Chairwoman of Arts for LA authored "The Arts and the Power of the Passionate Banker: An article for Bankers, Artists and those who invest in Arts Organizations." 

Please join us in welcoming Gustavo Herrera as our Executive Director, effective December 2018. Welcome Gustavo!

Arts for LA (AfLA) is seeking a full-time Executive Director (ED) to lead all aspects of the organization. The Executive Director is responsible for leading broad scale advocacy efforts for the arts in Los Angeles and beyond. The ED will effectively engage the political, funder, and arts communities to unite around this cause as well as encourage arts supporters to advocate for building a strong arts and cultural infrastructure in Los Angeles. To accomplish this the Executive Director will continue to implement and update the strategic plan with the Board; supervise a staff; provide annual and long-range financial and operational management; fundraise; and build external visibility within the wider local, state and national community of artists, arts organizations, supporters and government leaders.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and our broad network of over 50,000 advocates, thank you for your continuing support of Arts for LA.  The last few years have been transformative for arts, culture, and arts education in Los Angeles County.  Creativity has become a major part of our civic dialogue. Ensuring there is equity and inclusion in the arts regionally is a top governmental priority.  Arts policies are being adopted and funding is being increased by local, regional and state authorities.   Private citizens are giving more to the arts than ever before.  And here at Arts for LA, we find ourselves on the precipice of a transformation.

My greatest honor has been to serve as Arts for LA's Executive Director for the last 3+ years, and at the end of September, I will be stepping down to make space for the next leader to continue this work. I remain deeply and passionately dedicated to Arts for LA's mission, the family of community leaders we have strengthened and mobilized, and what we can continue to achieve by working together.

Democracy is more than an ideal. It is a practice. And there are perhaps no better places to practice than in school and in the United States Senate. Below, Amy Shimshon-Santo (Head of the Arts Management MA program in Los Angeles) reflects on her recent field study trip to Washington D.C. with students.

ARTS ADVOCATES! Do you have feedback for us about ArtsDay LA 2018? Let us know what you thought so we can make sure the event gets better with each passing year! We take your feedback seriously, and make adjustments to account for what can be done better!

Take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/artsdayla_2018

We started off ArtsMonth with a groundbreaking policy change!

On Tuesday, April 4th the LA County Board of Supervisors became the FIRST EVER to adopt a Student Bill of Rights, ensuringequitable arts access for all students in the region! High School students Yaya Gomez and Bethlehem Seifu gave public comment at the meeting, and their words were inspiring and emotional. Arts for LA staff was proud to train these two young leaders through the CTG Student Ambassadors Program. 

Watch the Adoption below!

With 200+ advocates in attendance, unanimous council support, and productive delegates visits, this was our most successful ArtsDay LA to date! Thank you to all of the dedicated arts advocates, volunteers, and speakers who attended!

Check out our photos HERE!

On Tuesday, April 10, the City of Santa Monica hosted ArtsDay Santa Monica! The theme of the event was an Ode to Arts & Culture in Santa Monica, and featured performances by Santa Monica based artists Luis Alfaro, Dan Kwong, and singer/songwriter Julia Paymer of Downbeat 720. We particularly loved the beautiful ArtsDay Proclamation, written by poet Luis Alfaro!

Read the Proclamation below: