Arts for LA

When you RAISE YOUR VOICE and donate to Arts for LA, you help advocate for restored funding, foster the next generation of art leaders, and support new jobs for underrepresented creative workers across LA County. Let your VOICE be heard - donate today: https://lnkd.in/gGj29Ebc Did you know that Arts for LA is the voice of the arts in Los Angeles? We’re uniquely positioned as the *only* cross-sector arts advocacy organization in the region! Our work for more jobs, more funding and better wages is wide-ranging throughout the county and state… yet our resources are small. Your support ensures we continue making progress into 2025 and beyond.

We’re celebrating! Arts for LA has received a grant from The Music Man Foundation. The Strengthening the Sector funds will help Arts for LA work to permanently change the decline in creative worker jobs and arts funding since 2021, advocating for restored funding, the next generation of art leaders, and new jobs for underrepresented creative workers in LA County.

I’m privileged to be joining this great team of talented & dedicated humans… Learning so much already and I look forward to contributing to this wonderful organization Arts for LA

We love it!

“We hear these resounding calls for transparency from our community members, but many district arts leaders also share those same interests and concerns,” said Lindsey Kunisaki, Arts for LA's Laura Zucker fellow for policy and research, who wrote the report. “They wanted to make sure that they’re putting their best foot forward with Prop 28 implementation, but they also had questions about their peers and neighboring districts and wanted to make sure that ultimately everyone is doing their best work and using these funds responsibly.” Lindsey's report also recommends (among other things) creating a statewide oversight and advisory committee of administrators, teachers, families and community partners to make sure that arts education funds are properly spent. Learn more and download the full report in this piece from EdSource: https://lnkd.in/gndn9pC5

We’re excited to welcome three new members to our Board of Directors: Evonne Gallardo, Morenike Dosu and Malindi Davies! ?? Evonne serves as Senior Program Director for Community Partners’ Intermediary team and leads arts and culture regranting efforts for foundation, government and corporate clients. Evonne is dedicated to advancing and resourcing artists and the entities that serve them and has over 20 years of leadership experience in multiple functional areas of arts and culture management. ?? Morenike is the Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) for DreamWorks Animation. In this role, she draws upon her 20+ years of Animation & VFX experience to develop and execute DEI initiatives aligned with DreamWorks’ goals to recruit, retain and cultivate their inclusive workforce. ?? Malindi is committed to advancing the missions of growing organizations with a combination of her deep expertise in finance, marketing, and operations. With over 15 years of experience in luxury ecommerce and media, Malindi has a proven track record of driving operational excellence and scaling businesses for sustainable growth. Get to know them and all of our Board of Directors: https://lnkd.in/gQK_FPP3

A big reason why we’re able to move the arts advocacy needle in LA County is our Board of Directors - we are so grateful for all 17 members. We also want to congratulate this year’s new Executive Committee members! The Board’s extended effort and dedication to Arts for LA’s mission helps us reach community members, organizations and artists. Thank you for your leadership!

The goal of #Prop28 is to create more opportunities for arts education and more opportunities for the creative learning that we know is so important for our young people. Laura Zucker Fellow Lindsey Kunisaki breaks it down for you. Check out her full report on the use of Prop 28 funds in LA County: https://lnkd.in/gzseks7W

The Creative Economy Pathways project is the engine that drives the work of the Destination Crenshaw Arts Corps program. They support the revitalization of the Crenshaw corridor by ensuring local small businesses, artists, creatives, and youth have equitable access to resources and high-level professional development and training and employment opportunities in the various arts/creative sectors. Our Campaigns Manager, Gabriel Gutierrez, spoke at their recent Creative Economy Office Hours to ensure the South LA community makes the connections between arts, advocacy, and creative job development Arts for LA is stewarding for all Angelenos.

What a time to be an arts education researcher! This study offers a first look at this historic investment in arts education through the eyes of practitioners and the public. Here in California, #Prop28 has brought on opportunities, questions, and a great deal of conversation in our schools and communities. I hope this study brings together those perspectives to help us deliver on its promise for more arts for more students, all year long. This work is also especially meaningful to me on a personal level, looking closely at the Los Angeles County public school system, where I was born, raised, and now build my life and career. The arts opportunities I experienced in these public schools have shaped the person and professional I am today. I hope this study---and this moment---can bring more opportunities like these to today's young creative learners. Enormous thanks to the community that made this study possible: ? Arts for LA and Laura Zucker for the opportunity to conduct this research ? Ricky Abilez, MPA, Abe Flores, and Adam J. Fowler for your mentorship ? Gabriel Enamorado for the beautiful graphic design ?UCLA Arts and the UCLA Visual and Performing Arts Education (VAPAE) program for the support along the way ? And to all the arts leaders in our school districts and communities for voicing your visions as participants in this study. Read more and find the full report below! https://lnkd.in/gMR-Tsij