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ARTS FOR LA’S JANUARY ENEWS UPDATES AND 2021 POLICY & AGENDA RELEASE

Happy New Year Arts Advocates!

This week, we released our 2021 Policy and Advocacy Agenda, outlining our vision for a Just Recovery for the LA Region’s Creative Sector. Thank you to everyone who joined our release party. This is a pivotal moment for the artists, arts workers, and arts organizations of Los Angeles to acknowledge the long-standing racial and economic inequities inherent in our cultural infrastructure, and fight for a better, more just Los Angeles. Click here to download the agenda and learn how you can get involved.

This month, we are excited to introduce you to the 2021 ACTIVATE Delegates Cohort (scroll down to meet them).We were also proud to host a convening for LA County school board members featuring former school board member and now CA State Senator Ben Allen.

This February, we will launch an updated Job and Artist Opportunities board on our website. We will also begin to host monthly community meetings to connect and organize our advocacy in pursuit of a just recovery for the LA region’s creative sector. RSVP to join us by clicking the button below and registering for our first meeting on Wednesday February 10.

As we move into 2021, we need your advocacy more than ever. There are many ways to show up – all of them vital to the movement for cultural equity. Your participation, your financial support, your insight and your experiences are indispensable to building a healthy, equitable LA region – we are honored to fight alongside you!

Onward!

Gustavo Herrera
Executive Director

ACTIVATE 2021

2021 ACTIVATE DELEGATES COHORT
We are excited to introduce you to our 2021 ACTIVATE Delegates cohort. We were overwhelmed by the number of qualified and impressive applicants and so grateful to everyone who expressed interest. Learn more about these incredible arts leaders here!

ACTIVATE: INNOVATORS 2021
Applications for our 2021 ACTIVATE Innovators program are open now!

ACTIVATE Innovators is a project incubator designed to support arts leaders as they grow an idea into a fully-planned project. The program offers changemakers the opportunity to learn from field leaders, connect with other cross-sector colleagues, and lead the development of a project or program addressing one of Arts for LA’s four issue areas.

This year, Arts for LA is seeking nominations for the 2021 ACTIVATE Innovators cohort from organizations interested in focusing on creative sector jobs.

ARTS FOR LA’S 2021 POLICY AGENDA

After a months-long community listening and strategizing process, Arts for LA is pleased to share with you our 2021 Policy and Advocacy Agenda: A Just Recovery for the LA Region’s Creative Sector.Developed in collaboration with you and hundreds of community members, this agenda outlines concrete ways to take collective action to build a healthy, equitable creative sector and greater LA region.

Our advocacy priorities fall under four main issue-areas impacting the creative sector: affordable housing, equitable education, funding and capital, and creative sector jobs. Our policy agenda identifies actionable steps to RESPOND, RECOVER, and REBUILD the Los Angeles arts and culture sector.

Download the 2021 Policy Agenda

MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Arts for LA has released an ambitious 2021 Policy and Advocacy Agenda outlining concrete goals and actions to rebuild LA’s creative sector. In order to meet the goals highlighted in our agenda, we need the support of our active and passionate arts and culture community.

Arts for LA will be hosting monthly community meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. These meetings will be an opportunity for our members to come together and network with one another, and learn about any upcoming advocacy efforts you can participate in.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tune In and Speak Up!
Californians for the Arts

WHAT: Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism + Internet Media
WHEN: February 2, 10AM – NOON
TOPIC: Restarting the Arts: Best Practices for Safely Reopening

TUNE IN
Californians for the Arts is pleased to announce that the CA Assembly committee on the Arts will be holding an Informational Hearing and Executive Director Julie Baker and board members Marie Acosta and Keasha Dumas Heath will be among the speakers. See the agenda here. All are encouraged to watch the hearing from its live stream on the Assembly’s website.

SPEAK UP! Live during meeting or written comment.
Public Comment: Due to the ongoing concern for public safety posed by COVID-19 and guidance on physical distancing, the public is strongly encouraged to participate via the web portal or phone.

The public may also provide written testimony before the hearing. Please send your written testimony to: ArtsCommittee@asm.ca.gov. Please note that any written testimony sent to that email address is considered public comment and may be read into the record or reprinted.

The Art of Everything Leadership Conversations
CreateCA

The Art of Everything Leadership Conversations is intended for both aspiring, emerging, and experienced leaders to come together in conversation and community around the key leadership concepts in the book. We encourage you to join us in this interactive, five-part series focused on key elements of artful leadership.

Explore with the author, guest presenters, leaders, and arts educators key concepts of artistry, equity, empathic design, strategy, and humility as important elements equitable and creative leadership that can impact positive change.

It’s not too late to register for this 5 part Leadership Series, co-hosted by CCSESA and Create CA. Registration will close after Session 2 on February 19th. (If you missed the first session you will receive the recording).

KCET Black History Month Lineup
PBS SoCal and KCET

PBS SoCal and KCET have announced their content lineup in celebration of Black History Month. These programs will include KCET Original episodes of ARTBOUND and LOST LA focused on the diverse history of Southern California, as well as HOLLYWOOD’S ARCHITECT: The Paul R. Williams Story from PBS SoCal. PBS is airing award-winning content to stations across the country including episodes of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, AMERICAN MASTERS, FINDING YOUR ROOTS, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, GREAT PERFORMANCES, MASTERPIECE and more. In particular, THE BLACK CHURCH “This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will be the focus of a series of virtual events – both locally and nationally.

(Clockwise from Upper Left: THE BLACK CHURCH “This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” LOST LA “Shindana Toy Company,” and “HOLLYWOOD’S ARCHITECT: The Paul R. Williams Story.” Images courtesy of PBS, KCET and PBS SoCal respectively).

Arts for LA is funded by:

and the generous support of Organizational and Individual Members like you.