The French Consul General in Los Angeles, Axel Cruau, announced that the Santa Monica's Cultural Affairs Manager, Jessica Cusick, has been named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Today, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed a state budget that includes a one-time $5 million increase in general fund support for the California Arts Council. This is the first time in over ten years the arts have seen an increase of general fund monies, after support for the Arts Council was cut by 94% in 2003.

Arts for LA is pleased to announce Executive Director Danielle Brazell has been nominated by Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve as the new general manager of the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Los Angeles. Her work with the department will begin pending confirmation by the Los Angeles City Council.

The California State Legislature on Sunday approved a budget for 2014-2015 that includes a $5 million increase in funding to the California Arts Council.

by Amy Sauceda

The California Arts Council and Californians for the Arts are celebrating positive steps forward for an appropriation bill of $7 million.  Last Thursday, the California State Legislative Budget Conference Committee voted 8-0 to support the increase in funding for the state's arts agency.

Nonprofit arts organizations in Los Angeles County are a vibrant part of the region’s cultural offerings, but a new report published by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission shows these organizations are also significant regional employers, providing nearly $267 million in full time equivalent salaries to 4,650 workers.

The National Endowment for the Arts announced today it would invest $1.56M in grant funding Los Angeles County arts and culture organizations.  Grantees include organizations staging theatrical productions, providing arts journalism coverage, and museums, among many other types of programs and events.