Onward,

Gustavo Herrera
Executive Director, Arts for LA

UPDATE: PRIVATE PERCENT FOR ART
Last month Arts for LA and some of our stellar Arts Advocates emailed county representatives and convened at the Board of County Supervisors Meeting to provide testimony in support of the 1% for Art Los Angeles County Ordinance.

The ordinance proposes a 1% fee on new, privately developed commercial, industrial, and residential projects valued at a minimum of $750,000 to fund civic art. The city of Los Angeles has had a similar fee since 1991, and this ordinance would apply to the unincorporated areas of LA County.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted its intent to impose a 1 percent civic art fee on non-residential developments in unincorporated areas, but postponed a decision on whether to do the same for residential projects. This vote also directed staff to report back on how credits would be implemented for projects that include some affordable units and to present a full list of fees that the county assesses on residential development for further consideration.

The next hearing for this ordinance is on September 23, 2019, and we will continue to update you on this effort in our September Newsletter.

LEARN MORE

NEW MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM!
Have seen our social media campaign launching our new membership program? You may still be asking yourself, Why should I (or my organization) become a member of Arts for LA?

Arts for LA is the only organization that advocates for arts and culture across disciplines and across sectors, 24/7. We are building a movement – a network of individuals and organizations united for advocating for access to the arts, arts equity, and arts funding – of which our members are the key benefactors.

Membership support is critical for Arts for LA to deepen this movement and its impact, ensuring arts and culture are perceived as vital for a healthy and rich Los Angeles County. Still not a member? Why not? Join today!

 

ARTS FOR LA IS HIRING
Arts for LA is hiring two brand new positions: a Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, and a Director of Organizing. Both are full time positions and are a part of Arts for LA’s vision for an organization focused on advocacy and connecting our networks of artists and arts organizations. Click below for more information.

LEARN MORE
KEEP ARTISTS IN LOS ANGELES

Our 2019 Laura Zucker Fellow, Allison Agsten, has been hard at work researching affordable spaces and policy solutions for LA County, and now she needs your help. Are you an artist who has lived in LA within the last two years? A study is underway to assess the affordability of live and workspace for artists in the county.

We invite you to fill out this survey and share your input, it will only take a few minutes to complete. Your responses to this brief survey will help inform Arts for LA’s 2020 policy agenda.

Complete Survey Here!

UPCOMING EVENTS
SAVE THE DATE

State of the Arts Summit: Pathways and Places

This fall, Arts for LA presents our inaugural State of the Arts Summit: Pathways and Places. Previously known as LA Convergence, this event is the annual opportunity for artists, arts organizations, and  the community to connect and learn from one another. Our Laura Zucker fellow, Allison Agsten, will be presenting her research and policy proposal for affordable arts spaces throughout Los Angeles, and our speakers will be addressing issues of creative career pathways, equitable arts education, funding and much more.

This Summit will be held on Friday, November 1st at the Los Angeles Theatre Center! We hope you will save the date and plan to join us.

Theme Park Artists Pop-Up Art Show: September 21

Arts for LA, in partnership with Art Share LA and Mycotoo is hosting an exclusive, one night only, Pop-Up Art Show to celebrate the passion and talent of the different artistic disciplines of the themed entertainment industry!

What: Art Show featuring art, designs, and other works created by the brilliant minds behind some of your favorite theme park attractions and experiences including: Meow Wolf, Warner Brothers, Disney, Evermore Park, and Universal Studios.

When: Saturday, September 21 from 6pm-10pm.

Where: Art Share LA 801 E 4th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90013

General Admission: $10

VIP: $100
The VIP experience includes parking and one hour early admission into the event an hour before to join the artists for hors d’oeuvres, wine, and entertainment.

If you are a member of Arts for LA at a level that receives discounts on event tickets, email us at info@artsforla.org to receive your code.
All of the funds raised from this event will go directly to Arts for LA.
Click the button below to purchase your tickets today, see you there!

Buy Tickets Here

The Other Art Fair – Free Admission!

Our Arts for LA community is invited to The Other Art Fair, September 5-8 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Presented by Saatchi Art in partnership with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®️. Saatchi Art has generously offered free tickets to those interested, see more info below!

