Arts for LA is pleased to report that the forums with the leading supervisorial candidates, CA Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas and City of LA Councilman Bernard Parks yielded two important conversations about the arts in LA County. Facilitated by award-winning journalist Val Zavala, KCET's VP of News and Pubic Affairs, the conversation created an platform for both candidates to share their vision for the arts in LA County.

The Forums also created an opportunity for Arts for LA to brief the candidates about the great strides being made a the county level to support a vast and diverse arts ecology. From the doubling of the grants budget in 2006, to the restoration of sequential, standards-based arts education through Arts for All, to a new civic-art program, the LA County Arts Commission, is the largest local public public agency committed to helping arts organizations and school districts succeed.

Because neither candidate earned the required 50% of the vote on the June 3rd ballot to win the seat outright. The stage is now set for a November 3rd runoff election. As a reminder, LA County is the largest public funder in the region. The Arts Commission is an arm of the LA County Board of Supervisors. While LA County Board of Supervisors serve a specific district, they enact policy that affects the entire County. This includes the Arts Commissions annual budget, special initiatives and programs.

Arts for LA thanks Val Zavala for supporting this important event and our co-sponosrs Emerging Arts Leaders Los Angeles, California Artist Coalition of Los Angeles,The Harmony Project and LA Stage Alliance. for making this event a huge success.

Stay tuned for more information on this as this story is sure to continue.