140 emerging artists, #FindYourCanvas creativity workshops with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®, internationally renowned UK artist duo The Connor Brothers, curator-led tours led by Saatchi Art, Chulita Vinyl Club DJ sets, free haikus by the Haiku Guys, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin cocktails, hand-poked tattooing by Moon Tattoo and more.

Click the button below, use code ARTS4LA and select the day you’d like to visit!

Register Here!

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Arts for LA is growing! We are excited to welcome our three newest members to our Board of Directors: Rochelle Mills, Felicia Rosenfeld, and Cliff Warner.

Rochelle Mills is President and CEO of Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO) where she is responsible for implementing the organization’s vision and growing its portfolio of high-quality affordable housing. Prior to joining IHO, she and her husband founded mills studio. Their high-end designs were featured on FineLiving, Homes Across American and other television and publications. Ms. Mills also founded Architours, a boutique art and architecture tour and symposia company. She presently serves on the boards of Kennedy Commission and the California Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies.

 

 

 

 

Felicia Rosenfeld has been involved in not-for-profit performing arts world for most of her working life. Through FARconnector, she serves as thought partner, organizational catalyst, infrastructure architect and creative strategist, working with artists and arts organizations to define and attain success. Felicia sits on Dance Resource Center’s and Koreatown Youth & Community Center’s Boards; and on The Ford Theatre Connector Council. It’s in Felicia’s DNA to integrate arts into all aspects of community and to build collaborations between the arts and other sectors.

 

 

 

 

Cliff Warner has garnered a reputation for being one of the top producers of award-winning experiences including Universal Studios’ WaterWorld Stunt Show, FiestaAventura’s Templo Del Fuego, Bollywood Park and Motiongate including the THEA Award-winning DreamWorks Animation Zone. In 2011, Cliff founded the entertainment development company Mycotoo, Inc., which was designated a top media company by Inc. 500 in 2017. As chairman, Cliff has continued to build on his reputation of delivering compelling experiences. Mycotoo’s design collaborations have resulted in the opening of two theme parks (Motiongate and Bollywood Parks) for which Cliff oversaw the production development, strategic planning and team staffing.

 

 

AU REVOIR INTERNS
At the end of the month, we bid our amazing interns farewell. Roshni Patel, our Development Intern and Cynthia Cuellar our Public Policy Intern have been invaluable in their support of Arts for LA this summer. Their work has helped us tremendously in building our membership program, our 2020 Public Policy Agenda, our partnership opportunities with local organizations, and so much more.

They are both heading back to universities and then on to successful and fulfilling careers. We wish them all the best and recognize both of their wonderful energies. Arts for LA thanks them profusely for their time and work this summer. Good luck ladies!

 

 

Arts for LA is making some changes – we are headed in a new programmatic direction, and we are hiring!

July marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for Arts for LA and we want to update you on some of our key efforts. Over the past two months, we have been assessing our programs and thinking deeply about focusing our programs, and as a result we have a newly board adopted Programmatic Vision for 2020.

Our core competencies as an organization is to serve you as: researchers, trusted policy experts, arts and culture conveners, and community advocates. This fiscal year, we will fulfill our arts advocacy mission via these 4 core and interconnected programs:

the Laura Zucker Research Fellowship (Summer 2019),
the State of the Arts Summit Convening, formerly known as CONVERGENCE (Fall 2019),
ACTIVATE: Advocacy Training & Advocacy Project Incubator (Winter/Fall 2020),
ArtsMonth: month-long advocacy convenings (Spring of 2020).
Currently, our team is working diligently to outline a 2020 Public Policy Agenda Framework which we will share with you in the coming months. The formation of this agenda will include community listening. Simultaneously, we are also developing a series of fun, public programs that will let us connect often throughout the year.

Fundamentally, this new programmatic vision is about putting you–our membership, our ACTIVATE Alumni, our community of passionate, arts advocates — at the center of this work.

As we embark in this new direction, we are hiring two new members to our growing team! Arts for LA seeks a Director of Organizing and a Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. Click each job title for more information on the position as well as application instructions.

Onward!

Gustavo Herrera
Executive Director, Arts for LA